What makes a home lovely?

[Reinventingat40]

Having a family party in our relatively new home next week.. I want the house to look fab, have been cleaning non stop but now it's time for the finishing touches! In your opinion what makes a home lovely & gives a nice cosy warm feeling! Doesn't have to be anything major even little tips like caring for skirtings, dirty paint etc would be appreciated..

Maybe I'm weird but if I go into a house that's pristine clean and not a thing out of place I feel the need to perch on the edge of my seat and not quite relax . Whereas , if it's more lived in I can feel at home.

Clean & Uncluttered
Good food
Nice drink
A good playlist
Good Friends who really make you laugh.

Plus a clean nicely fragranced bathroom with a fresh towel and hand soap

Things like plants, nice lighting, etc aren't really important and I don't think I notice them particularly if I'm having a lovely time.

Not flowers! They look lovely but are awful for my hay fever, so I can only have leafy plants. So I'd say only have flowers if you're certain no one suffers from hay fever

Clean, warm, aired
Textures and tones/colours
Not sterile, just clean so people are comfy but not so bare that people panic about spilling anything
Stuff to look at - books, photos, candles, artwork

I slightly disagree about clutter/clear surfaces. Yes, you want somewhere to put your drink down and you don't want to be staring at piles of ancient paperwork or random broken toys or whatever, but a bit of lived-in clutter is nice and helps people relax. I love it when there are magazines/books you can dip into.

And so agree about folded throws.

I would include plenty of coasters so that people aren't worried about putting drinks down, plenty of seating so that people can chat in groups, and plenty of spare loo roll somewhere obvious so that people don't need to ask where it is

No cleaner/bleach smell, especially not in the bathroom.

No artificial smell from candles or similar, they cause headaches in lots of people but most are too polite to say anything. Air rooms a lot, dust and hoover properly, fresh flowers (but again, be careful with smell) or plants.

Nice and clean curtains, nice pillows and throws to add a splash. of colour

Not too tidy, I am visiting people, not a showroom. I am not a fan of huge numbers of photo frames or items on display everywhere but that's up to the persons living there not me. The house should show your personality which I assume your visitors like.

A comfy bathroom. Tidy and clean but not sterile. Nice hand towels, liquid soap, not a bar if you have lots of guests. Lots of shower gel/shampoo bottles can look irritating if piled up, invest in nice shelves.
Bath toys in a bag or basket
Small bin with a lid
Some simple decorations if that's something you like

Following! Some good tips here

OP congratulations on the house!
For me:

• food/ drinks


• flowers


• paper cups for the young ones


• sth to keep the young ones busy yet safe


• proper clean bathrooms - plenty of toilet paper and fresh towels (I'd put away personal stuff because I think kids are curious but that's just me)


• if you're going all out - my aunt used to save ice cream containers so we could take leftovers home


• a place for people to store their coats/ handbags safely - though I guess this depends on how many you're having over really


• a glass jar (I like the sausages ones) with a bit of water outside to be used as ashtray.


• no clutter particularly on the tables


• I'd take out all the rubbish before the event.

Make guest feel relaxed. A lock on all loo doors!

interesting art and some nice family photos on display. These can be easy conversation starters.

It shouldn’t look like a show house it should reflect your personality and interests.

if you are giving a tour it’s nice to see a book by your (made!) bed!

The people, good hosts.
A relaxed home that feels like a family home.
Clean but not clinically so, personally I wouldn't notice your skirtings!

Tidy but not too minimalist or all matching and lacks any of the owners character.
No funny smells.
Nice lighting.

@Reinventingat40
Only if you have extra time...I always clean my windows inside and out...it really helps to open up the room by bringing the outside in. Guests always comment, "wow, your windows are so clean!"😂

Fresh flowers and fresh air, not artificial smells.

I'll delegate that task to DH, adding to list, thanks!

@Reinventingat40
Hahahalol! I hope DH isn't going to be a bit put out with my great suggestion

Not sure you can please everyone.
I hate liquid soap, flowers and plants belong outside and please no scented candles air freshners or diffusers unless you want to see me have an asthma attack.
Clean and tidy and obvious where things are, like hand towels, loo roll, coasters and bins.

Soft lighting from lamps. I'm always 😱 when I'm in someone's home during the evening and they only have the 'big light'.

Fresh air, not diffusers or wax melts at this time of year. Itchy sniffy allergens.

Somewhere comfortable to sit. Food and drink.

Most people won't notice the interior.

Cake
A cat
A loo that locks and flushes properly
Bar soap that isn’t dried and cracked
Bathroom bin
Plenty of seating
Tissues
Flowers
Doors flung open to the outside
An undefinable sense of welcome and bonhomie and “help yourself to wine”

So I'm going to someone's home for a party.

Lamps, candles, and atmospheric lighting.

Smells nice.

No clutter.

Always a full glass.

Not going hungry.

Good conversation, maybe background music.

Now I know why I don't let people in my house.

I would struggle with candles & strong scents. Bit of bleach, fine.

Yes! I’d be a bit on edge somewhere with a stick-on gel thing in the loo, a waft of bleach, and coasters everywhere.

Give me blankets and an open bottle of red on the table, and a sofa that looks sat on.

Fresh flowers, clean windows (often overlooked but if the sun is out it shows up the dirt). Front garden and door - make sure tidy and clean, paint it if it needs it and clean or replace the door furniture (knob, mail slot, knocker).
If using your garden make sure it is tidy and have some big pots of flowers. A bit of bunting and lighting if likely to go in late enough. Blankets and floor pillows for sitting on the grass.
Warn your neighbours if likely to be a bit loud.

I like comfy houses that aren't show homes and have lots of books and interesting pictures. Providing the bathroom isn't filthy I'd be perfectly happy. A decent glass of wine and some snacks.

Forgot to add: no clothes drying either outside or inside. I don't like the idea of my knickers being on display!