Moving from the UK to the USA is exciting. You get the bigger house, the bigger fridge, the bigger supermarket… and then you realize that your new home doesn’t quite feel like home yet.
I’ve been there.
When you move countries, it’s easy to concentrate on the practical things: finding a house, setting up utilities, buying furniture, opening bank accounts and figuring out where the nearest supermarket is.
But once those things are done, it’s the little details that can make the biggest difference.
A few familiar touches can turn an unfamiliar American house or apartment into somewhere that actually feels like your home.
Whether you’ve just arrived from the UK, you’re renting your first American apartment, or you’re moving into your first US home, here are some of my favorite ways to make the space feel warmer, more comfortable and more like you.
Just arrived in America? Start with my UK to USA Moving Checklist before you start shopping for your new home.
📌 In This Guide
- 🪟 Start With the Windows
- 🛏️ Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a Retreat
- 🌱 Add Something Green
- 🌿 Consider a Smart Indoor Garden
- 🇬🇧 Create a Little Piece of Britain
- 🏡 Don’t Try to Decorate Everything at Once
- 🏠 Make a Rental Feel Less Like a Rental
- 🇺🇸 Take Advantage of American Space
- 🕯️ Make Your Home Smell Familiar
- ❤️ Give Yourself Time
- 🛍️ My New-Home Shopping List
1. Start With the Windows 🪟
One of the easiest ways to completely change the feel of a room is surprisingly simple:
Add curtains.
🇬🇧 American Windows Can Be Very Different
One thing that caught me out after moving from the UK was just how different American windows can be.
Window sizes, frame styles, blinds and the way curtains are hung can vary considerably from what you’re used to in Britain.
Before ordering curtains or shades, measure your windows carefully and check exactly what type of window treatment will work for your space.
If you’re ordering custom treatments, don’t guess the measurements.
Adding curtains can instantly make a bedroom or living room feel more finished.
They can also help with:
- Privacy
- Light control
- Creating a cozier bedroom
- Blocking early morning sunlight
- Adding color and texture
- Making a rental feel less temporary
Why I like curtains as a first upgrade
You don’t need to redecorate an entire room.
Adding a pair of curtains can make a surprisingly big difference without replacing your furniture or painting the walls.
And if you’re renting, you can take them with you when you move.
Looking for affordable curtains or shades?
Joydeco has a large selection of curtains, blackout curtains, Roman shades, roller shades and other window treatments, including custom options.
Their range includes both decorative and practical options, so you can choose based on the amount of light, privacy and style you’re looking for.
Tip: If you’re ordering custom curtains or shades, measure carefully before ordering. Joydeco also offers fabric swatches and measurement guidance, which can be useful if you’re unsure about the fabric or color.
2. Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a Retreat 🛏️
Your bedroom is probably one of the first places I’d concentrate on.
Moving countries can be exhausting, and having somewhere comfortable to retreat to at the end of the day makes a huge difference.
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars.
Start with:
- Comfortable bedding
- Soft pillows
- A throw blanket
- Bedside lamps
- Curtains or blackout shades
- A couple of personal photographs
- Something that reminds you of home
Blackout curtains can be particularly useful
If you’re adjusting to a new time zone, dealing with jet lag or simply have a bedroom that gets too much morning sunlight, blackout curtains can be worth considering.
Joydeco offers blackout curtains as well as blackout Roman shades and other light-control options.
3. Add Something Green 🌱
This is one of my favorite ways to make a new home feel lived-in.
Plants instantly add warmth to a room.
But there’s a problem.
Not everyone has a green thumb.
And when you’re settling into a new country, the last thing you may want is another thing to remember to water.
That’s where an indoor growing system can be fun.
Try growing herbs indoors
Imagine having fresh basil, mint, parsley or lettuce growing right in your kitchen.
It’s practical, but there’s something else about it too.
Growing something in your new home can make the space feel established and lived-in.
Instead of simply unpacking boxes and buying furniture, you’re actually creating a home.
4. Consider a Smart Indoor Garden 🌿
If you like the idea of growing herbs or vegetables but don’t have a garden, an indoor hydroponic garden could be worth considering.
LetPot makes automated indoor hydroponic growing systems designed to make growing plants at home easier. Their systems are aimed at people who want to grow herbs, vegetables and other plants indoors without relying on traditional garden space.
This could be particularly useful if you’re:
- Living in an apartment
- Renting
- Living somewhere with a short growing season
- Short on outdoor space
- Interested in growing fresh herbs
- Not particularly confident with gardening
I particularly like this idea for a new American kitchen because it’s both useful and decorative.
And let’s be honest — having fresh herbs available when you’re cooking is always a bonus.
5. Create a Little Piece of Britain 🇬🇧
You don’t need your entire house to look British.
But having a few familiar things around you can make a new country feel much less foreign.
Think about the things you genuinely miss.
Maybe it’s:
- A favorite mug
- British tea
- A familiar food
- A favorite candle
- Family photographs
- A blanket
- A piece of artwork
- Your favorite toiletries
You don’t need to recreate your old house.
Just bring a few pieces of your old life into your new one.
Looking for British essentials in America?
I’ve put together a much bigger guide here:
👉 100+ British Essentials You Can Buy in the USA
And I’ve also created an Amazon collection of British favorites that are available in the USA.
6. Don’t Try to Decorate Everything at Once
This is something I wish more people talked about when moving abroad.
You don’t have to finish your house immediately.
In fact, please don’t.
When you’ve just moved countries, your taste might change once you’ve actually lived in the space.
Instead of buying everything at once, start with the rooms you use the most.
I’d prioritize:
First
🛏️ Bedroom
🛋️ Living room
🍳 Kitchen
Later
Guest rooms
Home office
Dining room
Decorative spaces
This gives you time to figure out what you actually like.
7. Make a Rental Feel Less Like a Rental 🏡
If you’re renting, you may feel like you can’t personalize your home.
But you can still make a huge difference.
Try:
🪟 Window treatments
Curtains and shades can make a rental feel much more finished.
👉 Explore Joydeco Curtains & Shades →
🖼️ Artwork
Choose pieces that have meaning to you rather than simply filling empty walls.
If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual home décor, CozySpiritStudio has a selection of posters and wall art inspired by places, travel and everyday life.
👉 Explore CozySpiritStudio Wall Art →
🎁 Add Something Personal
Once you’ve got the practical things sorted, it’s the personal touches that really start making a new place feel like home.
Photographs, memories from family and travels, personalised artwork or a little something made especially for your home can make an otherwise unfamiliar space feel much more like your own.
If you’re looking for personalised pieces, Giftlab has a range of custom photo and personalised gifts that can work beautifully in a new home — from photo décor and wall art to personalised cushions, blankets and other home touches.
👉 Explore Personalised Home Gifts at Giftlab →
🛋️ Soft furnishings
Throws, cushions and rugs can add color without making permanent changes.
🌱 Plants
Even a few plants can completely change the atmosphere.
If you don’t have much outdoor space — or you’re not particularly confident with gardening — an indoor growing system can be an easy way to bring some greenery into your new home.
👉 Explore LetPot Indoor Gardens →
💡 Lighting
Don’t rely entirely on overhead lighting.
Lamps can make a room feel much warmer in the evening.
8. Take Advantage of the American Space
One of the biggest differences many Brits notice after moving to America is the amount of space.
Bigger kitchens.
Bigger refrigerators.
Bigger bedrooms.
Bigger garages.
And sometimes… very big windows.
Instead of trying to recreate your UK home exactly, think about how you can use the space differently.
For example:
In the kitchen
Create a dedicated coffee or tea station.
In the living room
Create a cozy reading corner.
In the bedroom
Add a small seating area if you have room.
Near a sunny window
Create an indoor herb garden.
This is where something like a LetPot system can make sense — you’re using your new space for something practical rather than simply filling it with furniture.
9. Make Your Home Smell Familiar 🕯️
This might sound silly, but smell can have a huge effect on how a place feels.
When you’re homesick, familiar scents can be surprisingly comforting.
Try:
- Your favorite candle
- A familiar laundry scent
- Freshly baked food
- Your favorite tea
- Essential oils
- Fresh herbs
Sometimes it’s not the furniture that makes somewhere feel like home.
It’s the smell when you walk through the door.
10. Give Yourself Time ❤️
This might be the most important one.
Your first American home doesn’t have to feel like home immediately.
You’ve just moved countries.
You’re learning new systems, new roads, new stores, new measurements, new money and probably a whole new way of doing everyday things.
It’s completely normal for your house to feel unfamiliar for a while.
Home isn’t created by one shopping trip.
It’s created slowly.
It’s the photographs you put up.
The mug you always use.
The herbs growing on your kitchen counter.
The curtains you chose.
The Sunday breakfast.
The pile of shoes by the door.
The little routines you create.
Eventually, the place that once felt completely foreign starts to feel like yours.
My New-Home Shopping List for Brits 🇬🇧➡️🇺🇸
If you’re starting from scratch, here’s where I’d concentrate first:
| Room | First Things I’d Buy |
|---|---|
| 🛏️ Bedroom | Bedding, lamps, curtains/blinds |
| 🛋️ Living Room | Curtains, cushions, throw, rug, lamps |
| 🍳 Kitchen | Kettle, coffee/tea setup, storage, herbs |
| 🌱 Kitchen Window | Indoor herb garden |
| 🚿 Bathroom | Towels, toiletries, storage |
| 🏡 Whole Home | Photos, artwork & personal touches |
My rule?
Don’t buy everything just because you have an empty room.
Buy things that make your everyday life better.
🛍️ A Few Things I’d Buy First
When you’re setting up a new American home, there are a few everyday things that are worth getting sorted early — especially kitchen basics, storage, lighting and those little items that make your first few weeks easier.
I’ve put together my Amazon home setup essentials for new US apartments and homes here:
👉 Shop My Amazon Home Setup Essentials
📦 Amazon Prime Can Be Handy When You’re Setting Up a New Home
When you’re setting up a new American home, you’ll probably realise there are a surprising number of things you need — often all at once.
Amazon Prime can be particularly useful during those first few weeks, whether you’re ordering kitchen basics, bedding, storage, cleaning supplies or those little things you forgot to pack from the UK.
🏡 My 2 Favorite Quick Wins for a New American Home
🪟 1. Transform the Windows
Curtains and shades can make a room feel finished almost instantly.
🌱 2. Bring Some Life Into the Kitchen
Fresh herbs are an easy way to make a new kitchen feel lived-in.
👉 EXPLORE LETPOT INDOOR GARDENS
More Home Setup Ideas for Brits Moving to America
If you’re setting up your first American home, don’t forget the practical things too.
I’ve put together a separate guide covering the Amazon essentials I recommend for setting up a new US apartment or home, from kitchen basics to household items.
👉 Read: Amazon Home Setup for New US Apartments
And if you’re missing a few things from Britain:
👉 Read: 100+ British Essentials You Can Buy in the USA
Final Thoughts
Moving from Britain to America is a huge change.
Your new home doesn’t need to look exactly like your old one.
Instead, take the opportunity to create something new — while keeping a few of the familiar things that make you feel comfortable.
A good set of curtains.
Your favorite mug.
Fresh herbs growing in the kitchen.
Photos of the people you love.
A cozy bedroom.
And perhaps a few British treats hidden in the cupboard.
Those little things add up.
Before you know it, your new American house won’t feel like the place you moved to anymore. It’ll feel like home. 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸
Affiliate Disclosure
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I believe may be useful to Brits moving to or living in the USA.