Some moves are planned. Others just… happen. Maybe you’re leaving campus, excited to live on your own.
Maybe you’re leaving a home you thought you’d stay in forever. One might feel like a next step. The other, like starting over. Both carry the weight of change.
And that path looks different for everyone. Some people have checklists. Others have questions. Most have a little bit of both.
In the middle of all that uncertainty, you still need a place to land. Somewhere to sleep. To work. To exhale. Somewhere that helps you feel like yourself.
If this is where you are right now—this article is for you. Whether you’re stay at your new place for three months or a year, this guide will help you build comfort—not just with your surroundings, but within yourself.
Quick Guide
How to Feel at Home in a Temporary Space
There’s no single answer. Some people feel at home in a few weeks. For others—especially if the move involves a new city, new routines, or unexpected change—it can take 6 to 18 months to truly settle in.
So if you’re still figuring things out, still adjusting your routines or your furniture or your mindset—you’re not behind. You’re just human. And you’re not alone.
What Are the First Spaces to Prioritize in a Temporary Home?
You don’t have to furnish everything at once. Start with the spaces that support your body, your rhythm, and your sense of comfort. The rest can come later.
1. The Bedroom — For Rest That Actually Restores You
Your first night shouldn’t end on the floor or an air mattress. A real bed—with structure, softness, and calm—tells your body it’s safe to rest.
Texture Tip: Layer cotton sheets, a sturdy frame, and a throw with some weight. Go for warmth over trend.
2. A Table and Chair — For Structure When the Days Blur
A kitchen table might become your desk, your dining room, your everything. A single surface can bring back a sense of rhythm when things feel scattered.
Texture Tip: Choose warm wood tones or matte finishes. A comfortable, upright chair makes a bigger difference than you think.
3. A Landing Spot — For the Moments That Don’t Have a Name
This might be a loveseat, a reading chair, or just a small corner with soft light. It’s the space that doesn’t ask anything from you. It simply lets you be.
Texture Tip: Look for curved edges, soft upholstery, and a side table for tea, books, or nothing at all.
Design Ideas That Make Temporary Spaces Feel Personal
In April, CORT—and our head of product development, Darrell Gardner—were featured in Martha Stewart’s, “12 Color Drenching Ideas for Bedrooms That Add Wall-to-Wall Ambience, on color drenching: a design approach that wraps a room in a single hue to create calm, cohesion, and emotional ease.
But what stood out wasn’t just the color. It was the way Darrell talked about texture, pattern, and emotional function—how design can support comfort, clarity, and a sense of home, even when nothing feels permanent.
The takeaway is one we believe in deeply:
A space doesn’t have to be permanent to feel personal. And comfort isn’t a luxury—it’s part of how you move forward.
What Darrell Gardner Shared in Martha Stewart’s Color Drenching Feature
Curious about the trend but don’t have time to read the full article? Listen below for a quick audio dive into what color drenching is—and why it resonates right now.
Disclaimer: The above podcast episode was generated using AI based on an interview transcript. While the content remains true to the original conversation, the voices, tone, and delivery were synthesized and do not represent actual recordings of the speakers. This AI-generated format is intended to enhance accessibility and provide an alternative way to engage with the discussion.
That conversation sparked a bigger question:
What other design moves can do the same?
Here are a few. Not trends. Not rules. Just small, intentional shifts that meet you in the moment you’re in.
1. Mood Mapping
Design around emotion—not function. Ask yourself: how do I want to feel here? Then build around that.
Let a deep rust wall hold your anxiety. Let soft green echo calm. Let texture carry what color can’t.
2. Intention Over Scale
You don’t need a full dining set. You need one corner done really well. A single table with presence. A chair that makes you sit up and exhale. A lamp that lights just the things you love.
Temporary doesn’t have to mean halfway. It just means essential.
3. Visual Pause Points
Your brain needs somewhere to rest—visually and emotionally. In a color-drenched space, choose one moment that interrupts the tone. A bare stretch of wall. A sculptural object. A single piece of black and white photography. Let that quiet spot breathe for you.
4. Memory Layering
When a space has no history, bring your own.
A worn-in book. A piece of art from your last home. A dish towel that reminds you of your grandmother. Memory isn’t decorative—it’s grounding.
5. Controlled Disruption
Sometimes comfort comes from control. And sometimes it comes from breaking the rules. Hang something too low. Pick a pillow that doesn’t match. Burn a candle that smells like where you grew up. Make it yours, even if you’re only here for a while.
What It Feels Like When You’re Cared For (Not Just Delivered To)
Design matters. But so does how it shows up.
It’s one thing to receive a sofa. It’s another thing entirely to receive a sense of relief. A little more control. A little less to carry.
That’s what people remember about working with CORT.
Beth used our service in 2020 during a stressful move. What stood out wasn’t just the furniture—it was the care.
“I was already on edge, just from the move… I called to confirm my pickup—even though I already had it scheduled—and the person on the phone was just so kind. The team showed up, made sure everything looked good, and left everything clean. It felt like they were looking out for me, too.”
Another customer, navigating a fast relocation right before the holidays, said this:
“CORT was amazing. They made it so easy—white glove service, really kind people. If you ever need rental furniture? Hands down, amazing.”
That’s what it feels like when something—and someone—shows up for you in the middle of a hard moment.
Not just delivered. Not just set up. But understood.
What CORT Offers: Furniture That Meets You Where You Are
At CORT, we offer thoughtfully designed furniture rental packages that help you feel at home—without the burden of buying, moving, or storing anything.
- Start with Move-in-Ready® packages designed for comfort, flow, and real life or explore and create a package of your own
- Keep everything as long as you need—a few months, a year, or somewhere in between.
- Schedule your delivery and we’ll come and set up. When you’re done, schedule your pickup on your terms—we’ll handle the rest.
Every item goes through our CORT Clean Certified™ process, and our furnishings are built to last under CORT Construction Standards™ and made to live beautifully across multiple uses. With our circular business model, 95% of inventory stays out of landfills—and stays in circulation for people like you.
We don’t just provide furniture. We support real life.
How CORT Furniture Rental Supports Comfort Without Commitment
No one teaches you how to feel settled in a space that isn’t permanent. But that doesn’t mean it can’t feel like home.
At CORT, we help you create a space that supports you—not someday, but right now. With furniture that arrives clean, on time, and thoughtfully chosen. With a team that shows up with care. With options that let you move forward, without dragging the weight of ownership behind you.
Even temporary spaces deserve comfort.
Even uncertain seasons deserve softness.
And you deserve a place that reflects the life you’re living—today.
