Making a house into a home is an easy thing to do. It is up to the individual living within those walls to make it a welcoming environment, a place where people want to hang out. What makes a place homey is the person/family living there.
In my own experience, I have filled our home will furniture and accents that have a connection to me and my husband. Some rooms have antiques that still beckon someone to sit on them, because they look comfortable. Other rooms have new furniture but chosen with living in mind. I chose items that bring me joy and tranquility, a picture of a river our sister used to work at hangs on the living room wall. Old camera's on a shelf that our father used to take family photos. A small bottle collection I've had since childhood. I have a newly acquired collection of angels all sitting on the shelves by the fireplace.
Pillows, throws, footstools all lend a feeling of join us and stay awhile. I have chosen to make several sitting areas so guests feel welcome.
A guest once asked what style our home was and I said I didn't have a style it was just our stuff. So with that in mind I guess it would be called eclectic if it had to be labeled. We are on the river so I have some items that have a water theme. The restrooms all have a theme of playfulness to them. One looks like a cabana in Key West another has tropical fish swimming on the walls. The sunporch or smoke room as the neighbors call it is filled with green living plants. There is antique wicker furniture with on old quilt thrown on the seat of the couch saying seat here. Again pillows and footstools beckon the visitor to sit a spell. There are a string of seashells party lights strung along one wall and another set of dragon flies weaved into a peace lily plant, candles adorn side tables. Every weekend this room gets the most attention.
Colors can make a room feel warm and inviting or cool and distant. It depends on what make the homeowner happy. If the homeowner is comfortable in their environment then most likely the visitor will feel it also.
I know this is true because we have a retirement home we frequent on the weekends. When the residents are in, the neighbors say they feel an aura coming from the home. When we are gone during the week, the blinds and doors closed, they say it feels cold and uninviting. Even the rocking chairs left out on the porch look lonely.