To ask for quick, cheap ways to make house more cosy and attractive?

[JonesyAndTheSalad]

We've lived here for about 3 months and don't have any a massive budget.

It's an old house which is very nice as I love character houses but it's a bit bleak now Autumn's arriving...I'm in Oz and it's getting quite chillly!

There are wooden floorboards throughout and I did splash out on a few rugs when we moved in but I see we need more....it's quite a big house.

So those are on the horizon. But there's a definite lack of cosiness going on.

I have a fireplace that works and it's probably time to light it so that will improve things...and a fireplace that's empty and non functioning in another room and needs something to make it look pretty.

Two sitting rooms both have BIG fireplaces and mantles.

Kitchen is very vintage with original fittings...any ideas overall to make things less bleak?

WHat attracted me in the first place is now feeling a little bit Dickensian!

I want to generally warm the place up. This is probably made worse by a visit to friend's last night in their modern, centrally heated and stylish home.

For pictures: do you have anywhere you can get some cheap frames? then fill them with your own photos of favourite places/people, or even do some arty collages with natural materials (even kids pictures look better in a nice frame).

Mummy again I'm not a fan of photos on the wall. It's just not to my taste. I have enough pictures really...just waiting for DH to actually hang the bloody things!

I bought two enormous cork boards (reject shop) and hung them next to each others and filled them with the dc's pictures, postcards etc.

There is a great fabric shop in Melbourne. patchworkwithgailb.com

For warmth you can get spring loaded poles in Spotlight which we used in our doorways to divide the rooms up in winter, hanging curtains up with them. ThT we we could heat one area of the downstairs. We slso put them in the window appitures so we could have an extra curtain layer at each window.

Some good ideas

Why not get some Command hooks and hang them yourself? Without the need for nails or holes. (And I'm not really advertising.)

Here in the UK we have free cycle where people request and give away free items. Do you have anything like that with you?

If it's not too outing, where do you live in Oz?

Whatever, get you to a posh area and look at the op shops for throws, basket for logs. I've often seen lovely tartan wool blankets that make lovely throws.

Sorry if I've missed it, but what's the heating system ( if any - I live in Au and know the vagaries of heating in this wide brown land).

I can see you're in the throes of comparing Australia with the UK. No good will come of this.

Thinking of those big fireplaces, you'll need to order firewood. Red gum is best, but shop around for deliveries, and you'll need to store it in the dry. You'll need kindling, so keep an eye out for logs on nature strips, get an axe, and blades sharpener, or you could spend $$ at petrol stations.

Lamps for softer lighting

Echt we've got a combustion fire...we have wood. sorted.

My DH is Aussie but after ten years in the UK, even he's a bit at the lack of choice re. clothes and textiles.

I've been here 18 months so long enough to get over myself...I just can't! the ugly textiles and poor quality clothing is awful!

Yes the beaches and views are amazing and all that....but the bloody interior design! If you don't want chevrons or jungle print then you can bugger off as far as buyers here are concerned!

I feel your pain about textiles. I'm trying to get curtains made, and most companies will not sew material I have bought, only their own -shite- range.

Thinking of more cosiness. Buy op-shop cushions, many are good quality feather ones, and re-cover using no-sew methods you can get on youtube.

Sidelights, not overhead for comfort.

Dog
Big hairy dog to lie on the rug in front of the fire.
One of those Marema's( sp?) should fit the bill, plus it will protect your penguins should the need arise.

Do you have anyone who would post you a parcel from the UK? If you shop around online you can find good rates especially if you're willing to have it sent by sea.

Then you can order from UK ranges on UK websites and have it sent to your obliging bff or relative as a one off?

Hopping got that! Big, massive, long haired Marremma! He loves the rug!

5More I didn't know that! I do have a mate who'd probably do it....thanks!

Flowers and plants
Always light candles at night
Low lights and fairy lights round windows or in fireplace or both
Get some interesting art so it's not bland - this can be expensive - it can be worked round - we have a combo of quite expensive combined with artists prints from fairs , children's art , photography - like black and white - as well as from shops . Made .co do framed art .

Ok just to list all the ideas which have cropped up a lot

Lamps
Candles
Fairy Lights
More cushions and blankets
Prints for wall (got enough)
Extra curtains inside windows to add warmth

I don't need any more pics and I can sew so will do more cushion covers I think.

I was a bit surprised there was no central heating in my bit of Australia, but discovered they do actually have radiator systems up the road in another area where they have coal.
I'm the only person I know with lined curtains! But anyway, we have a big woodheater and it rarely goes out. I keep meaning to hang a front door curtain, etc. but haven't yet.
I might work on a list of 'home winterizing' jobs to do - I saw that term on an American website

Fairy lights. Lanterns.