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..

It’s odd isn’t it, I’d be horrified if I went to someone’s house for a social event and I could smell bleach, it’s a harsh horrible smell. There are so many lovely ways to scent a home, for me smelling bleach as I sit there is really unpleasant, in any room. Just shows how different we all are.

A dog. And plenty of tea/ coffee and biscuits.

If I see an open bottle of wine on the side I know I’m in a homely home :)
soft lighting, comfy cushions, and decluttered surfaces but with lots of interesting reading material around - books that are being read rather than just ‘show books’ that fit with the colour scheme.
nice pictures / photos as opposed to bare walls always indicate a homely, happy place

I think lighting makes a massive difference. No harsh overhead lighting. Little pools of light around the place make it feel cosy.

I also like some nice bright colours and interesting patterns as well as things on the walls. A large mirror as well as some great prints/artwork (although you can never find something you like when you're looking for it!)

Walk up to your house from the street with a critical eye to see what your guests first impression would be.

Bleach smell is good only if you’re planning on an evening of surgical procedures.

Think about where people will congregate and remember that the kitchen is always a guest magnet, even if the party is elsewhere. Sit in the seats available to guests and have a look at what they’ll be facing for the majority of the time.

Lots of good ideas here.

The bathroom. Make sure there are sufficient towels for hand drying, as there's nothing worse than one that's visibly and thoroughly damp. Except of course, for one that's bone dry at the end of the party so you wonder if anyone's washed their hands at all. :o
Also, an air freshener so guests can cover any pongs.

Comfy seating, enough chairs for everyone.
Thoughtful lighting.
Enough food and drink.
Genuine warm welcome.

Those diffusers give me hideous asthma.

We were in an Airbnb last year that had them all over the place. I had to hunt them down and shut them in a cupboard.

Lots of good suggestions here but I think if you love it and it is clean and tidy then others will love it too!

What kind of parties are you at that you have to ‘dip into’ the host’s books?

I would disregard the snobbery about ‘lots of books on show’ and ‘hidden televisions.’ Hiding your TV is bizarre to appear more interesting and really pretentious!

Honestly I would say if it’s clean and fresh and there’s a good welcome you can’t go far wrong. One thing I like is hand towels in the bathroom. Sometimes if there’s only a bath towel I think to myself ‘is this their bath towel? Should I be using it?’

Asthma here too, but I find the homemade diffusers with essential oils that @Swimmingpoolsally was talking about to be fine.
It's those plug-in things or the artificial smelling sprays that cause me terrible trouble.

Great advice & lots of notes taken.. The party is starting in the afternoon so hopefully we'll be able to congregate in the garden (wedding permitting 🤞) I'm sure once the kids are happy the grownups will be too🙏

A home that’s full of stuff you all love. Artfully placed flowers, arty mass produced signature ‘pieces’ and the factory scandi look clone homes do not make a house fabulous. They make a plastic show home, which is duplicated so many times as to make it look like an Ikea display room.

your home full of you, your family and lively cooking stalls. A relaxed family with plenty to eat and drink, you’re there.

A place that is warm, comfortable, not too precious that people are worried about making a mess or breaking anything. Interesting, quirky and informal. Good company and not nervy but chilled and relaxed people who make you feel welcome.

Are you thinking of a reed diffuser by any chance? The diffusers I mean are the electric ones, it’s like saying you need to hide the kettle. They don’t work unless you fill them and switch them on.

Removal of husband.

(Made heaps of difference to my home).

Seriously though, we used to holiday annually at a beautiful farmhouse in France- it was like an architect's dream, this house. And the owner always had a reed diffuser from Zara Home (White Jasmine). That smell became 'French countryside' to me.
So... a good reed diffuser.
The two I recommend are the White Jasmine one by Zara (has to be the Zara one), as mentioned, and funnily enough Next's reed diffuser, Milan.

And a bowl of Savon de Marseille bars in the bathroom; the Monoi scent bars smell divine. Get them off Amazon. They are authentic and gorgeous. Your whole bathroom will smell gorgeous if you have a soap dish with one or two of these bars. And there are other scents to choose from but Monoi is my favourite.

You're party is today! Good luck!

Or 'your' party, even. Right, coffee on repeat it is!

I had a laugh to myself whilst reading this. I am obsessed with you tubers who have rescued Cockatoos. I would imagine that unless they have a big house, that anyone visiting would be in the room where the cage is. Nothing wrong with that you might say if you are a bird lover but do not have one yourself. One bird (Mr Max) that really amuses me is like a 3 year old with his toys all over the place and he pretty much has the run of the household (which would have some of you clutching pearls!).

Oh and the noise! They all seem to have temper tamtrums (which are amusing to look at, but one of them is very foul mouthed - from an abusive home, though I cannot help laughing at her foul mouthing her new owner, then in the middle of the foul mouthed tirade, she will say "HI!")

I guess some people don't mind pets and some do. I love cats but would hate a place with too many, especially if the place was not cleaned regularly and a smelly old dog would not be fun, either.

Warm lighting rather than bright lighting. Candles maybe in storm lanterns or whatever so you know they're safe. (For you as host). Fresh flowers, real plants, folded blankets, lots of cushions, lots of different snacks. Things feeling generous.
Really clean bathroom ideally.

I enjoy doing the finishing touches, hope you have a lovely time!

Plants and flowers make a huge difference

Be careful with diffusers the sort with sticks as they are toxic especially for anyone with lung issues also babies.Open the windows instead.Clutterfree kitchen surfaces.Pots of herbs.Lovely soap and hand towels.Be yourself they are not buying your house!Have fun.

Lamps, blankets, clutter free, clean, warm, flowers, rugs. Pretty storage ie baskets, a nice egg basket, fruit bowl, cereal jar. No packets on display. Magazine rack if needed.

Clean, relaxed home. Not too many rules. Relaxed hosts and plenty to eat/drink. Don't give a fig about lighting, diffusers, art on the wall or blankets strategically placed.

A relaxed, welcoming, hospitable host.

Beyond a basic level of hygiene, that’s it.

If your choice of soap ruins a guest’s experience, you have the wrong guests.

We have been through 2 years of isolation and distancing. It’s people and friendship that matters. Have your home as you enjoy it and welcome people.

Oh dear, i clearly fail badly! I have sight issues which are not obvious but mean i struggle hugely unless in bright light or the dark, 'big light' is always on in my home!
All my friends have been to kind to comment!