Making a Home Away From Home
If you’ve ever made a big move, whether to a different state
or a different country, you are probably familiar with that uprooted
feeling that comes along with leaving everything known for something
different and new. It can be exciting but also … terrifying. How do you
build a life in a new place? When you’re wondering how to find the
grocery store, navigate the metro and perhaps even learn a new language,
having a warm, cozy, comfortable place where you can rest your head
becomes even more important than usual. Making a home away from home is
hard — get the ball rolling by trying out one or more of these ideas.
Set up a routine. When you arrive in a new place, whether it’s a different city or a different continent,
a daily routine can help create a feeling of normalcy. Seek out a few
neighborhood spots — a café, bakery and newsstand, for instance — and
visit them each day. Smile and say hello (or bonjour or ciao)
to the shopkeeper, sip your coffee, eat breakfast and repeat. After a
few days of this, you and the shopkeepers (and maybe a few other
regulars) will get to recognize one another, making the greetings more
familiar and perhaps warmer.
Shop and cook à la Julia Child. Channel
Julia Child, who famously explored France, often solo, while her
diplomat husband Paul Child was busy working. Although Julia must have
stuck out in a sea of native Parisians, she fully embraced the
experience by tapping into her passion for food — something people of
all cultures understand. Give yourself a mission to explore the markets
and local foods of whatever area you have moved to, whether that’s Paris
(lucky you!) or Chicago.
Learn more about where you are.
It’s natural to feel out of sorts when you first arrive in a new place —
but don’t let that discomfort turn to feeling judgmental or bitter
about the differences between where you are now and where you used to
live. Read books about the area and the culture. Sign up for a language
course or join a conversation group. Cultivate an attitude of optimism
and curiosity about your surroundings.
Create a sanctuary in your bedroom. Exploring a new city can be exhausting, especially
if there are language differences involved. Give yourself the gift of
an utterly safe and comforting place in which to land at the end of each
day by making your bedroom the ultimate sanctuary. Soft lighting,
lovely bedding, a scented candle, cozy slippers and perhaps a small
stereo or an iPod dock so you can listen to your favorite music will
help the space feel like home.
Houzz guides to creating a bedroom sanctuary
Houzz guides to creating a bedroom sanctuary
Embrace the local coffee (or tea) break. From proper English teatime to the Swedish coffee-and-cake break known as fika, it seems nearly everywhere in the world has its own break-time tradition.
So wherever you are, do as the locals do. In Italy enjoy a shot of espresso taken in a single gulp while standing at the bar in the café, like the locals do on a quick break from work.
A small shift in the way you do things, even in your own home, such as taking afternoon tea rather than coffee, can be a gentle way to nudge yourself into a new culture.
So wherever you are, do as the locals do. In Italy enjoy a shot of espresso taken in a single gulp while standing at the bar in the café, like the locals do on a quick break from work.
A small shift in the way you do things, even in your own home, such as taking afternoon tea rather than coffee, can be a gentle way to nudge yourself into a new culture.
Treat yourself to lots of fresh flowers and candles. A
simple but highly effective way to make your new home feel cozy and
welcoming is to go a little wild with candlelight and fresh flowers.
Cluster candles on trays, put one on your nightstand and line them up at the center of your dining table.
Visit a flower stall or grocery store and treat yourself to fresh blooms once a week. When your mood needs bolstering, light all your candles, put on some lovely music and inhale the scent of the flowers gracing your space.
How to create a wonderfully wild bouquet
Cluster candles on trays, put one on your nightstand and line them up at the center of your dining table.
Visit a flower stall or grocery store and treat yourself to fresh blooms once a week. When your mood needs bolstering, light all your candles, put on some lovely music and inhale the scent of the flowers gracing your space.
How to create a wonderfully wild bouquet
Connect online with people back home … but not too much.
This is the digital age, after all — you might as well take advantage
of it! Connect with friends and family through video chats and social
media, if you like. But remember, connecting with long-distance loved
ones should be a nice treat, not a substitute for getting out there and
building a satisfying and interesting life in your new locale.
Put personal treasures on display. Books, photos, artwork and other personal items become even more important when you’re in a new place.
Take an afternoon to do some nesting in your new place — hang up photos of friends and family, organize your bookshelves and put your favorite quilt on the bed.
8 benefits of a family photo gallery
Take an afternoon to do some nesting in your new place — hang up photos of friends and family, organize your bookshelves and put your favorite quilt on the bed.
8 benefits of a family photo gallery
Reinvent your style … if you want to.
You’re in a new place, and no one knows you yet. Why not take this as
an opportunity to try out a new look? Edit your wardrobe, organize your closet and go shopping. Besides, shopping is a great excuse to get out there and explore a new neighborhood.
Make a personal connection in the new place. Easier
said than done, for sure … but well worth the effort. If you’re finding
it hard to meet people, try seeking out a local group related to one of
your passions or hobbies. Take a class, volunteer for a local charity
or attend an event that sounds interesting. If you’ve moved to a new
country, connect with the local expat community. If you’re a parent,
seek out a local play group to join. Once you’ve made one connection,
it’s bound to lead to others.
Tend a garden. Planting
something, even a potted garden on your balcony, makes a statement that
this is a place you plan to stay in for a while.
If you love gardening but don’t have a yard of your own, see if there is a local community garden where you could get a small parcel to tend — it could also be a great way to connect with other like-minded people.
How to grow a garden in containers
Collect moments of beauty. Of course, there are places we immediately think of as beautiful, but every place has its own charm. Grab your camera and head out on a daily walk, snapping pictures of the little things that catch your eye.
If you want to make it interesting, issue yourself a creative challenge — take photos of a single color, or find the first letter of your name or a heart shape. The creative project will loosen you up, and you may end up with some frameworthy shots to boot!
Reignite your wanderlust. Plan a day trip to a region you’ve never explored. After the shock of being somewhere totally new, you may realize that the place you come back “home” to feels exactly like that … home.
How to take fantastic travel photos with your camera phone
If you love gardening but don’t have a yard of your own, see if there is a local community garden where you could get a small parcel to tend — it could also be a great way to connect with other like-minded people.
How to grow a garden in containers
Collect moments of beauty. Of course, there are places we immediately think of as beautiful, but every place has its own charm. Grab your camera and head out on a daily walk, snapping pictures of the little things that catch your eye.
If you want to make it interesting, issue yourself a creative challenge — take photos of a single color, or find the first letter of your name or a heart shape. The creative project will loosen you up, and you may end up with some frameworthy shots to boot!
Reignite your wanderlust. Plan a day trip to a region you’ve never explored. After the shock of being somewhere totally new, you may realize that the place you come back “home” to feels exactly like that … home.
How to take fantastic travel photos with your camera phone
