Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 13, 2025

Who we are
Homely Thoughts (“we,” “us,” “our”) publishes home and decor content at https://homelythoughts.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

Contact

Information we collect
1) Information you provide

  • Contact details: name, email address, and message content when you contact us or subscribe to our newsletter.
  • Comments and forms: information you submit in comments, surveys, or forms.
  • Partnership inquiries: professional details you share if you pitch or collaborate with us.

2) Information collected automatically

  • Device/usage data: IP address, browser type/version, device identifiers, pages visited, time on page, referring/exit pages, and general location (city/country) inferred from IP.
  • Cookies and similar tech: pixels, tags, SDKs, and local storage used for analytics, performance, preferences, and advertising.

3) Information from third parties

  • Analytics and ad partners: aggregated audience insights and performance metrics.
  • Affiliate networks: pseudonymous IDs and transaction confirmation to attribute qualifying purchases.
  • Social platforms: if you interact with our content or use social login, we may receive your public profile data per your platform settings.

How we use your information

  • Provide and improve the Site, content, and features.
  • Communicate with you: respond to inquiries; send newsletters you opt into; deliver administrative messages.
  • Personalize content and measure performance.
  • Advertising and affiliate attribution, including frequency capping and interest‑based ads.
  • Security, fraud prevention, debugging, and enforcing our terms.
  • Compliance with legal obligations and to protect our rights.

Legal bases for processing (EEA/UK visitors)
We process personal data when:

  • You give consent (e.g., cookies, newsletters).
  • It’s necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., site analytics, preventing fraud) and those interests are not overridden by your rights.
  • We have a legal obligation (e.g., tax/regulatory records).
    You can withdraw consent at any time through our cookie settings or by unsubscribing from emails.

Cookies and similar technologies

  • Types: essential (site functionality), performance (analytics), functional (preferences), and advertising (personalization/measurement).
  • Control: manage cookies via our on‑site cookie banner/settings and your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may impact features.
  • Retention: cookies persist for varying periods; see our Cookie Policy for details. If you don’t have a separate cookie policy, we can integrate a cookie table here on request.

Analytics, ads, and affiliates

  • Analytics: We may use services such as Google Analytics to understand traffic and improve the Site. These tools set cookies and collect usage data in a pseudonymous form.
  • Advertising: We may use ad networks that deliver contextual or interest‑based ads and measure performance.
  • Affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate partners use cookies or similar tech to attribute sales.

Disclosure of information
We share information with:

  • Service providers/Processors: hosting, analytics, email delivery, security, and support vendors who process data on our behalf under contract. Examples may include: web host, CDN, email/newsletter service, analytics provider, ad network/SSP, affiliate network, security/firewall service.
  • Business transfers: if we undergo a merger, acquisition, or asset sale.
  • Legal compliance: to comply with law, legal process, or protect rights, safety, and property.
    We do not sell your personal information for money. Some analytics/ads may be considered “sharing” or “targeted advertising” under certain privacy laws; see “Your rights” below.

Data retention
We keep personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described above, or as required by law. Typical periods:

  • Emails/newsletters: until you unsubscribe or your address bounces.
  • Contact inquiries: 24 months after resolution.
  • Analytics data: per provider defaults or as configured in our account settings.

International data transfers
We may process and store information in countries other than where you live. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) and assess transfers for adequacy.

Your choices and rights
General

  • Opt‑out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link.
  • Control cookies via our on‑site settings and your browser.
  • Do not track: we currently do not respond to browser DNT signals. Some regions provide a Global Privacy Control (GPC); where mandated, we will treat GPC as an opt‑out of targeted ads or “sharing.”

EEA/UK (GDPR)

  • Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, portability, and withdrawal of consent.
  • How: email [email protected] with “GDPR Request” and the right you wish to exercise. We may request information to verify your identity.

United States (including California)

  • California (CPRA), Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah: you may have rights to know/access, correct, delete, and opt out of targeted advertising or “sharing” of personal information.
  • Opt‑out of “sale/share” and targeted ads: use our “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link (if enabled) or email [email protected] with “US Privacy Request.”
  • Sensitive data: we do not knowingly use or disclose sensitive personal information for purposes that require a limited‑use notice.
  • Minors: we do not sell/share personal information of consumers under 16.

Canada, Australia, and other regions
You may have rights to access and correct your personal information and to file a complaint with your local authority. Contact us and we will assist.

Children’s privacy
The Site is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures appropriate to the nature of the data we process to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

Third‑party links
Our content may link to third‑party websites or services we don’t control. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.

Managing your newsletter data

  • Subscribe/unsubscribe: use the link in any email or contact us.
  • Provider: [Your Email Service Provider]. We share your email address and engagement data (e.g., opens/clicks) with the provider to send and improve newsletters.

Commenting and community features
If comments or community features are enabled, your display name, comment, and timestamp may be publicly visible. Please avoid sharing sensitive information in public fields.

How to exercise your rights

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Verification: we may ask for information to confirm your identity and region.
  • Timing: we aim to respond within 30 days or as required by law.

Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will revise the “Effective date” above and, where required, provide additional notice (e.g., a banner or email). Your continued use of the Site after changes means you accept the updated policy.

Quick summary (for your page top, optional)

  • We collect limited personal data to run our Site, send newsletters, analyze performance, and support advertising/affiliate revenue.
  • You can control cookies and unsubscribe from emails.
  • We don’t sell personal data for money; some partners may use cookies for ads/measurement, which you can opt out of.
  • Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Implementation checklist (delete before publishing)

  • Replace bracketed placeholders with actual company details.
  • Add/confirm your cookie banner and a Cookie Policy link.
  • List your actual processors (e.g., hosting, CDN, Google Analytics, email provider, ad network, affiliate networks).
  • Add a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link in your footer if you have US readers and use targeted ads/analytics.
  • Create a Data Request form or dedicated email for rights requests.
  • Ensure your newsletter signup includes a clear consent statement and a link to this policy.

If you share your stack (hosting, analytics, email tool, ad network, affiliate platforms), I can insert precise partner names and provide a cookie table tailored to homelythoughts.com.