Please can you help me? - please describe things that you feel add "polish/finishing touches" to you/your home?

[GabrielleChanel]

So I always used to wear nail varnish as it made me feel like I had my shit together even when I - I have also recently moved to a red lip for a similar reason. Since Coronavirus/all the handwashing I have moved to a nude nail because I can see how clean my nails are better

But I realise that this polish is something I am striving for and I think makes one look less frumpy. I think my house could do with a bit of de-frumping too - e.g plumping of cushions.

Are there other things you do?

What do you think makes a house look polished/finished?

Mrs hinches home is a matter of taste but I don’t think anyone can argue it’s not polished. Arguing it’s soul less or not to personal taste is a different question entirely.

Tits on a bull 😂😂😂

@myusernamewastakenbyme

I would say dont have everything grey like Mrs Hinch...its completely soul less...i'm also not keen on Ikea furniture or Next sofas....i live in an 220 year old Georgian cottage...its very quirky so ultra modern stuff looks awful in here.

Completely agree with this. The worst, most naff homes to me are ones with the 3 piece leather suite which is all pointed to a TV then big photos of overly posed family photos from 10 years ago and mixed with bits of driftwood saying “live, laugh, love”

The worst, most naff homes to me are ones with the 3 piece leather suite which is all pointed to a TV then big photos of overly posed family photos from 10 years ago and mixed with bits of driftwood saying “live, laugh, love

But again this is personal taste. She’s not asking what you think is naff in terms of personal decor. Don’t get me wrong it’s not my thing, but that doesn’t mean a room like that can’t look polished.

Oh god yes those awful photos that people got from Venture photography...cost thousands but look so dated and naff now...i also hate any quotes or signs on walls...or letters spelling 'love' on mantle pieces.

I disagree @Bluntness100, I don’t think a home can look “polished” (which I assume just means classy, well put together and a bit expensive) if the room looks dated and naff

Decluttering, so everything having a use (no old phones for me) lots of candles, fresh flowers, throws, cushions. I didn't know about the sofa against the wall thing. One of ours sometimes is (then too far from the other one and has to have another coffee table) and sometimes isn't (looks more cosy and sociable with the other sofa but the room doesn't look as big) why is this a thing though particularly? Lighting is one of the biggest things we have several lamps that I think look nice when they're on.

I do get what you’re saying Shirley but my point is the fact you think it looks naff and dated but someone else might not. That’s where personal taste comes in.

Oh yes, as ShirleyPhallus says above. Don't have all the furniture circling the TV like it's all creeping up on the screen. It just shouts 'all we do in the evenings is watch TV'. Put it at angles if possible. You can turn it all round to face the screen in the evenings when you DO watch TV.

But as UK houses are mostly quite small, you often have to choose between the 'facing the TV' option or the 'dentist's waiting room' option.

On a personal note a spritz of your namesake would be sure to make you feel more polished and together.

I think what Gingernaut said is the best answer, better than adding the clutter stuff (goes off to buy paint )

And no grey and no tacky writing on the wall!!!

Head and Shoulders in apothecary jars... this thread is putting me to shame!!

I think polish both of one self and ones home is to with things being really tidy and clean. Neat manicured nails, lipstick that doesn't bleed, no stray hairs, no mess, minimal nick nacks, everything in its place. Books on book shelves, papers in a filing cabinet, a few photos and ornaments but so that you can see each item. Kitchens should have lots of useable free work too, bathrooms shouldn't be crammed full of toys and toiletries (although a few choice items equally so make it more homely). Rooms should have a theme and colour scheme to a degree, but having a splash of a different colour can be good for contrast, I love something pink, teal or mustard yellow, but that's what goes in my home! My kitchen is grey, whereas my mum has a country kitchen style. Neither are wrong, so long as it's cohesive IYSWIM. Nothing wrong with a piece of drift wood wall sign if it's in a room with other similar items, would go nice in a beach home/sea side theme.

Head and Shoulders in apothecary jars... this thread is putting me to shame!!

It's making me think "I wish that's all I had to worry about!"

It's making me think "I wish that's all I had to worry about!

I do have other things to worry about. But it also creates a more expensive, designed look than a bottle of H& S on the side of the bath and that's what the thread is about.

See I just look at that phone and shudder at another pointless item to dust.

Throws and cushions are naff. A few for comfort but if your house is an ok temperature they’re just clutter.

Who has time to decant bloody washing powder? Have you all lost your minds creating additional non jobs to do?

So for me, clear sleek surfaces, good quality items, neutral colour with judicious use of statement pieces that knock you out.

But how is a phone a pointless item to dust. Its a phone . It has functionality and I think that PPs point was that it can look nicer than a modern phone.

Apothecary jars in the bathroom would be a huge no for clumsy me, purely because wet hands + glass would be an accident waiting to happen

If you want a cohesive look then follow the 70/20/10 rule for colour schemes, ie 70% of your room should be one colour.
Objects should usually be displayed in odd numbers.
Any metal in a room should be one colour, so if all light switches in silver then your photo frames should be too.

I think matchy matchy can sometimes show a lack of imagination but I suspect people buy from the Next or Laura Ashley catalogues because the hard work in coordination has already been done for you.
To start from scratch, building a collection of items that 'go' without the result looking like a jumble can actually be quite difficult.

@Dillo10 - why wouldn’t you have the back of your sofa against the wall? That makes no sense at all!

Before lockdown saw lovely mahogany table in junk shop. Didn’t buy it and it haunted me. Bought it as soon as shop opened and added plant. Perfectly fills what was ân empty corner. I love books, f and b colours and real art.

Do people still have landline phones? Is that not just for the broadband now?

I make any callls on my mobile or on teams/zoom/FaceTime. A phone is for most people another stoor collector.

Any metal in a room should be one colour

Although mixed metals are very trendy at the moment

@Musmerian what colour are your walls? I’m looking for something similar atm but can’t find the perfect shade

It’s Farrow and Ball Light Blue. I’ve had it in both houses I’ve owned and love it. Not too dark but a proper colour. It’s not really blue more a grey/ green. I’ve added another photo.