What makes your house feel like a home?

[Seline]

Haven't quite got there with ours yet. It's s very vague question but just after some ideas.

Dogs, cats, kids, clutter. I am in the process of getting rid of all these things. It’s fucking wonderful. 😂 But they do help make a place homely. If that’s what you want!

A real fire.

Family photographs. Lines of shoes by the back door. Books.

I think it's books. Our LL won't let us put up selves and our alcove is too narrow for a bookcase. I have nowhere for my books :(

How wide is your alcove? I have a couple of very narrow free standing bookcases (18 inches) bought from a local pine furniture shop. I am sure that if you post measurements Mumsnet collective wisdom can find a solution for you.

four I think it was 32" when I measured it. All bookshelves I find are really wide, were after something simple and dark oak/walnut.

Its the people in it.

For me it's books, candles, cushions and "stuff" that makes you happy.
It's forever evolving though, been in this house for over 4 years and still not done what I've wanted to it ( cosmetic work due to finances ) but it's our home and I love the people in it more.
I love shopping for house stuff and take a lot of pride in cleaning my home. It's nice when people compliment it as it's nothing special really.
This year though I'm determined to be as clutter free as possible.

Books for sure plus as others have said clutter incl photos, crap children's artworks, also a fire and candles and the smell of home cooking.

It must be warm and feel safe too. We loved it last night when the rain tipped down and we we warm and cosy indoors.

Family photos, childrens artwork pinned to the fridge, bits scattered about like a toy under a side table a random shoe thats missed the shoe basket when it was lobbed at said shoe basket. Basically a warm house that looks lived in but that is also clean.

It's definitely the no books that's doing it. Need to find a slim bookcase

Soft lighting can turn a cold room into a lovely cosy room. Lamps are relatively cheap but can make a huge difference

Ikea has lots, we have a gersby which is 60cm wide and a double Kallax is 77cm which might just squeeze in, or maybe if you built it in place...

seline you can use dvd 'towers' for books, lots of not very wide ones online.

Dogs, even though I hate the stupid toy ducks everywhere.

Dogs, books, candles, our log burner. The most important thing though is all the happy memories of things and the people who have been here.

Cushions , throws and rugs for me. Plants, candles and a cat. Music and a bottle of red on the work surface.

Books
Dogs
Candles
Wood burner

Dog/s in the house

Books! Lots of books.

Piano

Have a look at Roseland furniture for bookcases. I’ve bought a few pieces of furniture from there recently and have been pleased with the quality and price.

Well decorated in gorgeous colours with your favourite things around you.
Pets, family, friends.
Welcoming, cosy, comfortable and clean.
Lots of lights/lamps in the right places, a fire, soft furnishings.
Homebaked goods in the kitchen.
Clutter free (no books here) but not empty or bland.

Are books clutter? How can you even have no books on the house?

It looks lived in, not clinical and cleaned to within an inch of its life.

Signs of the people who live there - DS' artwork, DH's guitar, my sewing bits, dog's Kong.

Anything that looks like an Instagram post is cold and antiseptic to me. Ok in a hotel room/air b&b, but not to actually live in.

We have a few photos up, lots of artwork, mix and match cushions/throws, lamps, comfy sofas/chairs you actually want to sit on. And books, so many books but no bangles, I hate them and they just gather dust here.