What makes a house feel like a home?

[georgarina]

In your opinion?

This gorgeous girl Maggie.

Colour
clean
comfort
blankets
photos
art work from kids or cousins or family/friends
books that the owner reads rather than ‘show’ books
musical instruments
art that tells a story - from travels and experiences
half opened bottle of wine on the kitchen counter
coffee in the coffee maker
Items from hobbies around - a riding hat in the porch/ tennis racket by the door
lamps and half burnt candles and mismatched flowers

Peace, a sense of calm, safety ,familiarity.

Stuff! Evidence of time spent together - photos, trinkets, kids drawings etc. Every time my mum comes over she moans that we have too much "stuff", but everyone else who visits comments on what a warm, happy, colourful and interesting house it is. We love it. Next show homes are not for us!

We have moved a lot and I’m really not bothered by material possessions (although I have too much), every house that we have lived in has been made a home just by the people in it. Laughter, dancing, tears, fights.
Very cheesy but true.

The books, candles, throws mean nothing without people.

Signs of family life, toys, pictures, personal Knick knacks, a worn sofa where each family member has a 'spot'

For me its something that feels safe and mine. It's taken a long time to find that feeling for me.

Family photos make me smile every time I walk through the door and many many books make me feel like the place is my own. After years of renting the ability to have shelves makes me happier than I thought I would be.

I didn't say it was. I have a library. I just said that surely everyone knows by now not to say "books" on a thread like this.

This is such a lovely thread. We have just bought our first house and are moving in on Thursday - can't wait, it feels quite surreal as we've worked towards this for over 15 years. I can not wait to have my own home!!! I'm here for ALL the tips.

Books, and art on the walls that has been chosen because the occupants like it and not just because they go with the decor. Secondary lighting, nice textiles, - rugs, throws, a plant or two. Flowers are always lovely but only a treat for for me.

I can respond really positively to a huge range of periods and aesthetics but I don’t like look where it’s like someone has just bought the full range from a shop and plonked it in their house. My particular dislike is those vaguely abstract impasto paintings in the same colour scheme as the upholstery or cushions, only chosen because they match.

Pets and people that live in it. Also, the fact that you allow people to use the space for living, not to look perfectly like showroom (OK, my husband might have taken it way too seriously and our interiors are far from perfect😂) .

Cats
Laughter
A favourite armchair
A fireplace
Dinner together

Warm and cosy textures and colours. Lots of nice things that are loved, old things too, like blankets and cushions that have nice familiar smells.
Maybe takes a few years to get this I think.

The memories made there.

A comfy sofa

Cat.

Years ago I used to live near a lot of beautifully decorated houses with living rooms interior designed to the gills.

None of them looked as comfortable or homely as the living room of the house where two young men lived - which had horrible overhead lighting, nasty cheap leather sofas, big telly linked up to PS and pizza boxes on the table. Plus no curtains. They always looked happy and relaxed and like they liked being there.

Whatever makes you happy, in other words. If that's a fake polar bear rug and a portait of Liberace, go for it.