What makes a house feel like home?

[Brimful]

I know, sorry, not an AIBU really, but can I ask for advice how to make a house feel all homey and cosy?

It's just DH and I rattling around our place, we are both quite minimal by nature decor wise and I like white walls, neutral furniture, with splashes of colour coming from paintings, cushions, rugs.

But I can't seem to make the house feel like home. Granted, being minimal doesn't help as I hate clutter but what makes your house 'home' and not just some rooms your stuff is in?

I find it hard buying anything that doesn't have a specific purpose or use, for a long time I had to budget and only buy essentials but now I'm financially better off I can't seem to break the habit of being frugal.

Hoping for inspiration!

Plants or flowers are really nice, and are an inexpensive way to make a room look more homely. Avoid generic/impersonal art on the walls - try to choose things that mean something to you; so family photos or pictures of places you love, rather than the kind of thing you'd see in a Travelodge.

Lamps, plants, candles.

Plants (less hard work than a pet)
Lighting - table lamps, floor lamps, lighting behind furniture.
A woodburner,open fire. fake flame fire.

I love coming home to the woodburner on, the lamps in the sitting room, and the cat.

Also....DH persuaded me to put some family photos up. I was all for just tasteful painting and prints. But it makes a huge difference.

You need to add something soft in texture whether it’s rugs, throws, curtains or cushions. White Venetian blinds will look and feel very sterile. Look on Pinterest or instagram for ideas. You can have a scandi look but definitely need some warmer tones to make the space more cosy. Other options are to mooch around somewhere like John Lewis for ideas. You can recreate the look for less from other stores afterwards.

A cat. Ours died on Monday & our house is now so soulless 😔

I’m sorry to hear this

My mum has got a lovely plaque in her house that says, “A house without a cat can never be a home”.

I used to have cats and I miss their presence terribly.

A bit of clutter, looks like someone actually lives there.

Curtains, as mentioned. Throw/blanket on the sofa (good quality, wool or cashmere if that’s within budget), or maybe a sheepskin or two, for cosiness and also to add different texture(s) to add depth within the space. A cushion here or there on sofa or chairs. These don’t need to be hugely colourful - varying tones of grey/white/cream/‘natural’ are lovely and will sit nicely in a white room. The White Company does great soft furnishings but it is quite pricey so again it depends on budget.

I wouldn’t recommend IKEA for lighting, personally. We’ve found good items in Matalan (surprisingly enough, and very reasonably priced), Habitat within Homebase (or standalone stores if you’re in London), and Dunelm. Got a lovely floorstanding lamp from B&Q several years ago, as well as a couple of pieces from JL - but can’t recommend them because I’m boycotting.

Most importantly for lighting don’t look at brand, look at the piece itself - the quality can vary dramatically within brand or shop or range. In the winter a simple string of fairy lights draped over a sideboard or mantle (or any suitable surface) can add a super cosy feel. Make sure all bulbs are warm light.

Don’t go mad with clutter if that doesn’t actually suit your taste or lifestyle - a few well chosen things will do the trick. As others have said, low lighting with dim bulbs, candles (if you like them - being Danish I love them and always have a few on the go, it’s essential for good hygge!), a couple of plants, or a new bunch of flowers on the table weekly.

Cats, lovely cushions, throws, rugs. Comfy sofas, an open fire or log burner is a must, warm rich colours, I'm never afraid to use colour - I think neutrals are beyond dull.
Lighting, candles.
I hate clutter and junk but my house always looks cosy, warm and not like a hotel.

OP you make a good start with rugs and cushions adding colour. Go for inviting textures in these accessories - cotton velvets, chunky wool knits, chenille or slubbed silk.

Totally agree the lighting is essential - maybe the most important thing. Go for warm golden/amber/apricot lights rather than whites and blues. Make focal points for the eye where the lamplight spills - so a bowl of flowers or piece of sculpture or vase near the lamp, or a mirror to reflect the light. Minimalist doesn't mean bare, it means uncluttered and carefully chosen, so I'd look at adding a few objects that mean something to you, that show your personality. If you ever do craft - throw a pot or make a silk screen etc you could display your work. If not, choose some local craft or good quality work by crafty friends, or hunt for some unusual pieces that attract your eye in local charity shops and flea markets. Nothing makes a place look less like home than lots of uniform stuff all bought from one shop - IKEA or Next home. (Nothing wrong with those places, just mix things up.)

Focal points in a room are really important. As you walk through the door, check where i the room your eyes naturally look, then make that patch look inviting with plants, flowers or candles, prints or paintings, or a rug and cushions grouped on a chair in a cosy way. If you have an open fireplace, lay wood in it and use it.

I love to see lots of signs of people's pastimes and interests so nicely displayed musical instruments, books and paintings don't count as clutter to me. Nor does any sign that you love and are proud of your DC. So kids' paintings and awards on the walls look like home to me. But to some people, they are clutter.

Then add a cat, music playing, the smell of good cooking.

Hmmm you did mention cushions in the OP, I missed that.

Photos, photos, photos of nice memories

Cats.healthy house plants.lamps, books,family photos,and a wood burner.

Cats and dogs are not home furnishing accessories!

But I was thinking a cat on the bed upstairs and a puppy on the sofa would look great. And a few rabbits for the garden!

The people in it and good vibes.

Piano. Lid up, sheet music ready to sit down and play.
If you don't already play, it may be less hassle to get a cat!

Actually a bit jealous of your mininalism.

I can't leave the house without buying a pkant, have 1000s of books and DVDs, walls covered in pictures, lots of movie memorabilia (3ft stormtrooper, for example) and 6 pets which clawed their way into my heart.

I also love bright colours.

A bit of minimalism might do ne good. But my stuff genuinely sparks joy. What does one do?

A pile of books, a cat or dog, lots of pictures, mismatched cushions, some plants in the sitting room. In the bathroom copious quantities of different shower gels, bubble bath etc, a fluffy robe, fluffy towels, slippers. In the bedroom, throws on the bed, cushions, potions and lotions and scents. In the kitchen nice china/pottery, plants, pictures . . .

Pretty pictures, soft textiles - cushions, rugs, books?

Curtains! I am obsessed with nice curtains. When we first moved in we bought cheap short length ones and it looked shit. A feed years later we bought lovely heavy full length curtains and they seriously make the house.

A fireplace helps too even just a little electric one. Get some colourful appliances for your kitchen too

We have a log burner in our living room which is great.
Quite often of an evening, DH and I will light the fire and open a bottle of wine.
Will also play something from Spotify such as ‘late night jazz’ or ‘piano in the background’
Any even put a YouTube video on the TV of cosy winter scenes etc (there is a great one which is a drive around Manhattan at night)
If you don’t have a log burner, you can put a YouTube video on the TV of one which I think is really effective.

Definitely light some candles, scented if you’re that way inclined.

Go on Instagram or Pinterest and search ‘hygge’ for more inspiration

Lots of different textures.
Good lighting
Having items displayed that mean something to you
Similar vein is artwork that you like or makes you smile.

Someone should be able to say something about you by what you have in your home. I hate the whole bought the shop display look some people like. Similarly I always mix and match upholstery

Got to have a cat. I don't even like cats, the leg weaving wankers, but a house seems empty without a resident purring parasite.

Warm lighting - we have fairy lights up year-round.
Paintings/art on the walls.
Scented candles.
Scatter cushions.
Throws and blankets.
Pets - nothing makes a home like a cat or dog lying around.
Open fireplace/woodburning stove.

Lighting is key. Any utilarian light will instantly degrade any homely feel. Even a few standard lamps can soften the light.

Blinds are ok but you need some soft furnishings. A rug or cushions. Some books. Plants. The laura Ashley catalogue is great for ideas

Stuff.

I've never been in a minimalist's home that felt homely.