What makes a house a home to you?

merlotgran

The feeling that not only do you love your home but it loves you back.

Oh, exactly that merlot!

houses have vibes, good relationships seem to be transferred to new owners

I have done the beams/cottage thing. not for me. I actually dislike beams, tint windows and low ceilings, they hinder the energy flow, which I have in spades in my present home

re people to make a home, many of us are widowed or single, we make a home without other people involvement. It is all about the ambience

tiny not tint. My friend has a cottage, low ceilings, beams, old brown furniture. It is dark, cosy enough in winter with the log fire burning but she gets winter SAD even if it is not winter

I agree with karmalady that many of us live alone so a home is not always about involvement with other people .
I live alone with my little dog , and I just love my home , as I feel it’s always so warm ,cosy and inviting with fresh flowers , throws , soft lighting and my large comfy sofa .
After spending enjoyable afternoons out with family / friends groups & clubs , it’s so lovely to come home to a quiet, peaceful & relaxing place that is home , a place to chill out and to cosy up on the sofa with my lovely little dog .

I wasn't discarding feeling safe. I was just saying that that is such a basic requirement in life, let alone at home, that when discussing what makes a home feel home for us, feeling safe should be assumed, just as we assume the house will be properly built, no water coming through the roof, electrics working etc etc. The house should be in a country which is not at war, not under threat from extremes of weather: not threatened by wild fires, floods or hurricanes and so on and so on. Your family around you

I had a peripatetic childhood as my father was in the forces. We lived in army quarter after army quarter all over the world with all kinds of decor and furniture, but what turned each of those into our home, was when my mother unpacked the boxes of our own household goods and got the familiar pictures on the wall, ornaments on the shelves, cushions on the chairs, my sisters and I unpacked our favourite books and toys.

For me home is and will always be where I am surrounded by the familiar and since I now am not always on the move and can choose my home. living somewhere that has been survived so many centuries, housed so many families for so many generations is part of that sense of being rooted inlife.

I understand that about being re-rooted. Roots are important, many of us have had to move around because of work and now AC, we are a long way from our childhood roots so we have to make the best of where we are. because of where the AC have settled. If those roots can be found in a home that has good vibes in its walls, then good

I think I would be scared to have bought a second hand home because of the potential for bad vibes. I am putting vibes into my new build and they are good

Feeling safe, that comes top of my list really, I could not be safer than were I live now.

That is all just so accurate M0nica
Perfect.

also in a victorian home, oopsadaisy1, it feels like it gives me a hug... and full of paintings, rugs and feelings of safety and joy.

Pets and books

We moved almost 3 years ago. It became home when the grandchildren had visited enough times to know where everything was kept. It didn’t take them long to find out where their toys, cups, plates and what they call ‘the chocolate drawer’ were!

Comfortable, welcoming and not too precious, I hate homes where the owner is always fussing at the least thing and if there is a spillage makes a big fuss and gets the cleaning products out.

I don't attach to a house, probably due to around 20+ moves as a child (parents marital problems). I'm at home once I've had a long bath in a new house, or hotel.
Home is a comfy sofa, my Tunisian rug on the floor, an open fire or log burner, and AC visiting, staying over and treating it like their own home. DGC being here makes it even better. Also the few ornaments I have, like the clock we bought in France on our 25th anniversary or the bowl from a holiday in Amsterdam.

When you walk into your house and it feels good to be home.

Probably different things to different people make a house feel like a home. I think you’ve nailed it if you come home, close the door behind you and let out a sigh of utter contentment to just be there.

Dogs!

JaneJudge

somewhere you feel safe to sleep

Definitely! After being burgled whilst at work in my previous house and DH going away a lot on Conferences. I love that this house has a big high wall with no gate at the back.
Also, I would say the people in it make a home, you know walking into a house or having a meal, where there is discourse.

My lovely bathroom, having a long bubbly soak, my waterbed, having a cuddle with my 2 dogs, my 6 grandchildren coming over for lunch. This all makes my home a happy place and I feel very lucky and safe.

We’ve lived in our house for 37 years. It’s a 3 story Victorian terrace. And although it can be untidy at times and there is always jobs to do. Our plan was always to downsize. but we’ve still got 2 ac at home plus a gs. But we all agree we’d hate to leave this house, because it’s our home. We feel safe here, which is very important. Nighttime’s are very quiet.
So although it’s not the most stylish house inside, it doesn’t matter.

Mine now feels like just somewhere to live since my dear DH died 4 years ago. I wouldn't move as I have brilliant neighbours and family not far away, but oh how I miss that safe feeling I had when I walked in the door and DH had a sherry ready for me..... He made this house a home.

Love ...

My house doesn't feel like a home anymore since Dh passed away and as it's out in the country I don't feel safe anymore either.

My little cat, my books & my music!

Somewhere you feel safe wih a good strong door that you can close and lock and ignore the bloody neighbours.

My lovely big ginger cat, I lost my husband in January and it is so good to have my fur boy around. From about 9.30pm he mooches between lounge and bedroom as if to say
are we going to bed soon'. Also talking to a pet is better than talking to yourself and he always agrees with me!!!!!

I've lived in this house for over 50 years. When my ex- left me in the late 70s I realised how safe I felt here, and would often break in to a run on the way home from the shops to turn the corner from whence I could see my front door, and once inside felt safe and cared for (by a house?? but yes).

A few years ago there was a bad incident with a neighbour threatening violence. I was never angry at that neighbour, but I was angry that, for a few days, I felt robbed of the safe feeling. How dare they make me feel like that!

Home is definitely where you feel safe.