23 Ways To Make Your New Place Feel Like Home

Whether that means getting out the tool box and assembling it, or just making up the mattress that sits on the floor, do it.

Because overhead lighting rarely sets the right mood.

In a perfect world, your landlord or the previous owner will make sure it's sparkling, but we all know it's not a perfect world. So be ready to do a little dusting.

Nothing says "new apartment" like a curtainless shower, so hang one up ASAP. Then stock the bathroom with towels, a bath mat, hand soap, body wash, and toilet paper.

Put out their water/food, and set up their beds. If you have a dog, take them on a walk or to a nearby park so they can get to know your neighborhood too.

You may not have much in the way of entertainment yet, but you can still listen to your favorite songs.

Is there anything that makes you feel more relieved once you've moved into a new place? No. No, there is not.

The smell will instantly remind you of your last place.

Having staples like ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, milk, cereal, and salt and pepper will help you shake off that sad empty-fridge feeling. (And it'll make all the takeout you're ordering taste that much better!)

Now is the time to see if it really is as charming as the rental listing made it sound.

They instantly make a room feel more welcoming.

Choose the living room or a bedroom, clear it of all boxes, set up the furniture, and add lots of pillows and blankets; it's good to have a safe place when the rest of your house is a disaster. (h/t Orlando Sentinel)

Rearranging the furniture, picking out new paint colors, or choosing a new couch together will make the place feel more "ours" and less "his" or "hers."

Yes, hanging things is a pain, but it goes a long way toward making things feel homey.

Stack up some boxes that you don't need to unpack right away, cover them in a tablecloth, and enjoy some fine dining.

Even just painting one wall will make the space feel different. (Bonus: It's a good way to chase out that "someone else's house" smell.)

Find cool options here.

Not only is it nice, but it helps relieve those "But what if I die alone in my apartment and no one finds me so my cat ends up eating me?" fears.

Or your magazines. Or just your coffee maker and a few mugs. Whatever is going to fill your heart with joy.

They add so much to a space! Opt for succulents if you're worried you'll kill them.

Even just a low-key gathering will motivate you to get unpacked and semi-organized.

Building a fort with them is optional.

If you're never around, your place won't feel like a home at all. So make a point to cook at home a few nights a week, read on your patio, or spend regular Lazy Sundays in bed. The more time you spend actually using your place, the more it'll feel like yours.