How can I feel more at home in my house?

[bran]

We moved back to Ireland at the end of August. We had found a house to buy in about March that I adored, but that sale fell through so we had a choice of finding another to buy with a fast turn-around or renting for a year or so.

I wasn't keen to rent as we would then have to move twice but fortunately the housefinder found this house which ticked all the boxes (and was about 25% cheaper than the other one as a bonus). I can't fault the house at all, I know we're lucky to have it, but I just don't feel at home in it. The DC seem to love the house, and DH hasn't expressed an opinion either way so I think it's just me.

What made you feel at home in your home? I'm having some built-in storage put in and I'm hoping that once all my books and the DCs' toys are out of the moving boxes that will make a difference. The kitchen also drives me nuts with it's country pine appearance and clunky layout, so that's being changed in the new year, which might help too.

I feel at home for the first time (in 8 yrs) now our house is WARM

Lighting. I always find that makes a home. Soft lamps, an open fire and a few candles make it mor homely.

Also, the smell of a place, and that's something that you can't really change, it just develops, and soon the house will smell like "home" iyswim.

The third thing is "community" and judging by your posts you already have that.

I hope you settle in back in Ireland. One day we'll end up there, dh is from Roscommon.

I'm from Dublin 18. It's a nice part of the world

My mum swears by a lady called Antonella at Peter Mark in Cornelscourt (not joking). There is also Noel Higgins in Blackrock who has a great reputation.

Agree that Superquinn isn't Waitrose but come on it's something!! Also there's a lovely farmers' market up in Carrickmines/Stepaside on Saturday mornings.

I know exactly what you mean about 'the unexpected' (sadly for me this past year has been full of the unexpected, but not in a good way. I'm going to have to be more specific when I throw it out to the universe!).

It looks like a lovely house with a lovely garden - and 'the middle of nowhere' not too far away.

So - moving not an option.

Christmas tree on its way - excellent. I agree that a good Christmas in the new house will help to start making it feel like home, lay down some good memories.

I also think getting the kids to invite their friends around helps to make it feel like a home.

Is there anything you can do to the layout of the house, knock a wall through or anything, something just to actually change the feel of the space - more than just decorating?

And just to make you I live walking distance to a Waitrose and never go, I find their 'own brand' food bland, their choice limited and it's just, well, boring. There is one a lot further away that is marginally better - but for the life of me I cannot see what all the fuss is about. What am I missing?

I think a proper bed will be a big help. Escapism? Keep a cracking novel on the go.

Bed and and good hairdresser.

Agree with TheNextMrsClaus that lighting is all important -- have you got enough lamps around? I've felt quite strange in a couple of places, but lamps have helped a lot.

You say that the kitchen layout is bugging you, so you will fix that -- do you think the layout you have elsewhere is working? Is there a chair or a corner to which you naturally gravitate to relax? The 'work triangle' thinking that people apply to kitchens can be extended to other areas. I think that 'being at home' means that you feel there is a logic to the way the place is arranged, and the things that are in it, which reflects the way you spend your time. Having boxes around definitely won't help that.

Paint the cupboarddoors in wild and whacky colours which you always wanted and never dared. Or let the kids paint them. We once stuck stickyback plastic turquiose jazzy foil on ours - fantastic and dead easy to peel off.

Rugs and lamps, plants if you like them, photos...

Hi Bran, I was lurking on the early part of your thread so thanks for the update.

My advice? Have a party. A housewarming...I don't know why it works but it really does warm the house.

Hi Bran - Happy New Year :)

It's nice to hear that things are improving at least - even if it's mostly the practical stuff. Having the carpenter get so much done is great. Maybe once you get a few more things done and the lighting sorted it will feel more like home, even if it doesn't it will be a nice place to live in and you can think about what other options you have then.

We had some snow here & messy, icy roads - so I bought winter tyres (£££) having been told this year will be worse than last year. I drove on snow/ice for about 2 days and then it had all gone. IF we don't get more snow I'm going to be bloody annoyed!!

Can you get a care package sent over ??