The Little Things That Make My House Feel Like Home

I’m definitely one of those people who loves being at home.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy getting out when I can, seeing people and doing things, but there’s something about getting back through the door, putting on a pair of comfy PJs and getting my feet up on the sofa.

At the moment, Chelsea Peers PJs are a favourite. Add a cup of tea in one of my ridiculously big mugs, and I’m pretty much sorted.

Of course, in summer I need the fan pointing at me, while winter calls for a hot water bottle, blankets and plenty of cushions.

Apparently I have very specific requirements for being comfortable.

Our Home Is Definitely Not Minimalist

If you’re someone who loves clean surfaces and completely bare walls, you might want to look away now.

Our home is probably what some people would call cluttered.

There are things everywhere.

Our walls have Doctor Who, Deadpool, Winnie the Pooh, artwork from small artists and all sorts of other things we’ve picked up over the years. Then there are LEGO sets, crystals, foxes, Disney bits and an ever-growing collection of ghosts from places like York Ghost Merchants, Matlock Ghost Emporium and RoseLee Pewter.

I’m responsible for most of this.

Ash could probably live quite happily without half of it.

But bare walls just feel wrong to me.

Everything we’ve chosen has ended up there because one of us fell in love with it, it reminds us of something or it simply made us smile. None of it necessarily matches, but I think that’s what I like about it.

It matches us.

Some Things Hold Memories

There are also things around our home that mean far more than how they look.

One is a picture of a black Labrador that originally belonged to my aunt. My parents had given it to her and, when she passed away, it was offered to me. I love having that little piece of her home now hanging in mine.

Then there’s Sally.

I had a portrait commissioned not long after she came into my life. She was such a huge part of my world and, for many years, a big part of this blog too.

I still miss her enormously, but I love being able to see her every day.

Candles, Big Mugs and Other Little Comforts

I’m also a big believer in the little things that make being at home nicer.

For me, that’s often a candle burning in the background. I’m not particularly loyal to one scent – just please don’t make my house smell like food!

I tend to choose candles over wax melts these days because sometimes dealing with the old wax is just one job too many.

Then there’s tea.

I have a rotation of big mugs including Winnie the Pooh, Angel from Lilo & Stitch and Diddl, and choosing which one I want is apparently an important part of making a cup of tea.

Once I’m settled, it might be TV, Whatnot or some completely unnecessary doomscrolling. Audiobooks tend to be saved for bedtime, although I’m always listening to something sooner or later.

Nothing particularly exciting.

But that’s sort of the point.

Home Is Where I Can Switch Off

More than anything, home is my safe place.

It’s somewhere I can shut the door on everything happening outside and, as much as I’m able to, relax.

I don’t have to worry about what anybody else thinks of the ghosts on the shelves, the Pooh on the walls, the number of cushions on the sofa or the fact I’m back in my PJs at a ridiculous hour.

It’s ours.

It’s full of things we’ve chosen, things we’ve collected and memories of people and animals we’ve loved.

Some people might see clutter.

I see home.

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What makes your house feel like a home?

Pin It!