This is a collaborative post
So You’ve made the move abroad but something doesn’t feel quite right. The homesickness has well and truly set in and you’re left wondering if you’ve made the right decision after all. Although things may seem very unfamiliar and you don’t know where the best places to shop are just yet, don’t fret, there are some easy steps you can take to make your property abroad feel more like home. Have a look at these top tips below to help you make your house abroad into your home.
Personal Belongings
The key to moving abroad and feeling at home is to take your important personal belongs with you. Taking just a suitcase full of clothes is very unlikely to make you feel like you’ve moved from home to home so arranging to have some important things shipped over to your new destination can really help. Having items such as your favourite lamp, the table that’s been in the family for years or some of your ornaments and pictures can make a massive difference with making your new house feel like home. Sometimes it may not be in your budget to move these straight away but maybe putting them into storage and having them shipped at a later date is an option. Bear in mind that you would need to figure out whether you would be returning to deal with the shipment or if you’re able to find a family member or friend that’s willing to help you out. If children are involved in the move it could be costly to replace their favourite toys in your new home however it could also be just as expensive to ship them all over. It’s best to look over which option best suits your families circumstances. You could always have a car boot sale with the children before you go, giving them the opportunity to earn some pennies to buy some new toys when you arrive.
The Right House
Finding the right property when moving abroad is probably one of the top priorities for most and a decision shouldn’t be made hastily. You may be looking for a complete change and be moving into a property that’s completely different from what you’re living in at the moment but if you’re concerned over missing home then moving into a property that has similar features may work better for you. So if you currently live in a townhouse then maybe looking at the townhouse selection would be the best option for you. It will give you a sense of familiarity without too much work, which will allow you to work on other aspects to get your new house feeling like home.
Interior Design
For some updating the interior of your new home when you’ve just moved to a new country may be at the bottom of the list but it’s amazing what a difference it can make to how you feel about your house when you put your own touch on it. It’s up to you how far you want to go with the decorating, you may want to change the whole of the house but just by adding a new lick of paint in a few rooms it can start to make your house feel more like home. If you’ve moved abroad with children, completing their rooms first by letting them put their own stamp on their new rooms could really help get them settled and come to terms with moving much quicker. You could always get them involved in some craft projects too which would really help them to put their mark on their new space.
Eat Like At Home
A really easy way of feeling like your at home is to eat like you’re at home. Just because you’ve moved doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the same snacks and eat the same meals, granted it may sometimes be difficult to get the same ingredients. Why not bring some of your cookbooks from home or do some research into the local products available to create homely meals as you would have had before moving? Having a look around the local produce when you’re there can be really fun too, you may even find new favourites to add to your list. However, if you just need that special bar of chocolate or packet of crisps to feel like you’re at home why not ask for someone to send you a care package? Or have a look online for a website that may be able to deliver all your favourite goodies to your door.
Do you have any advice for making a house abroad feel more like home? Please share them in the comments section below.
