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Revealed: How to Make a House a Home

Your home is so much more than just where you live. The idea of a ‘home’ has a big impact on our emotions and our wellbeing. And it’s especially true right now when many of us are spending more time than ever in our homes, as reflected in our #AtHomeTogether campaign. That got us thinking – what does it really mean to feel ‘at home’? To find out, we carried out a major survey of 2,000 homeowners in the UK via ‘OnePoll’ to find out when their place felt like their own, and what things made the difference.

65% of 2000 homeowners surveyed in the UK via ‘OnePoll’ said being able to sleep in their ‘own’ bed is the reason why their house felt like home.

Feeling at home is about emotional connection

When we asked homeowners what really made them feel at home, it was the little things that made the difference. Family photos, a bookshelf filled with books, having a ‘place’ on the sofa and being able to sleep in their own bed were all top reasons why a house felt like home.

Children’s paintings on the wall, shoes by the front door and fridge magnets are also some of the little things which complete a place.

These are the top 20 things that made a house into a home:

Sleeping in my own bed
Family photos
A place on the sofa
Memories made in the home
A fridge full of food
A bookshelf filled with my books
The smell of freshly cooked food
Freshly washed bedsheets
The location of the house
Natural light
Plants
A dining table
My kids in the house
Fresh towels
Flowers in vases
Candles
A fireplace
Having the bed made
A large TV
Blankets and throws

The living room is voted the homeliest space in a house

In the ‘OnePoll’ survey, the living room was found to be the top space which homeowners wanted to make feel homely, followed by the bedroom and the kitchen. Decorating everything properly and getting new furniture were the two big factors in making a house more like a home.

Having a place on the sofa was one of the top three homely triggers, and we know how great it feels to have the right sofa for all the family. Making sure there’s space for everyone means corner sofas are always popular. Then you just need to agree who is sitting where, and your home will instantly feel more like your own!

To help you choose the best sofa, try our sofa buying guide and then use our sofa sizer tool to find the perfect fit for your home.

Having a ‘space’ on the sofa confirms to 48% that they are at home.

Beds are more important than family photos for making a house a home

According to our ‘OnePoll’ respondents, making the bedroom feel homely made a big difference to the house. Having furniture which actually feels like ‘yours’ is clearly important, especially the bed. Surprisingly, the bed ranks even higher than having family photos on display.

When it comes to the bedroom, it took an average of three months for people to make it feel like ‘theirs’, with more than a quarter of people purchasing a new bed for their new house. Finding the right bed helps you sleep better, which makes everything else feel a little easier! Read our detailed bed buying guide to help you find the right one. Adding a new mattress will ensure your new bed feels comfortable so you enjoy a good night’s sleep.

The bedroom is a popular space for homely touches like a bedside table containing everything you need, a wardrobe filled with clothes and a freshly made bed. Almost half of our respondents said they wanted to add cushions and pillows to the bed to make it feel more homely. A quarter of master bedrooms also feature a TV, and one in six have a bookshelf that reflects the owner’s interests and hobbies.

Over half of homeowners feel their home represents their personality

The study also revealed how much people want to make their homes represent them and their personalities. This was a key driver in helping a house feel like home. More than a third said they already had an idea of how to make their house feel like ‘theirs’ when they moved in.

And almost 60% of people said their home represents parts of their personality. For inspiration, many looked on social media for interiors and furniture photos, while a quarter browsed furniture stores to see what would suit them, and a fifth were influenced by looking around their friends’ houses.

Making your house feel like a home is about putting your own unique stamp on it, and surrounding yourself with what you’re comfortable with and what’s familiar to you – from those family photos to your favourite bedding.

Staying at home has never been more important. So snuggle down on your special space on the sofa and settle in knowing that you’re just where you belong. It may take a little while to get things exactly how you want them, but it’s well worth the effort. Because there’s no place like home, and we’re all #AtHomeTogether