What makes a house feel comfortable

A wall of books, a big squashy settee and a wood burning stove ( I know, it is bad for the planet, but I live in a rural area)

I don’t really notice unless a place smells really bad (that includes the smell from having plug-in ‘air fresheners’ - they set off my asthma) or the bathroom isn’t clean. I’ve been made welcome in some fearfully dirty homes and felt uncomfortable with not-so-nice people, in immaculate homes.

When staying with friends or relatives, obviously it’s their style of decor, but as long as it’s clean and fresh that’s fine by me.I do like some space for my own things though and a rail with hangers for clothes and a bedside table.Not everyone thinks carefully about guests though!

‘Calendargirl’ I quite agree with you. I never go in those restaurants etc, who say they are ‘ dog friendly’.

Books for me too PaperMonster and 'posh ' magazines, not the celeb ones.

I understand not everyone likes animals Calendargirl there are some I'm not fond of either. We don't allow our dogs to pester people or hang around the table when we are eating. If I'm staying overnight I do like to have a bedroom window which opens.

We don’t have pets at the moment, but I always think a sleeping curled up cat adds something to a room in the way of homeliness.?

Clean and comfortable rather than super stylish I think.
Harmonious colours rather than jarring mixes of bright colours and crazy patterns everywhere.
Books, cushions and a few photos and knick knacks and plants and flowers rather than hard lines and the minimalist look.

I like somewhere that’s clean and reasonably tidy, but not a show home. I enjoy looking at the books on the bookshelves, and the pictures on the wall, family photos etc. but not too many.

I’m afraid I am not a real animal lover, so if they have no pets, that suits me. (I realise that doesn’t go down well with many on GN).

I try my best with getting rid of dog smells - no carpet, dog beds washed before guests arrive etc. But our dogs are part of us and if someone can’t cope with it I am happy to book them in to a b&b.

I don’t want a repeat of the day my sister came with her other half and found out he was allergic to dogs. The dogs had to be shut out - it was cold, and he still couldn’t cope. They booked into a hotel, but didn’t come back the next day. It was a shame but why didn’t they say something. When a cousin came she said beforehand that she was frightened of dogs so we put them in the local kennels.

Adequately cleaned and lived in. I hate those houses which are like showhomes and you daren't even sit down.
As an overnight guest, I always take all my own clutter away to my room rather than leaving it lying around.

A pet. I wish I was younger and fit enough to have one. I can’t even get a budgie as I had mice in the past when they were renovating next door.

The attitude of the people in it. As long as the cloakroom /bathroom is clean, I’m not bothered about furnishing. I’d prefer no dog smell, most people we know with dogs seem not to notice it in their homes.

Books. There needs to be books.