what do you think makes a house homey?

[Sara]

I think a homey feeling is different for everyone. I thought we could list some things that make your house homey.

[Darlene]

To me a house is homey when you can sit where you want and take your shoes off,put your feet up, and just relax. Warmth, good food, love, laughter....
It's where your children feel comfortable & have their friends over and they have fun & you get to know them.
It's where everyone can't wait to be at the end of the day.
It's made that way by caring enought to be somewhat organized & neat but also by realizing some things really don't need to be perfect. Sometimes just good enough is just right.

[Sara]

To me the smell of fresh brewed coffee smells homey. I grew up with the smell and it just feels good to smell it in my own home now.

[Dee]

I agree with both of you. I think what makes a house a home is that 'lived in' look. Not messy, just comfortable. :)

[homemaker carol]

I think its all of the above, along with:

~love - everyone knows and feels it when they are in your home, whether its your immediate family, friends or strangers.

~its where coffee is brewing, bread is baking, pies are cooking. Just the smell of those make a home homey, especially apple pies cooking in the oven. Mmmm that smell is wonderful.

~its where kids can play comfortably whether at the kitchen table or on the living room floor.

~I also think flowers make a home "homey". there is just something about flowers.

There are so many more things that make a home homey.

Its interesting because I can walk into a home that isn't organized or particularly clean and yet feel right at home there. The opposite is also true, I can walk into a home where its completely organized and you can eat off the floor and feel so uncomfortable. Strange!!

[pat]

I agree with the above.

To me, it's just not home without the sound of Ryan playing and enjoying herself. I love that our home feels very warm and welcoming. I think knowing that it's a safe haven adds to the homey feel as well.

[heartathome]

Well, mine is definately more than lived in - LOL! I have two kids who constantly make a mess. But, I think it is because we aren't pretentious. We don't have big dinner parties, and are more likely to invite you over to sit in lawn chairs in the yard and watch kids play. Our house is the house where all the kids come, I guess because they know they can do no further damage! LOL!

[debbiepittman]

Its interesting because I can walk into a home that isn't organized or particularly clean and yet feel right at home there. The opposite is also true, I can walk into a home where its completely organized and you can eat off the floor and feel so uncomfortable. Strange!!

I'm the same way. I always feel out of place in a home that is too nice, expensive, clean. I tend to hang around more disorganized, less expensive type things and feel more comfortable there. Especially if my kids are with us as I'm so afraid they'll break something, get something dirty, etc. You just can't relax in such places.

Debbie

[debbiepittman]

Well lit and reasonably clean is enough for me for my house.

Debbie

[dolphindream]

Surrounding yourself with things that are a reflection of you and your interests and hobbies.

[jlxian]

These are great descriptors!

I think mine is one that doesn't feel too homey --- but maybe I'm too critical. Its always always always a mess and not too clean. I blame this on working full time and having kids.

[Katybird]

I think it is feeling comfortable in a home. I think family pictures and items that the homeowner loves make it homey. I love to go to a home that you can feel the love when you enter by seeing the family pictures on the walls or tables and seeing the children's art on the refrigerator and an ongoing needlework project lying beside a comfortable chair. All these things say homey to me. :)

[MandiDawn]

My friends always say my house is the most homey they ever been to. That they love to come over, and always feel comfortable. It must be true since there are always people at my house, it seems like impromptu parties are always happening. And I like that. I like that one minute you are just hangin out, then next minute your house is full and you are breaking out the cards or scrabble game. I always feed people and have plenty of drinks around for anyone that stops by. I don't know what I do to make my house homey, but I'm glad I do!!

[Naderbug]

DH and I are Wiccan and we like to surround ourselves in our faith. There are pentacles and books of local folklore and magick everywhere. I've received several comments on the book of ghost stories that represents "bathroom reading". :P

One of the things for us, though, is for our home to smell like, as DH describes, "magick". In other words, lots of incense and spicy-scented candles. I looooove sandalwood, and we burn a stick of it at least once a day. This to me, makes my home homey.

Another thing that does it for me is for my house to look comfortable. We have big fluffy throws or small blankets spread all over the apartment for our guests. We have lights everywhere and reading material in all kinds of little nooks and cranies. Friends come over all the time and just plunk down their stuff and hop on our computers or video game systems and we love it. It's nothing to come home and find someone sitting in our livingrooom with a glass of water and playing a game. :D I love it, I love thinking that my loved ones are that comfortable.

DH has a thing for books, too -- he gets very uncomfortable if he walks into a house and doesn't see a bookcase somewhere in immediate sight. So we have huge collections of books of all sorts everywhere. Everything from books on religion, to comics, to magazines, and chemistry text books.

Bright Blessings!
Nada

[Englishlady]

In the UK we say "Homely", but it's all the same thing!

My house is Homely, clean enough not shock :D but not so clean that you would feel the need to shower on entry :p

I used to beat myself up, if anything was slightly askew, but I realised that my home, is just that, MY home and if you are lucky enough to get invited in, then you must "take us as you find us"..........Now I am more relaxed, I just try to make sure that my Furbaby Suzy hasn't emptied her toys and chews all over ( she leaves a trail of them!) and just hope that if anyone is coming I can make it tidy enough to look like it is "always like this" :D

My choice of colour scheme helps the place feel cosy, out living room walls are Tuscan gold ( a deep warm Vanilla Custard) and Ruby Red-not-quite-Burgundy Carpet and drapes( the Drapes have a trim that is exactly the same shade as the walls) so whilst the two colours may seem disparate, the whole thing looks cosy and "joined up" :D ...........Trust me I am a Designer! :cool:

I love the smell of coffee too, but I don't drink it all day so I have little "scenting" cloths I stuff down the back of my Radiators that emit a lovely smell gentle when the cloth heats up........

I love flowers too and I am fortunate that Dan buys me them on a fairly regular basis...bless him :)

[Scribbler]

I haven't found the formula yet.

But ... I have a friend whose living room furniture is burgundy and turquoise leather. Her curtains are burgundy. And she painted her walls -- GOLDENROD!

But somehow it works. I find her house restful. Peaceful. It always seems picked up, even when her son is playing with Lego all over the living room.

I just can't figure it out!