Ryanne Molinari

A lot of my friends are moving into their first homes, and I’m reminiscing about the absolutely chaotic time when Billy and I got engaged, left our jobs, bought a house without seeing it (or each other, as he was quarantined), got married, and moved across the country in three months.

It was so stressful that I’m pretty sure I blacked out for most of that season. I remember weird snippets like sitting 20 feet away from each other at the pool to avoid contagion, crying over mortgage documents I did not remotely understand, and haphazardly throwing all my earthly belongings into totes and hoping they’d survive the drive.

I also remember arriving in Iowa, seeing our home for the first time, and immediately going into action mode. I don’t think I sat down for a week as I frantically painted every surface in our main living areas and did my best to organize and decorate our first house. I had to work with contractors for the first time, find a reliable handyman, do cost-comparisons for renovation projects, and (eek!) hire an exterminator.

It was a lot. Now, I love home projects and caring for our house, but I remember how totally overwhelming it felt for those first months. I am also slightly weird about homes; I don’t like feeling like I’m living in another person’s house. The previous owners of our home seem like great people. I’m just weird.

So, having gone through all of the crazy unpacking, organizing, decorating, fixing, and worrying…I am here in all my still-very-finite wisdom to offer a few affordable, user-friendly ways to make your house feel immediately more like home:

1. Replace the toilet seats

Did I mention that I’m weird? I firmly believe that home is not just where your heart is…home is where you can sit on the toilet without one of those paper things. You know what I mean. Seriously, though, toilet seats are cheap and easy to install. Get rid of those old ones, scrub everything thoroughly, and enjoy your throne without feeling icky.

2. Bake something with cinnamon

I read in a children’s book once about a realtor who would bake cinnamon roles in every house she showed to potential buyers. Something about the scent makes a place feel homey. Also, cinnamon is a strong scent, so it will help cover any mustiness or lingering odors. Besides, nothing makes the stress of moving better like dessert!

3. Use the Pink Stuff, Magic Erasers, and Scrub Daddy Sponges

Sinks, tubs, and showers get stained. It’s just what they do. You can disinfect them until the cows come home (I live in Iowa, so I’m allowed to use this idiom), but they might still look grimy. Stock up on The Pink Stuff, a mild abrasive, and use a magic eraser or Scrub Daddy sponge. With these, your tub or sink will look brand new! Seriously, I don’t know how I existed without the Pink Stuff.

4. Paint, paint, paint!

I’m learning to treat paint like haircuts: I do what I’m in the mood for as long as I can live with it for a season. Paint is not that expensive and can change a room instantly. It also is great for making a space feel cleaner. For instance, I finally repainted our master bathroom, and I not only like the color better, but it smells better in there. Walls seem to hold onto scents and stains, and a fresh coat really makes a difference. If paint isn’t in your budget or you don’t have time to do it yourself, you can mop your walls with gentle cleaner. That will also make a big difference!

Also, you can literally paint anything. There is hardly a surface in my house that hasn’t known the transformative power of paint. I’ve painted my kitchen backsplash, my bathroom tile, my bathroom floor, every visible wall, the baseboards and trim, and several pieces of furniture. If you hate something about your home, your first thought should be: Can I clean it? And your second thought should be: Can I paint it?

5. Surround yourself with houseplants

Look, I am not great with plants. I pretty much only water my houseplants before I go out of town. I can go weeks without watering them when I’m home, but as soon as I’m prepping to go away for a weekend, I suddenly become convinced they’ll die. I love the “tough as nails” plants from Lowe’s, and they really make the air feel cleaner. (Can you tell I’m all about feeling clean?)

6. Replace your light shades

Replacing light fixtures can be expensive and, although I can paint anything, I don’t mess with electricity or wiring. However, for $6-12 apiece, you can buy new covers for your existing light fixtures. This can change the atmosphere of a room instantly. I swapped the old, yellowy shades in my hallway for clear glass ones, and now my hall is brighter and even feels larger.

7. Don’t neglect steam cleaning

Steam cleaners can be pricey, but it shouldn’t be too hard to rent or borrow one. Steam is the easiest way to remove wallpaper and deep-clean stubborn areas (like around toilet seats). You can also use steam on window screens, dusty corners, and greasy kitchen vents. I’m a little in love with my steam.

8. Get rid of sliding shower/bath doors

Sliding shower doors are gross. End of story. They’re hard to keep clean, and they are always grimy with old soap. I finally just took ours off (it takes five minutes), cleaned around it, and bought a shower curtain.

9. Keep your doors and windows open (even interior ones)

Let the fresh air in and the musty air out. Try not to inhibit airflow, especially in dingy basements (I learned this the hard way and am now a committed DampRid customer.) If the weather is fair, throw open your windows the second you cross the threshold. Fresh air and sunlight can work wonders.

10. Replace outlet and light switch covers

Outlets and light switches get really yucky. Think about how often we touch them and how little we clean them. No thank you. You can replace these easily and cheaply. It’ll feel a lot better. Plus, you can go for a bright white that’s a little more on trend than the older yellowy covers.

BONUS: Host friends (even if it’s just to let them help you unpack)

I know this sounds corny, but the more you host other people, your house will feel like home. Maybe I sound too “pastor’s wife” when I say this, but hospitality helps make a house a home. Let your friends come over to help you unpack. Let the church ladies wash your windows. Cook a meal with your spouse. Let a family member try out your guest room. Really, the best way to make a house into a home is to live in it, to make it yours and to share it with others.