What makes a house 'homely'?

onomatopoeia99

Books. Lots and lots of books. In living areas, not hidden away.

heartbreak_star

Warmth - both actual warmth and things like squashy cushions and soft lighting and having your things so you feel comfortable

HBS x

VestanPance

I can't stand cats, so certainly not them!

I like things clean and everything in place, or clinical/minimalist and show housey as some would term it here. I can't relax if there is mess or clutter in the house. I would need to clean it up before I could sit back and relax.

Mr_Toad

My place is homely but I'm not sure I can tell you why.

As I look round I can see two guitars at one end of the room. There are two large sofas and a couple of chairs, one wall is lined with bookcases and there's a coffee table somewhere under another pile of books and magazines. I recently fitted one of those colour changing LED bulbs in one of the lamps that I got off eBay.

I have the radio on most of the day playing classical music, Handel at the moment.

The log fire helps.

Note to self. I really must put some more logs through the log O'matic and get them stacked.

Out of the window I have an uninterrupted view over the countryside to the horizon and the Derbyshire hills.

I don't have any pets but there's currently a large cat having a wash in front of the fire, he calls in for breakfast a couple of times a week but I have no idea where he lives and I wasn't consulted. He just turns up, eats, has a wash and a nap then goes. By the look of him I'm not the only breakfast call on his route!

Marisco

Mr_Toad wrote: »

My place is homely but I'm not sure I can tell you why.

As I look round I can see two guitars at one end of the room. There are two large sofas and a couple of chairs, one wall is lined with bookcases and there's a coffee table somewhere under another pile of books and magazines. I recently fitted one of those colour changing LED bulbs in one of the lamps that I got off eBay.

I have the radio on most of the day playing classical music, Handel at the moment.

The log fire helps.

Note to self. I really must put some more logs through the log O'matic and get them stacked.

Out of the window I have an uninterrupted view over the countryside to the horizon and the Derbyshire hills.

I don't have any pets but there's currently a large cat having a wash in front of the fire, he calls in for breakfast a couple of times a week but I have no idea where he lives and I wasn't consulted. He just turns up, eats, has a wash and a nap then goes. By the look of him I'm not the only breakfast call on his route!

I can!

Does anyone here live with one of those "obsessive compulsive cleaners"? And if so, how on earth do you cope? Even if I loved someone to bits, I'd have to do a runner, no way could I live with someone like that!! :eek:

minimacka

When I read this lady's blog I think her home looks really homely,


http://dotsandspotsdesign.blogspot.co.uk/


I think a real fire and candles especially when its cold and dark outside makes me think a house is homely. We don't have one at the moment but we are planning on changing that after the new year as we have all the fire place and chimney there, we just need to buy the grate and get the chimney checked.


x

Edwardia

A house becomes a home because of the atmosphere you create within it. Lighting, colours, texture.

tomtontom

My home is very neutral, but I don't think furniture or colours make a home. People love coming here because they can do whatever they wish, which normally involves raiding the chocolate store grabbing a blanket and settling on the sofa. A friend even turned up a few days ago and spent the day in my bed - she just wanted some tlc!

Lieja

I remember as a kid I loved going to my friend's grandparents house, because it felt so homely compared to my parents' show home. I often told my mam growing up that I didn't feel like I could 'live' in the house, because everything was so neat and there was never any 'stuff' around! There still isn't, and my house is the complete opposite.

I have lots and lots of 'stuff'. Hundreds of books all over the house, lots of music equipment and instruments in the sitting room, random chairs that don't match, candles, plants, clutter, and even a huge Charles Dickens anthology stopping my (real) Christmas tree from falling over! My parents won't have a real tree because they're too messy. If only the dog would lay still on the rug and not jump at my face at every given opportunity, it would be perfectly homely!

I am in a constant battle with the OH over the different between 'lived in' and downright filthy. He doesn't see there's a difference and would quite happily live in a homely pig sty if I let him.

themull1

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

I agree that cats make a home 'homely'.

Our cat passed away suddenly a couple of weeks ago. My house is that little bit less homely

Mine too - i miss her sleeping under the christmas tree on a fluffy stocking.