It’s not always that easy to settle into your new home. Sometimes no matter how good the property looked during your viewings, once you have got your keys and moved your belongings in it can still on occasion take a while for it to really feel like you’re home, not just somewhere you rest your head at night.

If you are struggling to settle and feel really at home in your place, then you need to incorporate at least some of this list of 50 items and experiences into your home – because experts advise they can make all the difference. They compiled the list after surveying over 3000 people about what they felt really made a house a home, and even if you only have the budget to add a few of these, you might find your space is transformed.

“The findings of our latest research really capture the essence of what makes a house a home – whether that’s making personal décor choices, creating new memories, or adding home comforts to help you settle in,” explains James Holmear, Group Sales Director at Redrow.

The property expert also noted that this often means people prefer to opt for a newly built property because it presents them with an entirely blank canvas to make their own and enables “them to create these homely touches from the very start of their property journey – whether that’s choosing design features such as underfloor heating, fixture and fittings, home layouts, or simply wanting to enjoy experiences in a home that is wholly theirs from the foundations upwards. The best bit about buying off-plan means there’s no previous negative energy in your home to sage away either!”

Whilst items you can purchase next time you’re down at the shops made the list, those surveyed also believed that experiences involving loved ones were a crucial factor in what made a house a home, and the best part is, you can, for the most part, do this entirely for free – so if you are struggling to feel at home in your property, make sure you get some dates in the diary with your friends and family to come over and help transform it in a home that’s really yours.

From using your home to celebrate the festive season or host a family birthday, and marking your growing children’s heights on the wall, to incorporating family photos, candles, and cosy blankets here are the top 50 things that those surveyed believed turned their house into a proper home – in no particular order.

1. A comfy sofa

2. Family photos

3. Hosting Christmas

4. Completing a sage cleanse

5. Natural light

6. Celebrating a birthday

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

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

9. Family movie nights on the sofa

10. Plants and flowers

11. Getting out in your garden

12. Sitting down for a family dinner

13. Carpets

14. Cooking for your family

15. Hosting family for tea

16. Having friends and family over for a BBQ

17. A fireplace

18. Tidying away any clutter

19. Choosing your fittings and fixtures

20. Throw cushions

21. Making the bed

22. Blankets on the sofa

23. A large television

24. Sentimental items passed through generations

25. Going for a walk in your neighbourhood

26. Candles

27. Large windows

28. Artwork

29. Getting to know your neighbours

30. Bringing home your newborn from the hospital

31. Memorabilia

32. Designing your own kitchen

33. Matching furniture

34. Scented room spray

35. Playing your favourite song

36. Reading the paper with a cup of coffee

37. Baking cookies

38. Children’s drawings on the fridge

39. Open plan living

40. Ensuite bathroom

41. Window seat

42. A coffee machine

43. High ceilings

44. Coffee table books

45. Walk in wardrobe

46. Underfloor heating

47. Marking your child’s height on the walls

48. Ceiling coving

49. Induction hob

50. Air source heat pump

Some of these are certainly more easily achieved than others, so if you’re working with a tighter budget, opt for those listed that are totally free, like playing your favourite song as you sit back on the sofa or proudly hanging up your children’s drawings – or planning a proper movie night for you and your loved ones.