You've finally moved into your new home, which means now it's time to decorate it. This doesn't have to be an expensive process, especially if you've already spent a lot of money. money on the move. There are many affordable ways to make your new space reflect you and your personal style.
![Logo Moving advice CNET](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/2e63533da914a7d41e3125215225a918937718c1/hub/2024/04/24/c0784ed4-3648-461c-8f2a-55a0661686a1/tips-moving.png?auto=webp&width=768)
Just follow a few handy tips and tricks, like giving an old room a facelift with a fresh coat of paint or a deep clean before unboxing it.
We've compiled a list of essential tips to help you customize your tablet with minimal hassle.
For more moving tips, here are the best moving companies of 2024.
Clean, clean, clean
If you're lucky enough to move into a spotless apartment, congratulations. This is not always the case for everyone. Your new digs are probably a little dusty, a little dirty.
Before unpacking your boxes and assembling this Ikea piece of furniture, take a little time to clean up your empty space. Hit the floors with a Swiffer, dust those windows, wash your kitchen counters until you can see your reflection, give your bathroom a little TLC, and finish it all off with a good old wash. 'vacuum cleaner.
You are starting a new life in a new place. Why start with leftover dirt from your previous tenant?
Give your walls a fresh coat of paint or wallpaper
![Two people painting their walls yellow](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/64fd5cf920024ccd1c724a3d955799f2469e928f/hub/2023/04/19/3862ef2e-ac65-49f8-9082-fd95f8e9760e/gettyimages-a0034-000149b.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
When my roommates and I moved into our New York apartment, we were surrounded by bright buttery yellow walls. It was fancy for us — for no more than two days. We quickly realized that there was only so much butter your eyes could devour.
My roommates chose a few favorite colors and replaced the formerly yellow living room, hallway, bathroom, and bedrooms with forest greens, subtle whites, and light grays. It was a simple solution that breathed new life into our home and made us feel like it was our space, not just another NYC rental.
With your landlord's approval, change the vibe of your new place with colors that reflect who you are and what you want your apartment to be. Do not succumb to the wall colors offered to you; look for funky wallpapers and compelling tones to make this space yours.
Note: If your landlord agrees to let you paint, it will probably be on the condition that you repaint the walls in their original color when you leave.
Add scents that remind you of home
![Candles on shelf](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/b4149ad6c180fa1c3fd71a3e8c540e91feb8f4e7/hub/2023/04/19/67bc238f-67bf-4a2c-8b66-72cf1358c5fb/gettyimages-1406961279.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Create a space that feels like home with scents that take you back to your old self. Maybe that means adding a sugar cookie-scented Yankee candle to your cart for old times' sake or plugging your Glade Clean Linen air freshener into your living room outlet. This trick also works if you are trying to get a a pesky stench coming out of your apartment.
Rugs, curtains, mirrors and throws
![Living room with sofa, rug and plants](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c02bba7cead2cfe6748940e480ec285f756f3f81/hub/2023/04/19/e336410a-0fb9-4c40-8c4f-1fb9424e75d2/gettyimages-1314488615.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
A few must-have home decor pieces can brighten up your space with minimal effort. Put curtains on your windows to add character to a lifeless living room or bedroom.
If you're moving into a small apartment, hang a few mirrors in sunny spots to visually open up the space and let light reflect into it. You can also opt for a more personal space by sprucing up your space with rugs and cushions with colorful patterns.
Light this up
![Person working at a table in a well-lit room](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c4dd4c46ce38b37ff929c7278671ee17eef3edff/hub/2023/04/19/856ec239-5fdd-4f06-9eb4-466144637d15/gettyimages-1355125417.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
To give your rooms a warm, generous glow, consider adding multiple layers of light. Don't just rely on that ceiling light or desk lamp.
The general rule, according to interior designers, is to have three to four light sources per room. Some of these sources may be purely functional, while others can add personality, character and funk to the space.
For smaller spaces, consider smaller light sources, like desk lamps and floor lamps, while larger spaces, like a living room or kitchen, might require overhead lighting fixtures. Don't forget the dimmers; use them to control the ambiance of your room by dimming your lights based on the time of day and the mood of your space.
To hang up
![Two photo frames in the living room](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/0af9c404b6275cf59001d6a2a3b0c1554e92c822/hub/2023/04/19/30239968-6a11-4fd7-98ee-87583d1dd33e/gettyimages-1301941123.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Decorate your walls with your favorite artwork and photos. Get creative and print out your favorite family photos or artwork and hang them on empty walls. Wall art will instantly personalize your space and fill it with iconic personal touches.
Liven it up with plants and cacti
![Person watering a plant](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/e019a9cf9f603780edf354b4cd9448e25cce6485/hub/2023/04/19/5f91140e-21fd-4b59-915d-85aa865d2dd3/gettyimages-1324574723.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Not only do plants and cacti add life and green to your apartment, but they also purify your air and can improve your mood. Choose plants that suit your plant care style: Opt for an unpretentious pothos if you're killing a plant you're buying, and opt for a funky cactus or string of pearls if you're an intermediate to professional plant parent who's well aware of your flora.
For more home tips, here's how lifting boxes and heavy furniture and don't hurt your back, and here's what you should what to know before moving.