What makes a home look polished?

[MidnightPeacock]

We have a typical 1930 semi. The house required a lot of work and we had to change out floors, install kitchen, bathroom etc when we moved in 9 years ago. We quite like white walls so apart from the kids rooms the walls are white. We are fuss about lights and haven't been able to decide on a ceiling light in the extension come living room. There are not many pictures on the wall and the whole house needs a coat of paint as it looks bit mucky due to dog and small children.

I am getting really frustrated as the house has so much potential but I don't seem to be able to bring it together.

e.g. we have old style pretty ugly radiators, maybe we'd need to change them out at least downstairs?

We have a L shaped sofa but all the homes I like have two sofas rather. There is no coffee table and the everything looks somehow a bit unfinished and unloved.

What are your top tips to create a smart yet cosy and welcoming feel and look?

No clutter

Clutter is the one thing we don't have @Sweetwindinmyhead . I am meticulous about not gathering things or hiding them in drawers, cabinets etc. It looks tidy as long as you don't look in the drawers. It's that it looks a bit empty.

One 'issue' I have is that we just have a plain bulb in the main living area, which is the back extension. This as I can't seem to settle on a light I like. I generally like chandeliers but the ceiling is v shaped (pitch roof) and I haven't yet found a chandelier that works and doesn't break the bank.

I'd love recommendations on sofas as well although leather seems practical due to our very mucky pup.

Sil house always looks pristine, i discovered she touches up paintwork pretty much weekly if she notices a scuff or a mark. They get their glosswork done annually without fail. The carpet cleaner is used monthly.
I think its these little things which make her home so different to ours (our glosswork is yellowing and there's marks on most walls 🤦‍♀️)

Art work on the wall, coffee table, rugs, oak doors with white frames and skirting.

Fitted furniture always looks posh compared to free standing

Art work and pictures on the wall, a rug, lamp, books and a few bits on a bookshelf. Flowers and plants always make a room look homely . Get a light fitting as the room will never look finished until you do. And I keep left over paint for touch ups here and there.

There is polished and Instagram ready or polished and lived in.

Mine is the latter.

Always clean and tidy. Never cluttered, no need for it. Storage is key.

Its ventilated, smells nice, fresh flowers in the utility room as that is the main entrance and its a nice utility! Candle lit, etc

Kitchen is always tidy, dishes in the washer, fresh flowers etc, no food smells.

Living room, cushions plumped, no clutter etc.

Its like that in all rooms. Make the beds, freshen the air. I love my Neom diffuser but you can get cheaper ones.

Colour, IMO.

I always feel deeply uncomfortable walking into pristine white homes. Feels creepy.

Even if you like white walls (I don’t, I had white walls once and regretted it really quickly) add colour with rugs, cushions, throws, lamps, plants, photo frames, flowers, candles etc.

we have cream leather sofas and they work well with busy household/lots of people and a dog. you just wipe them clean if they get dirty. Also had dark coloured cloth removable covers once which were ok but bit of a faff to wash and dry.

cant disagree with anything posted above. personally i would pick the ones that are likely to make most difference and then accept that with a dog and kids it isnt going to look like a show home....too much work and better things to do with your life

I think you already know what to do op, you’ve basically written it in your op.

Rug, coffee table, art work, lights, repaint. It’s never going to look finished with basically an empty room, dirty walls, a bare bulb and no artwork.

No clutter is good but you need some interest in a room. I like minimal clutter but big paintings and possibly a large mirror too. I have very few surfaces in my sitting room but have a couple of oval tables with large vases of flowers, plus candles on the beam above the woodburner. But I have half a dozen or so interesting paintings, really nicely framed, on the walls, so the room doesn't look bare. Also cushions on the two sofas but otherwise no clutter really.
I understand you want to find a nice light fitting but that could take ages so a cheap one from Ikea for now would look much better than a bare bulb. It could end up in a bedroom later maybe?
And freshen up the paint; that makes a difference.

Good quality furniture that compliments other furniture/fixtures in the room. Clean, smooth walls. Clean flooring. Strategically placed art work that works with the colour palette of the room. OP a room with a bare light bulb is never going to look polished, even with all of the above!

@MrsDThomas

There is polished and Instagram ready or polished and lived in.

Mine is the latter.

Always clean and tidy. Never cluttered, no need for it. Storage is key.

Its ventilated, smells nice, fresh flowers in the utility room as that is the main entrance and its a nice utility! Candle lit, etc

Kitchen is always tidy, dishes in the washer, fresh flowers etc, no food smells.

Living room, cushions plumped, no clutter etc.

Its like that in all rooms. Make the beds, freshen the air. I love my Neom diffuser but you can get cheaper ones.

Can I come live at yours please?? Sounds divine

Mr Sheen and a soft cloth?

Fitted furniture always looks posh compared to free standing

I think the opposite, each to their own though and I think this is the most important aspect about looking polished, having a sense of individual style, so not just following whatever trend colour etc that's current.

@PixelatedLunchbox of course! But in the winter, bring warm clothes as its cold🤣 230 yrs old, stone walls and rustic, nothing like Instagram but very cosy with the fire going

Small things do make a difference, we got a lovely picture which suddenly tied in with the cushions (it was quite accidental!) And a new rug and suddenly our room feels 'finished

Dunelm does good lights, even if its just a stop gap once it's up it you might love it.

Get the lighting right
Wall lights , central light and lamps
Two different style sofas, don't 'match' anything, compliment it

I've given up. You can't have a polished house with kids and a dog. As soon as you paint anything it just immediately looks grubby again.

IMO, polished and smart do not work with 'cosy'. You have to choose one or the other. I prefer polished and smart. DH prefers mismatched, messy and cluttered'cosy'

My house isn't 'polished' but looks nice and clean mostly. I think the main thing is to touch up the marks on walls and skirting or it can start to look scruffy no matter how nice the house is. We have two large dogs and a 10 month old baby, I clean the marks off the walls/skirting weekly and touch up paint too if needed would also add personal touches like photos and small bunches of flowers around the house

Natural materials - wood, stone, metal, glass, linen, wool, silk, leather, rattan. In muted, natural colours.

You could pop one of those cheap round paper lantern-style shades over your bare bulb while you search for the perfect chandelier?

I did an interior design online course recently and the designer spoke about the light fittings being the jewellery of the room. Go for a big statement light as well as the rugs/cushions/flowers already mentioned. Have a look for things you like on Pinterest - if you find something you like you can then scroll down and you see lots of similar options in different budgets.

PP is also correct re different light sources - so as well as the ceiling light make sure you have other floor/table lamps and wall lights if possible.

Also think about how you live in that room and make it work for you - it needs to be functional as well as polished.

@Bluntness100

I think you already know what to do op, you’ve basically written it in your op.

Rug, coffee table, art work, lights, repaint. It’s never going to look finished with basically an empty room, dirty walls, a bare bulb and no artwork.

yes, this. I was a bit confused as you already seem to know what needs to be done!

Also agree with the poster who said you can either have cosy OR polished/smart, not both. Not to say that a cosy house can't be clean and tidy, or that a 'polished' house is bare and unwelcoming, but they are two very different styles. White walls and minimalist furnishings are never going to be 'cosy,' but can still be cheerful and welcoming. Lots of different art prints, cushions, comfy seats, colours everywhere, knick-knaks, etc could make a room cosy but would probably not be described as 'polished.'

I like a focal point in a room.

On my mantlepiece I have a set of candlesticks and two Victorian cut glass boxes with lids. On my kitchen windowsill I have six different size antique jugs that are patterned and plain but all in blue and white.

It’s really all about keeping the clutter down which can be hard If your scrapping with a DH who likes to keep things in case they are useful. I have one of these so it’s a slight battle sometimes.

My kitchen is always very tidy and I have a clear work surface policy.

Basically you have to spend money on it