Personalising your home: top tips for neurodivergent folk

Moving into your new home is a big adjustment. Even though you love your new property, you might want to reorganise, reshuffle and redecorate.

There is also a whole new area surrounding you that you may not be familiar with. 

We’ve pulled together some of our top considerations and tips to factor into your big move!

First and foremost, remember to take your time and don’t feel pressured to organise everything immediately. You do not need to physically and mentally exhaust yourself by unpacking, building and arranging everything on the first day. 

Be kind to yourself, work out a plan in advance for how you’d like to begin unpacking each room - and in which order. 

When it comes to unpacking each box, invite your loved ones over to help. You’ll soon find that their presence around your new property will help make it feel more homely.  

If you’re moving home, it will take a while to feel comfortable. To help ease the transition, keep your comfort items somewhere close by and easily accessible. 

Whether it’s your childhood teddy bear, a comfy blanket, a digital tablet, or fidget toys, keep them secure in a clearly labelled box. 

This can immediately help you to feel grounded, and restore a feeling of warmth and normality to your new home.  

When visiting your new house during the property buying process, we’d also recommend visualising where you’d like to place each item. This will already help your mind get used to the idea of this house becoming your home. 

Similarly, if you are someone who requires access to medicine, pack your long-term supplies where they can be easily accessed and stored safely once you get to the new house. 

Additionally, it would be wise to carry a few weeks' worth of medicine with you in person. This will ensure that you don’t miss out on taking your prescriptions, should they go missing during the chaos of moving. 

As you await completion of your new property, why not try contacting the tradespersons you will need to spruce it up. 

Whether it is a new carpet, painting, or even building work, try to ensure that they can start decorating as soon as you’ve started settling in. 

Personalising your home, your way, can really help you transition. It could be as simple as painting the house your favourite colour, or even some new flooring. 

Speaking of personalisation, once you move in, it’s really important to get this right. Doing so can make your new house become a true home for the future. 

It is important to consider your use of colours, textures, furniture and lighting throughout the house. 

• Colours: neurodivergent people might need to adapt which colours they use on walls and decor to best suit their needs. For example, cooler pastel colours could be preferred to bright, overly-stimulating ones. Consulting an experienced independent painter could help you settle on the right choices for you. 

• Textures: Some people can struggle with certain textures. Take velvet for example, to many it is simply soft and luxurious, but others state it feels like needles. Adapting your choice of fabric and material could work well for your sensory needs.

• Furniture: Buying new furniture is a long-term investment, so you need to make sure it is comfortable for you. It’s important to shop around and find the perfect suite which isn’t too hard, too soft, or just uncomfortable in general. A good sofa can really help in grounding a neurodivergent person, should they become overstimulated.

• Lighting: For many in the neurodivergent community, having the right lighting is vital. Some lights are simply too bright and can cause discomfort and headaches, but you also want to avoid anything too dark - which could be painful and cause headaches. Consulting a local specialist might help you to find the right fit for your home. 

One simple action you can take from the moment you arrive is to introduce yourself to any new neighbours passing by. 

If you aren’t feeling up to speaking with them face to face, try drafting up a short note with a little bit about yourself. You can print this off and post it through their letterboxes as a way of saying hello. 

This could help you to feel more familiar and comfortable with those around you, especially as you might start interacting regularly. 

Similarly, ahead of moving in, why not take a walk around the surrounding area?

You can check out the local supermarkets, pubs, clubs, and restaurants, helping give you plenty of options for where to go and what to do, as you start settling in. You might just stumble across some hidden gems!

Familiarising yourself with your new surroundings is a great way to feel at home immediately on moving day.