What makes a house a home?

This is my newly decorated downstairs loo. Over the top and Barbara Cartlandesque! When my 5-year old granddaughter saw it for the first time she was overwhelmed and called out ‘mummy, daddy, come and look!’ Her flat is all white.

A cat, preferably purring.

A dog! A home isn't complete without one. We lost our beloved old black Lab last June, and the months between then and February, when a new black Lab joined the clan, were the longest we'd ever been without a dog around. And we felt it...

A house is a home that’s filled with warmth laughter and love.❤️

A house - clean, airy, light, spacious, warm.

A home - happy, contented people.

I really wouldn't mind if someone swiped my empty cup away and put it in the dishwasher for me.

Clean, comfortable, not untidy but with perhaps a knitting bag and a magazine rack around in the sitting room.
A pouffé to put your feet up (like I have done now).
Cushions (although we have a friend who really dislikes them so I have to remove them from where he sits).

I have all those things you mentioned Chardy but my family always made it feel like home.

Character of home owner(s)
Doh

AGAA4

People make a house a home. I live alone now but have photos of my GCs everywhere.

To be a home, it should reflect something of the personality and character of the home, imo. That might be books, pets, music, photos, pictures on the wall/artwork, somewhere comfy to sit.

The warmth of the atmosphere with friendly people. Soft cushions on the sofa, a nice cup of tea and the feeling that you're welcome. You're free to put your feet up and relax.

People make a house a home. I live alone now but have photos of my GCs everywhere.

It is an indefinable something, that some people have and others do not, so that you go into one house and immediately feel comfortable and go into another and do not.

LauraNorder

Somewhere where you just feel content when you’re in it.

Yes, exactly.
I don’t think pets ( much as I like them) make a house a home.
It just needs to be comfortable and ‘lived in’.
I suppose we all have different definitions of a home though.
I like a home to be clean and reasonably tidy with comfortable furniture and cushions, lamps, bookshelves and an open fire or log burner.

Children and grandchildren feeling free to pop round whenever and treat it like their own, but without the mess if possible!

This made me think about houses we visit, friends and family. So, clean, warm, with good lighting, but it’s the people we go to see.
Preferably not smelling of pets with fur everywhere, not dingy and not cluttered, with clean bathrooms and kitchen.
Can’t judge how others see ours, but people still come round!

Full of love, with friends and family visiting. Welcoming with kettle ready to make a pot of tea.

JaneJudge

my house is a bit of a mess atm, it's getting on my nerves

Mine is driving me up the wall.
I’ve just booked online for a trip to the tip.
It would have been easier to get an audience with the Pope

Somewhere you want to go back to.

Sorry I didnt mean to derail thread with my rabbit woe, thanks everyone though.
I really like Laura's definition.

Somewhere where you just feel content when you’re in it.

my house is a bit of a mess atm, it's getting on my nerves

I'm sorry about your rabbit galaxy we had a couple when the children were little and the one lived until it was 10 and I remember the children were beside themselves. My daughter still talks about the rabbit now. She didn't really like me though and made it known even though I was the one who used to care for her (the rabbit not my daughter)

A dog on the sofa, OH pottering in the garden or the house and something nice cooking in the kitchen (preferably on the aga) because my daughter is coming for lunch.

Clean, tidy, warm, lots of books, candles, photos, and lots of colour and texture, preferably a fire burning.