Revealed: The top 50 things that make a house feel like home in Devon

A comfy sofa, family photos and marking children’s height on the walls have been revealed among the top things that those in Devon say make a house feel like home.  

New research from leading housebuilder Redrow, which has a number of developments across the region, including Saxon Brook and St Micheal’s Meadow in Exeter, has unveiled the top 50* things that those in Devon feel are key to making a house or flat feel like home – and some of the answers came as a surprise. 

Interestingly, many people across Devon say they’ve turned to ‘completing a sage cleanse’ to help them settle in, while almost a third (32%) said it was the less spiritual type of cleansing, a simple tidying away of clutter, that made their house feel like a home.  

Although the kitchen is often thought of as the heart of the home, this is no longer the case in Devon – the majority, 57% of those in the region, voted their lounge as being the heart of their home, with 50% having prioritised this room in their current property as the area they decorated to suit their taste first. 

Some of the more unusual, but surprisingly common, features that made the top 50* list of things that make a house a home in Devon were revealed to be an induction hob and having an air source heat pump –  a sign that sustainable technology now contributes to people’s sense of feeling more at home.   

On average, it takes those living in Devon more than a year from moving in for a new house to feel like a home (45%), but for 41% it only takes only 6-11 months. This is quicker than the national average of 1.1 years – and may be one of the reasons why getting to know the neighbours is also featured on the Devon ‘House to Home’ top 50 list.   

Homely décor featured in the list includes family photos, natural light, plants and flowers, or sentimental heirlooms passed down through generations. Snuggling up on the sofa to watch a favourite show, family movie nights on the sofa, and getting out in the garden were voted as little actions that also made the top 50* things that make a house a home.   

And it seems those in Devon really do enjoy a touch of luxury too – with high ceilings, walk in wardrobes, ensuite bathrooms, and underfloor heating also making the final cut.  

When asked what makes a house/flat feel less homely, those in the region said when a house feels cold (61%), clutter and lack of storage (42%), when there is not a lot of natural light (24%), cool lighting (26%) and someone else’s décor and style choices (18%).  

Commenting on the data, Sian Smith, Sales Director at Redrow South West, said: “The findings of our latest research really capture the essence of what makes a house a home – whether that be making personal décor choices, creating new memories or adding home comforts to help you settle in.  

“It’s great to see so many people prioritise sustainability in their home, and, at Redrow, we take pride in being able to offer customers air source heat pumps and underfloor heating as standard across our new homes. We are committed to making our homes more energy-efficient and helping our customers reduce their costs. 

“We’d encourage anyone looking to embark on the journey of finding a new home to visit our Devon developments and take a look at what Redrow has to offer.” 

The research was compiled to celebrate Redrow’s 50th anniversary, which sees the housebuilder mark half a century of building high-quality, premium homes across England and Wales. 

Redrow South West currently has 14 developments across the region. In Devon, Redrow is building high-quality, new homes at St Michaels Meadow, Saxon Brook, Blundell’s Grange and Romansfield developments – all offering excellent transport links while being perfectly placed for a slice of country life, too.   

To find out more about Redrow homes in the South West, including Devon please visit redrow.co.uk/locations/south-west     

Top 50* things that make a house/flat feel like home in Devon: 

  1. A comfy sofa 

  1. Hosting Christmas 

  1. Celebrating a birthday 

  1. Family photos 

  1. Natural light 

  1. Adding small personal touches over time through decorating and accessorising 

  1. Plants and flowers 

  1. Snuggling up on the sofa to watch your favourite show 

  1. Family movie nights on the sofa 

  1. Getting out in your garden 

  1. Sitting down for a family dinner 

  1. Hosting family for tea 

  1. Having friends and family over for a BBQ 

  1. Choosing your fittings and fixtures 

  1. A fireplace 

  1. Throw cushions 

  1. Carpets 

  1. Cooking for your family 

  1. Tidying away any clutter 

  1. Blankets on the sofa 

  1. Artwork 

  1. Candles 

  1. Going for a walk in your neighbourhood 

  1. Sentimental items passed through generations 

  1. Making the bed 

  1. Bringing home your newborn from the hospital 

  1. Getting to know your neighbours 

  1. Memorabilia 

  1. Matching furniture 

  1. A large television 

  1. Designing your own kitchen 

  1. Reading the paper with a cup of coffee 

  1. Scented room spray 

  1. Large windows 

  1. Playing your favourite song 

  1. Children’s drawings on the fridge 

  1. Window seat 

  1. Baking cookies 

  1. Open plan living 

  1. High ceilings 

  1. En-suite bathroom from the master 

  1. A coffee machine 

  1. Coffee table books 

  1. Walk-in wardrobe 

  1. Underfloor heating 

  1. Ceiling coving 

  1. Completing a sage cleanse 

  1. Marking your kid’s heigh on the walls  

  1. Induction hob 

  1. Air source heat pump 

* List compiled from five separate survey questions asking what things, actions, features and memories make a house feel like a home in separate questions. The top 50 is in no particular order.  

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