Part of the fun of setting up a new place is that you get to use the space as a blank canvas to work with. And the sooner you put your stamp on that canvas, the quicker you'll feel like you're really at home.
With that in mind, here are a few unpacking tips to help you get settled in a flash.
When you're staring at a mountain of boxes, the idea of unpacking can seem really overwhelming. While ripping through every one of those boxes and unpacking all of your stuff at once is one approach, doing so might not be the most realistic or feasible option.
That's why it's important to be strategic when you're settling in. Start by setting up the most important rooms in your new place first: your bedroom and bathroom.
After a long day of unpacking, you're going to be tired. Even if the rest of your bedroom looks like a disaster area, setting up your bed frame and making the bed is a must. Your bed symbolizes comfort, and, after all that moving effort, you will need to sleep well!
Read more: Don't Forget These 5 Essentials in Your Apartment
The same goes for your bathroom. Hook up your shower curtain, dig out your toothbrush holder, throw down your bath mat and hang up a few towels. Unpacking is dirty business — literally — and when you want to wash all that unpacking effort away, a clean, comfortable bathroom offers respite.
Start with these two rooms first, and let everything else slide until you can get around to it. It's best to attend to your most intimate spaces first so you can really be comfortable in your new place.
Read more: How to Love the Apartment You're In
Nothing says "I'm in transition" quite like a bunch of big cardboard boxes littering every corner of your apartment. That's why recycling or tossing boxes is one of the first things you should do to feel settled in. Don't give yourself the chance to live like a pack rat – get rid of or recycle the boxes as soon as you can.
Hanging a bit of artwork can really work wonders in a new place. Blank walls feel cold and impersonal, but walls peppered with well-placed pictures are inviting. You may start your decorating efforts by hanging the art you brought with you from your last home. Then again, you might decide you want to start fresh from a new decorating angle and purchase new art to make your space feel brand-new.
Read more: Apartment Guide's Top 9 Decor Trends for 2014
These days you can find removable wall decals that also make great art. Decals are affordable and come in many varieties — sports, cartoons, comics, fine art, lettering, etc. With so many options, you're bound to find a decal that fits your budget and livens up your new place.
If you still prefer to hang some good, old-fashioned artwork, but you're worried about nail holes, don't fret. Take a quick trip to the hardware store, and you'll find that you can purchase adhesive picture-hanging hooks that won't damage walls.
Read more: 8 Home Decor Mistakes to Avoid
When you're setting up a new place, the quickest way to make a new place really feel like home is to pay attention to the details. Think about which of your possessions really speak of home to you. Would having a fully-functional Wii video game system make you feel at home? How about seeing a fully-stocked bar in your dining room for entertaining? Or gazing at shelves of your favorite figurines or decorative art pieces?
Whatever your prized possessions, put them on display in your new place. The more touchstones of home you see around you, the faster you'll truly feel at home.