To ask how do you keep your house looking and feeling "nice".

[BishBashBoshy]

I know "nice" is a meaningless word but I guess I mean just pleasant and welcoming. Not neceessarily tidy or freshly decorated and there may be a dust but the type of house where you walk in and it feels... homely and comfortable.

My house doesn't feel like that and I don't know why. There is a bit more "stuff" than I'd like but it's not excessive and it's all got a place and we try to keep it neat. Our furniture is a bit mismatched but I'm not one for everything being the same. Besides, we can't replace it at the moment.

We live in a small 2 bed. Our main room is a large through living room, dining room. The stairs are in the dining room bit and there is a computer desk in the large area under the stairs.

Not really knick knack people and don't have anywhere to put them anyway. Also, prefer to open a window than use smelly stuff.

Any easy (cheap!) tips?

Do you have/like house plants? We have some in our kitchen and living room and I think they make the house look home like.

DM (has a big garden) always has freshly cut flowers everywhere and it looks/smells lovely.

Light and airy as possible - large mirrors to reflect the light where possible.
In an evening lamps rather than ‘big’ lights.

Clear surfaces help. I try to minimise clutter and stow essentials behind doors. I love to have the smell of a nice turpentineb& beeswax furniture polish on the air, so I dust with a polishing cloth. And yes, fresh flowers, even hedgerow ones, or in the depths of winter some graceful twigs or evergreen leaves in a vase. Bother knick-knacks gathering dust!

Worst sight is paperwork and mail lying about, so a couple of pretty box-files might sort that if it's an issue

Cheap, quick, cheerful and effective.

Flowers and no clutter.

Pictures on the wall
Plants
Cushions and throws

Storage and removing clutter seem to make the most difference. Sadly since having children we struggle with both.

I wouldn’t worry about having mismatched furniture, eclectic is definitely a popular style look. Do you have a friend who’s house you like the look of? Maybe ask them to come in with a dispassionate eye and give you some advice. I think one of the main things is lighting, having a mixture of direct and soft lighting makes a big difference.

Everyone has different ideas about what likes nice. I suggest you look at lots of pictures of homes and perhaps create a pinterest board of ones you instinctively like. When you have a couple of dozen have a really good look at them individually and ask yourself what initially catches your eye, what makes you like that picture etc. Then move onto the next one etc. You'll probably start to see some things that crop up quite a bit - eg a red throw, nice flowers in a sparkling glass vase, similar style lamps - whatever it is that appeals to you. THen write a shopping list.....

What houseplants are nice and low maintenance?

Candles are nice

I gave up on house plants and bought some faux ones online. Blooming artificial is the company I used. Look much better than some half dead leaf shedding thing plus I don't have the guilt or letting something die.

Cushions, rugs, throws and declutter or rearrange items. We have shelves in our living room that had got messy over time. I wanted to get rid of the majority of items but we rearranged and didn't actually get rid of that much. Storage boxes for bits that don't need to be on display...

Picture walls are good. Pinterest if you can be bothered (I can't be at times) can have some good ideas. Then ikea, amazon and Matalan are good for bits without breaking the bank. Also instagram for home bloggers.

I also look on Rightmove for houses like ours nearby and how they have them styled and pinch any ideas.

I know you said not clean and tidy but I don’t believe a house can feel nice and pleasant to be in unless it’s clean, tidy ( not including kids toys anther are being played with) and smells nice( everyone’s got different ideas of what smells nice).

Flowers always cheer up a room, and like someone else said, lamps in the evening opposed to ceiling lights.

Also books, photos, art, cushions, rugs and just anything that makes it individual and yours.

I try to air out the house (all of it) every day, put things back where they ought to be, have fresh cut flowers, and plump up the sofa cushions.

plants and personal pictures or posters on the wall.

I think books make things feel really homey! Also soft lighting & plants.

Colour coherence.

Not coordinated to an inch of its life but pick a palette and use it for accessories - ornaments, pictures, candles, cushions etc

Also if it's one huge room try to break it up a bit. It will feel more cosy.

Are you happy? I find that's what really makes the difference.

Yeah, honestly, I don't think you can bypass the clean and tidy and go straight to homely with some plump cushions and a jar of flowers.

To me, homes look cosy when they show evidence of people enjoying living there. So, paintings by DC on the walls (good ones can be properly framed), a freshly baked cake or loaf of bread on the table or pot bubbling on the stove, pot plants flourishing on window sills, neat rows of books or well-cared for musical instruments.

I also think focal points help. A living room looks much more inviting if there's a corner lamp beside a chair with a throw and cushions on it, and maybe a side table with candle, fresh flowers, framed photos or small stack of books or magazines to read. I like clear, polished shelves uncluttered except for a vase of flowers or flowering plant or similar. Stage the room a little bit to guide the eye towards inviting corners where you can curl up with a cup of tea and a cat.

IKEA have some quite decent looking artificial plants now. Some are more convincing than others but they're worth a go.

I like to tie a ribbon bow on my toilet brush(es)

Personally a house isn't welcoming if it's not reasonably clean- I don't want to see bits on the carpet or cobwebs. Also personal things like paperwork, smelly trainers or a favourite but tatty/stained blanket should be out of site.
I'm not a germaphobe but I don't want to feel like i'm touching other people's private stuff.
I'm with you OP on the fresh air of an open window over heavily perfumed chemically air 'freshener'

Pictures are nice- candid holiday snaps though not weird photoshoots. Candles or lamps are homely, pendant lights create stark lighting.
I totally agree on the house plants too.
An uncluttered hall/entrance is the start. I'm a bit of a hypocrite here though, ours is currently a mess as being re-plastered and there are two road bikes in the gangway.

Charity shops can be great for vases etc. which are a bit different. Also, I look at interiors magazines for a bit of inspiration