It has not been a month since I moved to a new city for my first job after graduating college. While exciting and rewarding, finding a job far from where I have lived for a long time meant my life was changing significantly. Eventually, I settled in a small apartment unit, but in a city I can only describe as swimming in smoke and concrete.
While moving is not new to me—experiencing it first when I was young, and then residing in different dormitories during college—it is definitely hard adjusting to an unfamiliar place, not having ever traversed the streets of my new home nor knowing anyone who lives in the neighborhood.
How do you make yourself at home in an intimidating, new environment? From my experience so far, it is always about finding ways to slowly make it feel like a home. There is no need to rush to make a perfect living space that fits with your fantasy.
Bring the Familiar with You
The first things I always think of packing when going to a new place are my books. As an avid bibliophile, having a shelf of my favorite books I can easily grab to read helps me to ground myself wherever I may be.
Essentially, the first step in making your home is to fill it with things that remind you of your previous home. It may be a desk you have used since you were a teenager, kitchen utensils you have grown attached to when cooking your meals, or a picture frame of your family. Yes, even your childhood toys can cozily find a place in your home to shake off homesickness.
You may be in a new place geographically, but you can create a space that could make you feel like you never moved at all. Even the most mundane objects like curtains or beddings, as long as they remind you of your former home, can make your new place feel more familiar.
Make the Most of Your New Neighborhood
Besides getting comfortable in your new place, you should also find yourself getting familiar with the neighborhood. Find a local eatery to savor occasional meals or a bakery that sells hearty treats. Maybe you still have faucets or cabinets in need of fixing or you want a different wall color, so visit the local hardware store when you can (and grab Boysen products you may need).
Exploring a new neighborhood may be intimidating, but finding landmarks you can develop a fond attachment to may help you adjust to your environment.
Get to know your neighbors too. In fact, try to reverse the tradition of receiving housewarming gifts, and give them instead as a way to broach friendship.
Plant yourself in the new community you now belong in. Embracing these changes can actually enrich your life in the long run and allow you to find joy in the few moments you spend in your new neighborhood.
Transform Your Space to be an Extension of Yourself
Ultimately, your home is an expression of yourself. More than a residence, it is a place you should find solace and comfort in.
Give yourself the freedom to create a home that is truly for you. Especially if it is your first time living by yourself, you are granted options to express yourself through your living space.
Pick furniture that make you feel always comfortable, and arrange them to your liking. Decorate with pieces that resonate with you. In your new home, you can afford to display the figurine or house plant you have had your eyes on for some time.
Of course, expressing yourself with color is a sure way to claim ownership of your own space. As an artist myself, I would personally recommend the Artistry Palette from Color Trend 2024/2025, as it truly embodies what it means to live freely and creatively. The selection of colors are expressive hues you can use to celebrate your individuality and embrace a new chapter of your life.
What’s Next for the New Chapter?
Things are starting to shape well for me while I get to adjust in my new place, finding my footing in my new neighborhood and getting a groove in a new routine. I hope these tips can help those who recently moved create a home for themselves in their own next chapters.
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