What makes a house 'homely'?

NobodysChild

Edwardia wrote: »

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

Poppops wrote: »

I think it's all about texture, colour and lighting. Different textures in rich colours with soft lighting

I have finally got my house looking homely, in my opinion and to my personal taste only of course, and couldn't tear myself away from gold and burgundys with rich brown additions

I steer away from bright white and blues as I feel they are more suited to a warmer climate!

Yes I think having warm colours around, (like deep wines, mahogany's, and dark and medium oak,) the rooms being lit up with lamps rather than main ceiling lights, several flower displays with deep rich colours, a few cushions, a few (real) plants, a log fire, roof beams, scented candles and incense sticks. (And of course the hubby, the cats and the kids.) For me anyway.

purpleshoes_2

My flat is homely because its mine. Its lived in, if people want to be neat freaks and I know more than a few fine, but Im not. I have cats but I dont know if that makes it homely, its just comfortable to me.

Id love a log fire but I dont have one, I have cushions, throws, pot pourri, candles, nick nacks that Ive picked up from travels and when my gran died I got some of her stuff

I like the way I live, other people wouldn't but thats cool. Its just home and its good enough for me

Ive been in other peoples houses that are sterile and that suits them, nothing out of place, like a showhome, not the way Id like to live but some people do and thats ok.

raven83

I think nice lighting makes a house homely, can't stand ceiling lights, candle light or a lamp, also smells too, nothing like the smell of fresh coffee or home baked bread wafting through and also the smell of washing drying, that smell always to me makes a home feel homely.

JIL

I love going to my friends house, its a Victorian terrace high ceilings, woodburner full of clutter and books and stuff everywhere. But I can't live like that. I don't like clutter I like clear surfaces and things that match. So why do I love her house and feel so cosy in it?

pearl123

Books and most importantly love.

snowleopard61

Clean and tidy, but plenty of personal things around - books, pictures, lots of family photographs, cushions (this is a woman thing, I think - most men just don't get it!). In my case definitely cats - the house would feel so hollow without them - though dogs are good too. And I think being warm - actually physically warm - is essential. I'm rarely warm enough and for me it detracts from the homeliness of my house or any other chilly house I visit!

Mr_Toad

snowleopard61 wrote: »

cushions (this is a woman thing, I think - most men just don't get it!).

Sofa parasites!

The girlfriend introduced a couple, for her back, then a couple more.

I came in the other day and there are now red christmas parasites taking up space. Apparently they make the place look more festive.

I'm sure they breed in the night! :eek:

snowleopard61

Mr_Toad wrote: »

Sofa parasites!

The girlfriend introduced a couple, for her back, then a couple more.

I came in the other day and there are now red christmas parasites taking up space. Apparently they make the place look more festive.

I'm sure they breed in the night! :eek:

Ah, that's the way to do it! When Mr Snowleopard and I get to be together full-time, gradual introduction of cushions will have to be the order of the day ...

snowleopard61

Mr_Toad wrote: »

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 loved this.

There's a great children's book called "Six Dinner Sid" about a cat that does the rounds of a neighbourhood, being fed by everyone.

Gloomendoom

snowleopard61 wrote: »

I loved this.

There's a great children's book called "Six Dinner Sid" about a cat that does the rounds of a neighbourhood, being fed by everyone.

I had a cat like six dinner Sid. He was very cheap to keep.