Have we lost the ability to make our homes comfortable and cosy?

Sara1954

Doodledog
A lit fire always does it for me, although I realise that’s seasonal.
Maybe some candles burning, I always love to see a house full of bookshelves, and a nice big sofa to curl up in.

That sounds like bliss to me!

I think grey walls is the least of our worries. I just had an advert pop up for cork on walls which, it seems, is fashionable again. It’ll be wood chip and anaglypta next

MayBee
We put cork tiles in the alcove’s of our first home, I was very proud of them.

doodledog, no it is a continuation because I am not exactly sure what precisely makes a home feel welcoming as distinct from the opposite.

For me, and I appreciate this is very much of a personal thing. I can only quote the phrase 'Books do furnish a room'. As soon as I see a wall of books, I usually feel at home (there will always be exceptions). Add some low squashy sofas, and you will need a bulldozer to get me out.

However, the welcoming comfort I have been looking for in houses, is no one thing in particular and any style of home decor can achieve it. I think it is what is lost when a house is styled to be shown off on social media and this has now spilled over into dressing houses for sale.

I can never understand people getting designers in to dress their homes. Surely one’s home is an extension of their personality and it should grow organically throughout the years. And don’t get me started on the current fashion for baths in bedrooms. Even my eight year old granddaughter was subjected to one of my rants about baths in bedrooms but agreed with me that it was a daft idea! A lovely B&B that we used to go to started putting baths in their bedrooms and pushed the price of staying there up so much that we can’t afford to go there now. I mean, where do you keep the bath cleaner etc? And what about the steam??

MayBee
I don’t like en-suite bathrooms for the same reason.

Sara1954

Doodledog
A lit fire always does it for me, although I realise that’s seasonal.
Maybe some candles burning, I always love to see a house full of bookshelves, and a nice big sofa to curl up in.

Sounds like mine! 😊

I think a cat or dog curled up on a sofa looks homely in photos, although I don’t allow animals on furniture and think they should be kept out of the way if there is going to be a stream of visitors .

I would say no air fresheners as people can be allergic to them, and they suggest a cover-up of some sort. Smells are important though - I use essential oils on a warmer.

I like cushions, but always tell people to feel free to move them if they aren’t keen.

House plants add a ‘cared for’ look to a room (if they are healthy!).

Blondiescot and Patsy
Can’t really go wrong with that combination can you?
Soon we’ll be drawing the curtains, and then we’ll really be snug.

M0nica

*doodledog*, no it is a continuation because I am not exactly sure what precisely makes a home feel welcoming as distinct from the opposite.

For me, and I appreciate this is very much of a personal thing. I can only quote the phrase 'Books do furnish a room'. As soon as I see a wall of books, I usually feel at home (there will always be exceptions). Add some low squashy sofas, and you will need a bulldozer to get me out.

However, the welcoming comfort I have been looking for in houses, is no one thing in particular and any style of home decor can achieve it. I think it is what is lost when a house is styled to be shown off on social media and this has now spilled over into dressing houses for sale.

we cork tiled the lounge party wall of out first semi det home because we could hear the neighbours. We actually liked the finished natural look so left them au naturel. After we sold it, we heard that the buyers had ripped all the cork tiling off!!

MayBee70

I think grey walls is the least of our worries. I just had an advert pop up for cork on walls which, it seems, is fashionable again. It’ll be wood chip and anaglypta next

Cork is lovely. It goes on like wall paper and can be printed in a multiplicity of ways. You can buy cork fabric too - lovely for bag making. I'm thinking of having it in my kitchen - The wall paper - as it loathe tiles with a vengence. Not everyone's cup of tea but then, what is? Things have come a long way since the old days

I can never understand people getting designers in to dress their homes Interior designers know how to be brave and some people find that difficult. Friends of mine have used interior designers in a couple of homes (serial, not at the same time) and I only remember one room that was so off-brief it had to be redone.

I think the idea of consulting designers (as they frequently do on TV makeovers) is that they are a fresh pair of eyes in your home and, with their experience, can (hopefully) suggest designs and alterations that make the rooms flow better and / or enhance the look of the place.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202308/medium-191633-51ongo4spql-ac-sx300-sy300-ql70-ml2-.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202308/medium-142219-41entdyapdl-ac-.jpg

I think a cat or dog curled up on a sofa looks homely in photos, although I don’t allow animals on furniture and think they should be kept out of the way if there is going to be a stream of visitors

These two might make a sitting room look cosy without being too much trouble 😃

My DC had cork tiles on their bedroom walls but that was so that they could pin whatever they wanted to it without damaging the walls.

However, afterwards the walls had to be wall papered not painted.

That dog looks as though an amateur taxidermist has been at it

😂

I think he's cute.
He won't move, doesn't need feeding or walkies either!

Oh dear, I thought it was a cat!

There's one of each, GSM

Must get new specs!

The grey palatte reminds me of corporate offices .. Not my cup of tea.

We prefer the warm blonde oak wood floors and for summer, a touch of vanilla and nuances of cream, beige and off white, all with a warm undertone.

This way during the autumn and winter seasons I apply color.

We like a touch of modernity however, with a "rustic" touch. Very Zara Home.

My office (spare bedrm converted) is icy pale pale sage with blonde oak flooring and houses an entertainment centre consisting of book shelving and is actually an Asian Antique in a oak tone and antique gold knobs on the doors ..

We do not like clutter or dust collectors.

My desk is also the same tone of blond oak.

Bedroom: Also a pale vanilla with nuances of off white and cream tones. Bedding is from Zara Home and is a pale pale sage.

Kitchen: I detest white kitchens as one is a slave to its upkeep. So we chose coppery tones which work wonderfully with the wood floors.

The rest is also the same hues and colors with the sage in varying depths.

Callistemon21

My DC had cork tiles on their bedroom walls but that was so that they could pin whatever they wanted to it without damaging the walls.

However, afterwards the walls had to be wall papered not painted.

Cork tiles and the newer cork wallpaper are very different. If removed, I don't think the walls would be any more difficult to deal with than if they had been tiled - possibly less so.

If you Google "cork wallpaper" and click on "images" just beneath the search bar you may be surprised at the papers.

This was years ago so they must have improved since then.

I should think cork wallpaper must improve insulation too.

Callistemon21, yes, it stops condensation problems on a cold wall by insulating the surface and can be papered over. I prefer it to the polystyrene 'insulating' wallpaper.

Hetty58

Callistemon21, yes, it stops condensation problems on a cold wall by insulating the surface and can be papered over. I prefer it to the polystyrene 'insulating' wallpaper.

Is this the same as the printed cork wallpaper. I wouldn't want to paper over that. It seems that cork comes in many guises.