The Little Touches That Make Your House a Home?

[ramama]

DH and I have been living in apartments for the last 10 years, and they never felt like a home, always a rental. Although we are still renting, we just moved into a house that is small and cozy and quaint and really has a lot of potential to feel like a home. DH remarked to me that we needed to add little touches to make it feel more like a home, but neither of us know what those touches are, because we've been apartment living for so long!

I did put some fake flowers in the kitchen window in colorful vases, and keep a fresh bouquet on the kitchen table when we can afford them, but not lately since we adopted a cat recently and I haven't researched poisonous flowers yet. I also have started a growth chart in the kitchen doorway for the girls, and that's a beginning, but certainly not enough. I am also planning to make a quilt for the couch, but who knows when that will happen LOL

What are your little touches that make your house a cozy and comforting home? We'll be here for at least 5 years, so any suggestions would be so cool!

[Eyelet]

Hmm, I have my favorite artwork and framed posters hanging on the walls. I have candle holders on the top of my entertainment system and in a couple of windowsills. Area rugs in a couple of rooms to make them cozier. Nick-nacks and my favorite books on bookshelves.

[crunchy_mommy]

There was just a great thread on this on the Decluttering & Simplifying forum: http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1260705

[homemademom]

I like fabric-y touches, like table runners (for dining table and other tables around the house), throw pillows, and (washable) rugs in the kitchen and entryway. I like candles, too, and pictures or mirrors.

[*bejeweled*]

We live in an apartment, and it very much feels like home. Just as much so as our house/home where we had a mortgage. Home is where your heart is.

We have candles, throw blankets, my child's artwork on the fridge, plants, a cat, a fish, fresh flowers and clear spaces. We also have our special photographs displayed and nice soaps and seashells in the bathroom.

I have a special ruby red lamp in the kitchen and a red rug. Lots of places to just be---a reading nook in the kitchen area and a 3rd bedroom that we turned into our office. I really our spot.

[tink79]

Paint and curtains, two things we couldn't do much about in a rental.

[luv-my-boys]

I think family photos or artwork really send the msg "this is our space". I love photos so I have collages all over the house stairwells of the boys, goofy pics of our everyday life (im not big on studio pics)

I also agree that linens (curtains,tablecloths,etc) really add somthing to a space. This last time we moved it took me a while to get curtain rods due to size and it wasnt until i got them up how finished my house really looked and all they were missing were curtains

[Coconut Chronicles]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

There was just a great thread on this on the Decluttering & Simplifying forum: http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1260705

Definitely check out the thread above... it had some great suggestions.

[joyfulheart]

I love plants in every room, candles and baskets -- some with handwork. I love having my dc's artwork out -- especially from their Waldorf school years -- such beautiful pieces -- well, at least to a mother's eyes! I like area rugs too as we have all wooden floors in our house. And, nothing is more inviting to me than when we have a fire in our woodstove.