Make Your New House Feel Like Home

We all know that moving into a new home can be one of life's biggest stressors - the packing, the paperwork, the unpacking and of course, finding the nearest coffee shop. Making your new house feel like home can help alleviate some of this stress and provide some much needed relaxation.

"Everyone has a different sense of what home is," says Elizabeth Lindmier of The Art Institute of Colorado. While the same aesthetic won't work for everyone, she recommends getting started with these tips.

1. Texture and textiles - Instead of having all hard surfaces, cozy up your home with something soft or textured. This could be a blanket, curtains or area rugs. These items will also provide some acoustical value so noises aren't echoing in an empty space.

2. Comfort - Have some place in your home where you can relax, recharge and feel at ease. "Make a space where you would like to spend time," Lindmier says.

3. Color - A monochromatic scheme with pops of colors can make you feel happy. "Do your research on color theory before painting any space," says Lindmier. "Different colors can spark different moods, emotions and even behavior. Discover what you'd like a given space to accomplish, and use colors as a tool to create such environment."

4. Lighting - Look at the difference between warm and cool lighting colors to decide what helps achieve the look you want. Consider using task, ambient and accent lighting for your space. "Lighting plays a key role in any home," Lindmier says. "Through lighting design you can highlight architectural features, create lighting which is more useful to the human eye, and work with natural light while keeping energy use to a minimum."

5. Clutter - "Less is more, but make it more meaningful," says Lindmier. Get rid of your clutter. When sitting in your space, make sure you can look around and love the things you see.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.