Following a home-related disaster or emergency, the average homeowner tends to find himself in a rather vulnerable state. After all, this is a time of emotional and physical upheaval. Your house is in shambles, your insurance company holds most of the cards, and, in some cases, it might be weeks before you’re able to get back into your home. If you happen to have the misfortune of being in such a situation, then one of the best ways to help yourself stay sane is to create a sense of normalcy amid all the turmoil. For this reason, it is important that you take the proper steps to feel at home in your temporary abode. Enrique Ramirez is the owner of PuroClean Property Paramedics, a cleaning service that specializes in emergency cleanup and property restoration, and he offers the following suggestions to help displaced homeowners turn their transient digs into something that feels like home:
Get your hands on some real furniture
Nothing feels more temporary than sleeping on a rollaway bed and dining on a collapsible snack table. If your insurance company allows the option of moving into a temporary housing situation with furniture included, then do that. If this isn’t the case, then try to get your hands on a few key items that can make your provisional situation more pleasant. There are companies that specialize in furniture rentals for situations just like these, so you don’t have to worry about coming up with the cash to buy brand new stuff. You should, at the very least, attempt to get yourself a comfortable bed, a small dining table, and a couple of chairs. This way, you can at least attempt to eat and sleep like a normal person during an otherwise troubling time.
Put up photographs
A great way to make your temporary place feel like home is to put up a bunch of family photos. These can serve as a constant reminder that you do have a support system out there of people who care for you and are behind you during this difficult period.
Add some of your own finishing touches
By incorporating some of your personal tastes and touches into your temporary residence, you’ll be doing your part to make yourself feel more at home in your surroundings. Pick up a couple of inexpensive items such as pillows and throw blankets in your favorite color, and scatter them throughout your living space. If you happen to be a cat person, then buy a cheap poster of calicos playing and put it up on your wall. If you create an environment that looks like home, then it might eventually start to feel like home.
Have home-cooked meals
If your temporary place comes equipped with a functional kitchen, then make an effort to prepare some of your favorite home-cooked meals. People tend to have an emotional connection to food; the right recipe can evoke pleasant memories and warm the spirit as well as the stomach. Although fast food might seem like a much easier option, it will only serve to reinforce the fact that you’re not in the most normal of situations.
Create a routine
Before disaster struck your home, you probably had a standard evening routine. Maybe you liked to come home from work and spend some time reading in front of the fireplace; or perhaps you had a tendency to watch television reruns before turning over and falling asleep. A great way to make your temporary abode feel like home is to create a routine for yourself that is tied to your current housing situation. Don’t worry about mimicking your old routine; in fact, use the opportunity to develop new habits that might serve you well once you’re back in your regular habitat.
Of course, despite your best efforts, you’re bound to have moments during which you find yourself longing for the comforts of your old home. When those thoughts do start to creep into your head, just do your best to tell yourself that your current circumstances won’t last forever. Remember, one day, hopefully in the near future, you’ll bring your own special meaning to the words “there’s no place like home.”
