How to Make a House Feel like a Home?

Photos.
A home is made by memories. Put up family photos and not just the formal kind. You need the funny and silly ones. You need the ones of those that live far away or have died. They should each have a memory or tell a story and remind you why you are a family.

My husband always tell me "thanks for making where we live always feel like home". I'm not a fanatic about decor. I like my home to be comfortable so you dont have to be paranoid about putting your feet up on the coffee table or getting a coaster for a drink. All of my furniture is user friendly. People dont have to leave their shoes at the door. I have lots of pictures of family all over the place, and lots of pics of me and hub in every room, even the bathroom! My house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy.

A quick fix is to put up some pictures and knick knacks.

Paint is an inexpensive and quick way to redo walls, trim, cabinets, even counter-tops (you'll have to look up how and what products to use for your particular kinds).

Cozy it up with candles. Put your books on display. Let your kids' stuff make it's way throughout your house. Let it look 'lived in'.

pull everything from the room & then redo it .....by rethinking & repurposing. I do this regularly with our home.....in fact, did it again in the living room tonight! I usually do this each season......drives my family nuts!

I begin with each corner of the room....& build outwards. I try to make a main focal point. In the living room, it's the tv....& during the winter, that is split with the fireplace. Hope this helps!

Only you will know what you can do in this regard, but I have found, that when we have moved.. the best way to get that "homey" feeling, is to try the furniture arrangement in another way. It usually means that the way you have it isn't "right".

When you are doing the furniture arrangement, pay special attention to how you set up your lighting. Lamps can have a HUGE effect. Either floor lamps behind a chair in a corner, or beside a chair in a corner... or even between 2 chairs making a conversation area. Also... a big rug will "pull a room together" as well.

If testing out new furniture/lighting arrangements doesn't "do it"... consider a coat of paint. The right color on the walls (almost anything except for WHITE) can make a WORLD of difference.

Houseplants, too, can make a big impact in the "feel" of a space.

But I would NOT just toss out blankets ands knick knacks to fill space in your quest for "home"... if you are not a natural knick knack person (and I am not) then it will just feel cluttered. Don't do it.

There is a great book called "The Emotional House" about how to decorate your home in a way that is soothing to your soul. I highly recommend it.

I feel the most homey in a house with warm wall covers and family pictures all around. Also, I think things that warm up a room are things that you take for granted - blankets out for snuggling up, books on the coffee table, kid's art framed. That kind of thing. Put out things you like and see if that helps.

I have to say I think paint plays a big part in it for me. When I go into a house with all the same beige-ish wall color, it never feels inviting. Of course, we have bold colors on most walls in our home, so I might just be biased!

Put family photos on the walls. They don't have to be expensively framed; they just have to be up.

Do you have some small treasures you can put in safe places (safe for the treasures) in various rooms to remind you that although the house may be different it's the same family?

Make coffee. Make bread. Make spaghetti sauce! Cook or bake what all of you like best. A great aroma is a great way to feel at home. Ahhhh!

other moms have suggested pictures - do you know that you can print them at walmart or cvs for just a few dollars? also dollar tree has some cute (yes, cheap, but once they're up you can't tell) picture frames, since you mention you're on a tight budget.

Hi Mama,

Kohls, Target and other home departments have phrases or letters to create phrases you can paste to walls, like wall paper. The phrases are inexpensive and can make a real difference.

Maybe add a sentence from your favorite bedtime story to your child's wall or a family joke to the family room.

Have Fun!!

R. Magby

Pictures! Also, books, lamps, plants, throw pillows & throws...

Pictures always give a homey feel. You can find frames from cheap to very expensive, ether way they add a warm and personal touch to the room. Don't forget to put them on the walls too. If you have artwork/writings from your children, those would be great to frame.

Lighting can make all the difference in the world from the placement, shade color/transparency and the type of light from the bulb (soft white, LED, cfl etc).

Books on a coffee table, side table and/or book shelves.

Plants are great if you are good with indoor plants (unfortunately, I am not).

If you can find throw pillows on sale, you make all the difference in a room especially if you are choosing a new color, shape, theme or style. A throw across the arm of a chair or couch is always cozy looking.

Paint always changes the feel of a room. You don't even have to paint all the walls, you could do an accent wall.

With any addition or change make your choices personal from the style to the shape. In other words, get what you (and your partner) like despite what you may think others will say/think.

Have fun!

paint wall borders and pictures. go to the thrift store and find things to make it yours. new tile if you can install it yourself is cheap. flowers on the outside stuff like that.. have fun and and good luck. oh stencils get plastic stencils for .99 at a hobby store a sponge for .69 and a small deal of craft paint. :)

Paint. Honestly that is what took our new house from our house to our home. It is OUR touch with out things that makes it ours. Maybe because this is the first house we have ever owned, but it makes a HUGE difference for me.

My husband was in the military for over 20 years. We moved a lot! One thing that really helped us feel at home again was putting things on our walls. That was always huge. Another trick, which is one of the least expensive ways to decorate, is to paint the walls. They colors don't have to be overwhelming. They can be soft, subtle colors. But, color makes a HUGE difference. We like to unpack as quickly as we can (because another move was pending! LOL), but be flexible with rearranging stuff as you get used to the flow of your new home. Candles burning, other family scents are helpful to add warmth to the home. And, you might want to check out some blogs. thenester.com is a great blog. She moves constantly, and she always makes her home hers, even if it is only for a year or less. And, she does stuff on the cheap, but they look high-end. She's really good. Relax and enjoy the transistion. Your new home is not your old one. Embrace the new one. Live where you are. Don't look back. Make it yours in attitude first, and the rest will follow.

new paint on the walls and fresh flowers every few weeks. good luck!

Hi there!.
It comes to my mind those things that friends and relatives say about my home. It may helps. Family pictures (as suggested before by moms H.), potpourri in every room and same scent candles (in this time of the year spiced apple smells so "homey"), Do you have a chimney? If you do, you may want to hang those X-mas (clear) lights along the chimney tangled with silk leaves, I keep them all year long; and then for X-mas you may want switch the leaves for (artificial) pine garlands. Looks very cozy and warm.
Leave a nice fur throw on the couch or sofa and place a couple of nice books on a table, a basket with children books on a corner, and a few toys in the living room or the family room (there is nothing more "homey" than a " real and living house") It doesn't necessarily have to be messy, but cozy.
Place a nice and colorful rug in the children's room; place floor lamps in the living room and in the bedrooms. They give a nice indirect light and therefore, "cozy". I found beautiful floor lamps and at a very convenient price at "Weekends only", there you can find also nice and non expensive pictures that you may hang around the house. Most of all, be happy, let some music fill the air at home and smile every time you can, it is contagious......
I hope my ideas help you!

As many moms have said pictures. Also I don't know if you have any friends or family near, but what makes my house a home is having all my loved one visit and have dinners/game nights ect.. One mom said it best, memories makes a house a home so fill your house with good times. Good luck.