What does it mean?

[ChrisLei]

When someone says "Your house is so homey"?

 

[breezy1077]

I'd take it as a compliment. It means to me, comforting, inviting, cozy, warm - all good stuff. IMO

 

[JR6ooo4]

as long as they are not seeing filth then it should be a compliment.
Like they are jealous.
Mikeeee

 

[juligrl]

I'd take it as it's welcoming and feels very comfortable.

 

[Michelle67]

I agree, unless it is said with a bit of catty sarcasm, in which case it means messy. I hear this about my home all the time...in my case it could go either way. Haha. Nobody is catty with me, I'm just saying my house is definitely "lived in" (another one of the same ilk of expressions).

At best, I think the expression is meant to convey that people feel relaxed at your home, and not like they have to sit on the edge of the sofa and not eat or drink anything for fear of dropping a crumb on your carpet. This would be in direct opposition to entering a place such as my father's house, where my step mother makes you feel as if your presence is sullying the place.

 

[marciemi]

I'd say it means that your house looks like somewhere where they'd feel comfortable, not a "model home" type look which appear never to have been inhabited by actual people.

If the person saying this to you lives in a model type home (you know, those perfect types! ), then it might be a veiled insult. However, from anyone else I also would take it as a compliment.

 

[ChrisLei]

Thanks so much for the replies. I have taken it as a positive thing, but just wanted to make sure it wasn't a veiled negative. LOL I am a bit borderline OCD, so my home is clean. But it definitely is not a model home.

I am glad people feel comfy coming into my home then.

 

[okeydokey]

Is that the same as lived in? My best friend from college used to spend lots of weekends at my house. She said she always liked being there because it was homey. You could always count on there being a couple of pairs of shoes lying around, you know?

 

[ChrisLei]

Thanks so much for the replies. I have taken it as a positive thing, but just wanted to make sure it wasn't a veiled negative. LOL I am a bit borderline OCD, so my home is clean. But it definitely is not a model home.

I am glad people feel comfy coming into my home then.

 

[aprilgail2]

Is that the same as lived in? My best friend from college used to spend lots of weekends at my house. She said she always liked being there because it was homey. You could always count on there being a couple of pairs of shoes lying around, you know?

To me homey would be small but inviting- lived in would be cluttered...

 

[kirbsam]

i would be offended if someone called my house, "homely".

 

[breezy1077]

i would be offended if someone called my house, "homely".

Me too! But not "homey"

 

[ChrisLei]

To me homey would be small but inviting- lived in would be cluttered...

I think you nailed it! It is a small home. Definitely no clutter....keep in mind, borderline OCD here It is inviting for me and my family.

I am happy that it is inviting!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I've used this expression and when I said it what I meant was it you could see immediately the personality of the family who lived there and get a sense of who they were and what they loved in life. And also that it was warm, and inviting, a place you could relax in.

 

[JR6ooo4]

to me, lived in means used. But not necessarily dirty. Just not showroom new.
Mikeeee

 

[coles1mom]

to me, lived in means used. But not necessarily dirty. Just not showroom new.
Mikeeee

You mean I'm not showroom new anymore?

 

[froglady]

Someone who lives in one of those "model" type homes (large foyer with 20 ft ceilings, marble floors, 4,000 + sf, 5 BRs, etc) told me my house was "cozy." I'm not sure it was a compliment.

BUT I'm happy with it, and it suits my needs, and it's 100 % paid off, so that's all that matters.

 

[Stacerita]

They probably feel as comfortable there as they do at their own home.

 

[ThemDawgs]

Consider the source.

If my mother-in-law said my house was homey, she would mean that my house wasn't as tidy as hers. (It's not.) Passive aggressive.

If one of my friends said it, they would mean the house is comfortable.

Sounds as though your house has the best of both worlds -- tidy and homey!

Mary Ann

 

[Michelle67]

Wow, Mary Ann, are you married to my step brother? That description totally fits my step mother.