Buying a home is a lot like falling in love. You begin causally, going to a few open houses, seeing your options, and figuring out what really matters to you. Once you establish your deal breakers (for example, must have two bathrooms, a great kitchen, and a beautiful backyard) you hire a realtor and begin to narrow down your choices. Eventually, you find The One. Things get serious. The next thing you know, you’re signing contracts and pledging to spend the rest of your life (or at least a good chunk of it) with your dream house.
 
While the home buying process is an exciting roller coaster of emotions, moving in and settling down isn’t always fun. For some people, packing their belongings, saying goodbye to their old neighborhood, or moving to a new city or state can be difficult. This is why it’s important to fall in love with your new place as soon as possible, and hold on to those good feelings you had when you signed your contract. You bought a house. Now it’s time to transform it into a home.
 
If you’re having trouble setting into your new home, the following tips should help. Give them a try and you’ll find yourself falling in love in no time.

1. Paint the walls. Few things are more powerful than a fresh coat of paint. Painting the walls is a way to express your personal aesthetic and put your unique spin on your new home. It’s also the quickest way to transform a room, and it’s relatively inexpensive. Choosing a dark or deep color, like maroon, will add intrigue and warmth to a space, while bold, bright colors have the power to put a smile on your face.
    
2. Think small. Don’t let a modest budget keep you from making changes. Sometimes the biggest impacts happen in the smallest places. For example, remodeling your kitchen is a huge project that requires time and money. However, you can start by replacing your kitchen cabinets’ hardware and knobs. Install a new backsplash, especially if it’s peeling or old, and splurge on new placemats. The positive effects will be almost instantaneous.
    
3. Light up your life. The right lighting can change the way you see a room. Sometimes it’s as simple as switching our bulbs for a softer wattage, or going from incandescent lights to LED bulbs, which are more efficient and also more flattering. If you want to take things a step further, replacing a dining room light with a statement chandelier  or installing wall sconces in your bedroom are great opportunities to look at your space in a new light.
    
4. Give your home flowers. A beautiful vase filled with bright blooms doesn’t have to be limited to special occasions. When you have fresh flowers in your home, every day feels special. And you don’t have to invest in a dozen red roses, either. Wilmington’s Trader Joe’s has great bunches of flowers in the $3 to $6 range, so making this a weekly habit won’t break the bank.
    
5. Get personal. Sometimes turning your house into a home means getting personal. So frame those family photographs, print your favorite wedding portrait on a canvas, cover your refrigerator in your preschooler’s masterpieces, and fill your mantle with souvenirs and tchotchkes. The process of packing and moving tends to be a time when people embrace minimalism and get rid of clutter, but that can often make your new place feel bare. Give yourself permission to embrace the messy side of life. When people visit your home, it might not look like a movie set, but it will feel lived in and loved, and that’s much more fun.