How do I make my house homely again?

[ghostchild]

Been struggling with mental health lately. Have DH and 2 DCs. Very small house.

Just feel like the place has no love in it at the moment and don't feel at all homely here lately. Just watched a video of my mums house last Christmas and you could feel the homeliness pouring out the screen.

What can I do to make it seem more homely?
I admit I don't spend much time on the house since the kids have been born, and cooking seems to be whatever I can do for the kids rather than an enjoyable experience.

Just feeling a bit sad and deflated really.

Photos - in frames or on a pin board
Cushions / throws in your favourite colours
Lighting in a room can make a huge difference to how it "feels" - a lamp or two rather than the big light on

Good luck

Fairy lights, lamps, reed diffusers, throws, rugs and cushions

Fresh flowers

Red
Warm
Soft
Happy pictures
Good luck, be as kind to yourself as you would a friend

Tidy and de clutter. This always makes me feel 100x better day to day and also means that other touches are actually noticeable so I have more ‘purpose’ generally when it comes to house stuff

What was it about your mum's house? Try and pinpoint although it's hard.

It's a feeling not a thing or things. Although I kind of know it, the feeling it's not quite your home, just a place you live.

I think you need to make it yours, filling your home with memories and things that could only be you and your family.

Photos of happy memories, change up your photos if you haven't recently. Spend time choosing and laying them out with everyone.

Making happy memories. Board games and baking. If you're out a lot I think home can just feel like somewhere you sleep and watch TV.

If your house is small it feels hard to spend time in the house and you want to get out. But try and spend time at home, enjoying it, and then home is something you want to come back to.

Decorate a room, put your stamp on it. Unpack ornaments from the box in the loft that never got unpacked if you've ever moved. Or dust and clean all of the ones you have. Or if you have none, even some awful signage helps create a vibe, whether it's snarky kitchen opening times or twee toilet rules.

Choose nice candles and smells you like. Soft furnishings in colours you like. Throws and pillows.

What’s it like at the moment? Is it cluttered or bare?
What kind of furniture do you have?
Clean and tidy is the first step.
Then some lighting like a table or floor lamp.
Cushions, photos and pictures help too.

My top tips are soft lamp lighting rather than big overhead lights (as has already been said) and houseplants. But also, tradition, length of time you've been there and whether or not you've had a happy time. If you're not happy it probably isn't because of your house. Fix how you feel and your house will feel good too, I say.

Look at Pinterest for ideas. I like lamps, pictures, photos, cushions, throws (which are great as they can be washed and stop my sofa getting ruined by sticky hands). Plants, candle holders, ornaments. But not too many, don’t clutter.

Harsh, bright, overhead lights literally kill the atmosphere.

No 1 put lamps in the sitting room and use those instead of the overhead light.

Same for other rooms even kitchen, though obvs you need some task lighting in there.

Get rid of clutter. This makes every where seem more peaceful.

Hang pictures on bare walls.

Plants/flowers always add joy.

Good Luck Op

Pictures - either photos or stuff made by the DC.
A little corner where we measure how tall DC are
Couple of plants.

Is it tidy?.