What makes a home look good to you?

[MonaTheMoaner]

I’m pretty good at housekeeping. Things are clean and generally very tidy and organised with minimal clutter but lots of books and photographs on top of surface and on shelves in the living areas. I think my home is pretty decent but I always feel it’s lacking.

So what do you think makes a home look and feel good to you? Is it all in the details like throw cushions and rugs or scents after the base work is done? How do I add that extra something?

I spend a lot of time at home and will be more so in the coming months as we have a new baby due in September so lots of visits from friends, family and healthcare professionals. I’d rather do everything now than then if you see what I mean?

Natural textures and materials. Wool throw. Leather arm chair. Hardwood floors. Marble work tops. Most modern houses are too synthetic. It's a bit depressing despite being very practical.

A good scented candle! I like the home inspiration ones by Yankee (cheaper than Yankee too!)

Lighting one in a comforting scent can instantly make a house feel more homely.

We had the salted caramel one over xmas! soooo good.

You need decent art on the walls.

Think carefully about what you add as soon you will have to baby/toddler proof your home.

JaniceJoplin I know nothing about art. The only thing I have framed are photographs of the family on surfaces and one big Jack Daniel’s poster that belongs to DH in his office. Where would you consider buying reasonably priced art?

Lighting. Lamps with low watt bulbs.

If I have a piece of art on the wall it has to really mean something to me. If in doubt, mirrors and family photos in any case.

Wallpaper on the feature wall makes my room look cosier and a nice rug

Affordable art fair in London, artfinder.com, degree shows, galleries / prints. You do need to genuinely like it though!

Agree with @EggsonHeads about the natural materials, obviously not everyone can have marble and hardwood floors but it's easy and cheap to add a few cushions/throws/rugs and beautiful antique wood furniture can be picked up cheaper than you'd pay for the same thing at Ikea.

Also agree with @JaniceJoplin with art, it's nice to go into a home with individual artworks and hear the stories behind them or why the owner chose them. Definitely makes a space feel more like a home and conveys a little of the owners personality in a way decor and furniture can't.

And good lighting, especially if like us you are in a place with bloody spotlights in every room lots of lamps at different levels mean you can adjust lighting levels as it suits and it's less harsh.

Texture for sure, rugs, cushions and plants. I love sumptuous overstuffed cushions, throws and the like. And nice reed diffusers or candles

Books, old things which have a story behind them, wood floors, a cat or two, warm colours, things which don't match too well (but are somehow in keeping with one another), evidence that something creative and imaginative has gone on in the room and will continue to go on, a plant or two

Nice rugs, fresh flowers, light, minimum clutter

@MonaTheMoaner try the King and McGaw website. The have lots of art ideas available. Most of the prints start at around £15 too if you want to frame it yourself. I'm doing this with basic frames from TK Maxx/ IKEA and currently spoilt for choice!

Try colour co-ordinaring your books on shelves too. It's quite subtle, but does somehow make bookshelves look neater

Agree re art!
Try charity shops, local craft fairs and gift shops, etsy, museum shops.
You can frame all sorts if you like it- postcards, cards in general, maps, wrapping paper, pages cut out from magazines, silk scarves, interesting tea towels. The key thing is that you have to like it- don't chuck stuff on the wall for any other reason!
You can put loads of family photos in little frames in a big cluster, with the odd postcard between. Mementos- wedding invites, tickets, even bigger stuff like hats, plates, dishes etc. Anything flattish that you like looking at- whack it on the wall!
You can always take them down if you change your mind.
Houseplants help (very on trend right now too), and yes yes to nice lighting.
Waste a few hours on Pinterest/instagram and see what you like.