I assumed that moving into a new construction house would be less work. The truth is that new homes have their own set of to-do's that take time, money and physical exertion. And in our case, very long ladders.
The challenge of a new home is that it looks pretty nice as is. Just like a new car, it has that new smell you know? You don't want to put any nails in the walls. They just look so new and unblemished. You're afraid to really move in and mess it up.
When I moved into my former home it was so old and ugly. I was motivated the second I got the keys to fumigate the kitchen, paint all the trim white, and undo all the icky things that were "left" by the previous owner.
New or old, when you get into a new home, how do you decide what to do and when? You can't just go out and buy everything, and you can't instantly change everything, so you have to prioritize.
How do you do that when the to do list seems endless?
First of all, I suggest you focus on function before decor. Don't tell my husband I said that.
If you have an attached garage, set this room up as soon as possible. This is the space you go in an out of every day and it's also where you will need to access the tools and equipment you will need to decorate your home. Once that is done, you will find it speeds up everything else.
On the inside of the home, identify the missing or broken things that interfere with everyday tasks and living.
When we moved into our current home, we didn't have a window covering for our large bathroom window. After one week of showering at night in the dark so no one would see us, we made that a priority. We also installed some large towel hooks to hang a towel on next to the shower. Those small things made a big improvement in our level of comfort in our bathroom, and made it look a little more finished.
You may need to get ceiling fans put up, or you may need to change an old appliance. Whatever it is even if it is not glamorous or exciting, if it will make a difference in your quality of life, do that thing first. It also can add long term value to your home.
Second, focus on the spaces you use and see the most.
For us, we started with my husband's office, because he started working from home as soon as we got here. It is the first room you see when you come in the front door. The next room was my son's room- since he was a baby we needed things more or less in order in there.
Save the lesser used rooms or upstairs spaces for later, so you can use them as temporary holding areas for things you aren't sure about or for sorting or storing things you may not keep. Shut the door when you have company. If you have a guest room, make sure you have a decent bed for them to sleep in, but other than that don't worry about making it perfect right away.
Third, try to decorate one area at a time.
This is so hard, but it will keep you from buying things haphazardly. Figure out your overall furniture layout and placement, then decorate. I decorated my son's room because it was the smallest and already had everything I needed to complete the room in terms of furniture. I only needed a few new decorative things to make it feel finished. Once it was done, I didn't have to think about it anymore.
Finally, enjoy the things your home has that made you choose it in the first place.
Our back porch is our favorite spot. In the evenings there is a nice breeze and my husband and I often sit out there after my son goes to bed. If your neighbor has palm trees like mine, you can pretend it's near the ocean-even if it's Central Texas.
Maybe your home has a great yard for the kids to run in. Maybe you have a great front porch. Maybe your neighborhood is great for an evening walk. Is there a window with a view of the woods? The sunset? Whatever it is, find something you like about your home and be thankful for that and enjoy it while you are settling in.
Don't be discouraged when you see the perfectly decorated houses on TV after a major renovation. Most of the time they are staged, and a lot of that furniture goes right back on the truck
when it's all done.
Enjoy the process of moving in to your home one area at a time.
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