Creating Comfort: Turning Temporary Housing into a Cozy Home

Introduction

Moving into temporary housing—whether it’s a short-term rental, a furnished apartment, or an expat assignment—can feel like stepping into a space that isn’t truly yours. I remember our first temporary apartment abroad. The beige walls, the generic furniture, the echoing emptiness…it felt more like a hotel room than a home.

It was then I realized that creating a sense of belonging, even in a temporary space, was crucial for our personal and familial well-being. The impersonal décor and lack of familiar touches can make it difficult to feel settled. But just because a living situation is temporary doesn’t mean it has to feel that way.

With a few thoughtful and budget-friendly temporary home decor ideas, you can transform any space into a warm and inviting retreat. Whether you’re an expat settling into a new country, a digital nomad on the move, or simply in between permanent homes, making your rental feel like home is essential for your peace of mind.

In this guide, we’ll explore simple, government or rental-friendly ways to personalize your temporary housing—without making permanent changes. From cozy lighting to portable décor, you’ll learn how to create a sense of familiarity and comfort wherever life takes you.

Ready to turn your temporary space into a home you love? Let’s dive in!

Personal Touches: Making Your Temporary Housing Feel Like Yours

One of the biggest challenges of temporary housing is that it often lacks personality. The walls are usually beige and bare, the furniture neutral, and the space can feel more like a hotel than a home. But with a few simple tweaks, you can infuse your style and personality into any rental—without making permanent changes. These personal touches are often the first things we unpack, and it’s remarkable how quickly they transform a space.

1. Decorate with Personal Items 

Even if you’re traveling light, a few personal mementos can make a huge difference in making your temporary housing feel like home. Consider packing:

• Framed photos of family, friends, and special moments
• Small keepsakes like souvenirs from past travels or meaningful trinkets
• Favorite books to line a shelf or coffee table
• Artwork or prints that remind you of home (propped on a dresser or attached with removable hooks)

Seeing familiar items in your space can create an instant sense of comfort and belonging.

Take that out-dated corporate art off the walls and and something that reminds you of your people and your adventures. These are often the first items that my family unpacks and it is remarkable how fast it starts to feel like home. One trick we’ve learned is to have a ‘wall of friends’ – a series of 10-20 lightweight, black frames that we hang on our wall with Command Strips. The glass pops on and off easily, so changing the pictures periodically is simple.

2. Soft Textiles for Instant Coziness

Textiles are one of the easiest ways to add warmth and personality to a temporary home, and they are often lightweight and easy to pack. Consider bringing or investing in:

• Throw blankets in your favorite colors or patterns
• Pillow covers for the inevitable drab sofa
• A lightweight, packable rug to define your space and add texture
• Curtains or fabric panels (even if you use tension rods or removable adhesive hooks)

Not only do these soft elements make a space feel cozier, but they also help dampen noise, which is especially helpful in echoey, minimalist rentals. Pillow covers, in particular, can make a huge difference! We brought a few beautiful covers from a previous posting in our checked baggage and they instantly added a pop of color and helped us forget about the bland, executive-style pillows the leasing company provided.

3. Scent: A Powerful Link to Home 

Our sense of smell is deeply connected to memory and emotion. Adding familiar scents can instantly create a sense of home wherever you are. Consider:

• Scented candles in your go-to fragrances
• Essential oil diffusers with calming scents like lavender or energizing ones like citrus
• Room sprays or incense that remind you of past homes or travels

Bringing your favorite scents into a space can soothe stress and create a feeling of familiarity, even in the most unfamiliar settings. After living in East Asia for a few years, we have enough incense to last a lifetime, and the familiar scents create a sense of calm.

4. Temporary Wall and Tabletop Décor 

Since many rentals don’t allow nails or permanent changes, look for removable décor solutions, such as:

• Peel-and-stick wallpaper or decals for an accent wall
• Washi tape or poster putty to hang lightweight prints and pictures
• Tabletop decorations like small vases, decorative trays, or a favorite coffee table book
• Even fresh flowers or a potted plant can add a burst of life and color to an otherwise sterile space.

Our family has a tradition of creating a rainbow in our daughter’s room using rainbow colored painter’s tape. It looks wonderful, is easy to remove, and leaves no residue. But, mostly, it is something we have done in every room she has had, providing her with some continuity in her life.

Another thing we have done is to purchase small swaths of fabric from the places we visit and attach them to crocheting circles. These can be attached to each other to create a fun, lightweight, pop of color that can easily be hung and altered.

5. The Sound of Home: Creating Familiarity Through Audio

While décor and personal items make a space feel visually familiar, sound plays a powerful role in creating a comforting and recognizable environment. Whether it’s the soft hum of a favorite playlist, the sounds of family routines, or even the background noise of a beloved TV show, familiar audio cues can help ground both adults and children in a new space.

Here are some ways to use sound to make a temporary home feel more like yours:

• Play Familiar Music: Create playlists with songs that remind you of home, or keep a consistent morning or evening soundtrack. For kids, playing songs from their home country or childhood favorites can provide comfort.
• Use a White Noise Machine or Fan: If your new home has unfamiliar city sounds, loud neighbors, or echoing rooms, a white noise machine can create a more soothing environment. This is especially great for kids’ bedrooms at night.
• Embrace Family Rituals with Sound: Whether it’s listening to a specific podcast while cooking, a bedtime story read aloud, or the sound of a coffee maker brewing in the morning, small audio habits can create continuity between homes.
• Let Kids Hear Familiar Voices: If a child is missing a relative or friend, consider recorded voice messages or video calls to provide that comforting sense of connection.

Sound has a way of evoking strong emotional ties, so filling your space with familiar and comforting noises can make a temporary house feel more like home in an instant. Our house is almost always full of music. We purchased a few small Bluetooth speakers and have familiar music setting the mood most nights. We dance, sing, and just listen while we cook, and I swear it improves the mood immediately.

Key Takeaways: Personal Touches

Creating a sense of home in temporary housing is about more than just filling a space—it’s about infusing it with your personality. Even small, portable touches can make a big difference. By surrounding yourself with familiar items, engaging your senses, and adding elements of your own style, you can transform any temporary space into a haven that feels uniquely yours. Don’t underestimate the power of personal mementos, soft textures, comforting scents, and familiar sounds—they can bridge the gap between houses and create a true sense of belonging, wherever you are.

Lighting, Atmosphere & Comfort Zones: Creating a Space That Feels Like Home

The right lighting and atmosphere can completely transform a temporary space, turning it from a sterile rental into a cozy, inviting home. By layering lighting, arranging your space with intention, and designating comfort zones, you can make any living arrangement feel warm, functional, and uniquely yours.

1. Layered Lighting for Warmth & Ambiance

Many rental properties rely on harsh overhead lighting that makes a space feel cold and impersonal. The key to creating a cozy atmosphere is layered lighting—a mix of different light sources that allow you to adjust brightness based on mood and time of day. Think about how lighting affects your mood. Soft, warm light is generally more relaxing than harsh overheads.

Consider adding:

• Soft white or warm-toned LED bulbs to replace harsh, blue-toned overhead lights
• Table and floor lamps to create cozy nooks for reading or relaxing
• Battery-operated candles or twinkle lights for a soft, calming glow
• Smart bulbs or dimmable lights to customize brightness levels throughout the day

Soft, warm lighting can make even the most temporary space feel like a sanctuary, offering comfort and relaxation after a long day. We purchased a USB fairy light set that we tape to the back frame of our TV. This little trick makes watching movies easier. It’s referred to as “bias lighting,” and is said to reduce eye strain by creating a more even distribution of light in your viewing area, especially in a dark room. It seems small, but Friday Night Movie Nights feel more fun.

2. Creating Comfort Zones for Relaxation & Routine

When you’re living in temporary housing, it’s easy for your home to feel like a multipurpose space where everything happens in the same area. But carving out designated comfort zones—even in a small apartment or single-room rental—can create a sense of routine and stability.

Here’s how to establish comfort zones:

• A Cozy Reading or Relaxation Corner: Add a comfy chair, a blanket, and soft lighting to create a quiet space for unwinding.
• A Family Gathering Spot: Arrange seating in a way that encourages conversation, even if it’s just a small rug and a few floor cushions.
• A Dedicated Workspace: If you work remotely, set up a small desk or table near natural light to keep it separate from your relaxation areas.
• A Kid-Friendly Zone: Give children a defined space for play or schoolwork, whether it’s a small nook with books and toys or a foldable table for crafts.

These small but intentional design choices help create structure, making your temporary home feel more functional and personalized.

3. Temperature & Textures for Maximum Comfort

Your physical environment has a big impact on how “homey” a space feels. Paying attention to temperature and tactile comfort can make a huge difference in how welcoming your home feels.

• Adjust Temperature to Your Liking: If possible, use portable fans, heaters, or humidifiers to keep the temperature comfortable.
• Use Soft, Cozy Materials: Layer your home with plush rugs, warm blankets, and soft bedding to create a cocoon-like environment.
• Incorporate Natural Elements: Fresh flowers, potted plants, or wooden accents add warmth and a sense of life to any space.

When you focus on lighting, comfort zones, and atmosphere, you’re not just decorating—you’re shaping the way your home feels.

Key Takeaways: Small Changes, Big Impact

Creating a sense of home in temporary housing isn’t about making drastic renovations—it’s about small, intentional changes that make a space feel comfortable and familiar. By focusing on warm lighting, dedicated comfort zones, and cozy textures, you can transform any living arrangement into a place that supports relaxation, connection, and well-being.

The beauty of these changes is that they’re flexible and portable—whether you’re in a short-term rental, government housing, or an apartment across the world, these tips can be adapted to any space. No matter where you are, home is about how a place makes you feel, and with a few thoughtful touches, you can create a sanctuary that feels like yours.

Adapting to Local Styles Without Losing Yourself

Moving into a new home abroad often means stepping into a space that reflects a different design aesthetic, color scheme, or layout than what you’re used to. While embracing local styles can be a fun part of the adventure, it’s also important to maintain a sense of personal identity in your space. The goal is to blend the best of both worlds—incorporating elements of your host country’s style while keeping touches of home that make you feel comfortable and connected. It’s about creating a sense of place that honors both where you are and where you’ve been.

1. Embracing Local Aesthetics:

Every country has its own unique design traditions, from the minimalist elegance of Scandinavian interiors to the vibrant colors and patterns of Moroccan homes. Instead of resisting these differences, find ways to appreciate and integrate them into your space.

• Observe & Adapt: Take note of common design features in your host country—materials, colors, and furniture styles. If possible, visit local homes or model apartments to get a feel for what’s common.
• Highlight What You Love: If you’re drawn to a particular aspect of the local style (handwoven rugs, natural wood finishes, intricate tilework), lean into it! A few key pieces can make your home feel connected to the culture without overwhelming your personal style.
• Keep It Balanced: If the local decor feels too different from what you love, introduce neutral elements to soften the contrast. For example, if your temporary home features bold, colorful walls, use white or earth-toned accents to create a more balanced look.

2. Thrift, Borrow, or Buy? Smart Strategies for Temporary Needs

No matter how well you plan, you’ll likely need to pick up a few essentials to make your space more functional and enjoyable. The trick is to shop wisely—finding budget-friendly, temporary solutions without accumulating unnecessary clutter.

• Check Out Local Thrift Stores & Marketplaces: Many cities have fantastic secondhand stores, flea markets, or buy/sell groups where you can pick up household items at a fraction of the cost. Whether you need a waffle iron, a cozy armchair, or extra kitchenware, these spots can be a goldmine for practical finds.
• Think of It as a Rental: Even if you only need an item for a short time, a small investment in comfort can be worthwhile. For example, our family picked up a $12 waffle iron from Goodwill while waiting for our belongings to arrive. At just $2 per month, it was an affordable way to bring a touch of normalcy to our mornings. When we leave, we’ll donate it back—meaning zero waste and maximum happiness during our stay!
• Shop Smart for Small Luxuries: If you’re missing a favorite type of pillow, lamp, or coffee maker, consider buying an inexpensive version to get by. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just something that helps you feel more at home while you’re there.
• Ask Fellow Expats: Many expat communities have swap groups where people pass along gently used items when they move. Before buying something new, check if another family is looking to rehome an item you need! Your apartment is probably very transient—people are always leaving and looking to offload their old furniture, spices, and half-used grocery items.

Key Takeaways: A Blend of Cultures, A Sense of Place

Adapting to a new home abroad is a delicate dance between embracing the local culture and honoring your own. It’s not about completely abandoning your personal style or trying to replicate your home country aesthetic in a foreign land. Instead, it’s about finding a harmonious balance—weaving in elements of the local design that resonate with you while keeping those familiar touches that ground you and make the space feel authentically yours. This intentional blend of cultures creates a unique sense of place, a home that reflects both where you are and who you are.

Maximizing Storage & Organization in Temporary Housing

One of the biggest challenges of living in temporary housing as an expat is making the most of limited storage space—especially when you’re working with strict weight allowances for shipped belongings. You likely don’t have all your usual furniture, and closets may not be designed for long-term stays. That’s why creative storage solutions are key to keeping your home organized, functional, and clutter-free.

1. Think Vertical: Utilize Every Inch of Space

When floor space is tight, look up! Walls, doors, and even ceilings can provide extra storage without taking up valuable real estate.

• Over-the-Door Storage: Hanging organizers can hold everything from shoes and toiletries to office supplies and snacks. Use them in bedrooms, bathrooms, and even the pantry for extra organization. We love these for their versatility.
• Adhesive Hooks & Wall Shelves: If your housing allows it, temporary stick-on hooks can be a lifesaver for hanging bags, coats, keys, or kitchen tools. Removable wall shelves are another great option for keeping books, decor, or daily-use items within reach. If you live this lifestyle, I expect you to have a bulk box of Command Stripes at the ready.
• Stackable Bins & Baskets: These are lightweight, easy to move, and great for categorizing smaller items like toys, electronics, or seasonal clothing.
• Cube Storage Shelves: The right product can provide you with a makeshift bookshelf, kids’ toy area, or even a clothes organization system that works well. These Versatile Storage Shelves are lightweight, simple to put together, easy to move, and provide a variety of ways in which they can be utilized. They aren’t my favorite design, but provide a lot of options.

2. Under-Bed Storage: Hidden But Handy

If you’re short on closet space, don’t let the area under your bed go to waste!

• Low-Profile Storage Bins: Ideal for out-of-season clothes, shoes, or extra linens. If possible, choose rolling bins for easier access.
• Vacuum Storage Bags: These are a lifesaver for every expat we know, allowing you to store bulky coats, bedding, and extra clothes in a fraction of the space. They also keep items clean and protected from dust, bugs, or humidity.
• Collapsible Fabric Storage: If you prefer a softer, more flexible option, fabric storage bins can easily fold down when not in use.

3. Multi-Purpose Furniture: Function & Storage in One

Since you may not have the luxury of bringing extra furniture, choose pieces that do double duty.

• Storage Ottomans & Benches: A simple padded ottoman can store toys, blankets, or workout gear while also serving as extra seating. If you have kids, this is a great discreet toy chest option! We love the ottoman shown below. It folds easily, fits in our UAB shipment, and holds a considerable amount of things and weight.
• Folding or Nesting Tables: Instead of a bulky coffee table, consider a nesting table set that can expand when needed and tuck away when not in use.
• Bedside Caddies or Hanging Organizers: If your nightstand has limited space, use a bedside hanging pocket organizer for books, tablets, and nighttime essentials.

4. Closet & Clothing Solutions: Maximize Limited Space

Expats often don’t have large wardrobes in temporary housing, making smart closet organization essential.

• Slim, Velvet Hangers: These save a surprising amount of space and keep clothes from slipping off.
• Hanging Shelves & Drawer Dividers: Fabric hanging organizers instantly add shelf space to closets, while drawer dividers keep smaller items tidy.
• Rolling Suitcase Storage: If your suitcase isn’t in use, turn it into a storage unit! Fill it with extra bedding, out-of-season clothes, or even shoes.

5. Kitchen & Pantry Organization: Small but Mighty Solutions

Temporary housing kitchens aren’t always designed for long-term living, but a few smart additions can help keep things running smoothly.

• Collapsible or Stackable Kitchenware: If you need to buy extra bowls or storage containers, choose collapsible silicone versions that take up less space when not in use.
• Tension Rods for Extra Shelving: Add a tension rod inside a cabinet to create a second level for storing lids, cutting boards, or baking sheets.
• Magnetic Knife Strips & Spice Racks: Save counter space by mounting knives, spices, or small utensils onto a magnetic strip.

Key Takeaways: Smart Storage, Less Stress

When living in temporary housing, it’s essential to think creatively and stay flexible with storage solutions. Using vertical space, choosing multi-purpose furniture, and investing in collapsible or secondhand storage options will help you maintain an organized, clutter-free home—even in a small space. And remember, some storage solutions, like vacuum-sealed bags or rolling suitcases, can even travel with you to your next destination!

Conclusion: Creating a Home Wherever You Are

Turning a temporary house into a warm, welcoming home is not just about decorating—it’s about creating a space that feels like yours, no matter where in the world you are. It’s about small comforts that make a big difference—a cozy reading nook, familiar family photos, or even a simple $12 waffle iron that brings a sense of normalcy to your mornings.

While expat life often means frequent moves and unfamiliar spaces, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort, organization, or a sense of belonging. With thoughtful personal touches, smart storage solutions, and a willingness to adapt, you can transform any temporary housing into a place that truly feels like home.

And remember—home isn’t just a place, it’s a feeling. It’s the routines you create, the meals you share, and the little moments of joy that make even the most temporary spaces feel like your own personal sanctuary. No matter how long—or short—your stay may be, you have the power to make your house a home.