Brits have shared the top things that make a house feel like a home – from hosting Christmas, to feeling safe in the local area. The most important thing when it comes to feeling settled in your home is having the feeling of sleeping in your “own bed”, according to the poll of 2,000 adults.
And having a fridge full of food, putting family photos up, and knowing the kids feel settled, are also among the top 10 signs your home really feels comfortable. On average, Brits feel that they need to enjoy three special occasions, such as birthdays, in their property before it really begins to feel like home.
TV social and behavioural psychologist, Honey Langcaster-James, backed up the findings, claiming it’s not about the furnishings, but more about the experiences shared – both highs and lows – in their home before it begins to really feel like it’s theirs.
Speaking about the research commissioned by housebuilder Redrow, Honey Langcaster-James said: “The top things we need to make a house a home isn’t actually about the furnishings or the aesthetics – it’s all about what happens personally and socially within the four walls.
“And it’s about that sense of new home pride – being able to invite people to visit, and welcoming them into your space. Being able to give someone a tour of your home, tell them where to find things, or pointing out personal touches, all add to that sense of ownership and homeliness.
“Even those new home disaster moments – for example the splash of red wine on the couch, or that first family squabble – although not fun, can be something that helps your home to feel lived in, because it’s something that only tends to happen within the privacy of your own space.
“But also sharing fun, relaxed, and intimate moments, as well as things like wearing your most comfortable and relaxed, never-to-be-seen-outside clothes, all help facilitate that homely feeling.”
But the study also found a third of adults have lived somewhere that never ended up feeling like home – with 45 per cent believing it is difficult to attain that homely feeling. And three in five (61 per cent) believe it is much easier to settle into a new home if they haven’t had to grapple with property issues once they moved in, such as toilet leaks or mould.
Some of the biggest unpredicted stress points identified by owners included internet connectivity issues (26 per cent), finding a suitable tradesman to take on renovation work (24 per cent), and subsequently having to deal with the mess they can make (22 per cent). The living room, a crucial family space, was seen as the biggest priority when decorating in order to achieve the home-like feel, according to the survey carried out via OnePoll.
And it took an average of 14 weeks for respondents to fully unpack from moving into their current property.
Social media, TV shows, and furniture stores are where most people take inspiration from when it comes to putting their own stamp on a home. And adults have moved home four times since they first flew the nest – with one in six finding it increasingly difficult each time to make somewhere new feel cosy.
Honey Langcaster-James added: “While the personal material items you collect together, such as your pictures, books, and personal effects, can make your house feel like your home, it’s also about the little things you do there, and the people you spend time with. You actually don’t need much around you at all – just gathering your nearest and dearest, or putting on your comfy clothes, and having a sense of privacy, will help you to feel at home.
“When you open your front door for the first time to welcome someone in, that’s when it really begins to feel like your own.”
A spokesman from Redrow said: “Homes create memories the longer you live in them, but it’s always a bonus if you can move in and not have to grapple with potential problems. Often the older a home, the more issues it’ll have due to having to replace things, hidden problems, and potential renovation works.
“We aim to give people a better way to live and a house that instantly becomes a home, so they can focus on making those all-important memories.”
TOP 30 THINGS THAT MAKE A HOUSE A HOME:
- Sleeping in your “own” bed
- Feeling safe locally
- Family photos
- TV being set up
- A fridge full of food
- The sofa being set up properly
- The kids feeling settled
- Artwork on the walls
- A bookshelf filled with books
- Plants
- Having your space on the sofa
- The smell of freshly cooked food
- Having the bed made
- Freshly washed bedsheets
- Painted walls
- A dining table
- A large wardrobe with clothes hung up
- A bedside table set up
- Blankets/throws
- Flowers in vases
- Fresh towels
- Hosting dinners for family and friends
- Hosting Christmas at your place
- A rug
- Children's toys in the house
- A doormat
- Not having to use the sat-nav to get home
- Candles
- Children's paintings on the wall
- Matching furniture in each room
