In 2025, the concept of ‘home’ is evolving. No longer defined solely by ownership or architecture, home has become something deeper: a feeling rooted in emotional connection, comfort, familiarity, and routine. Whether someone lives in a studio flat in Manchester or a countryside cottage in Devon, the question remains—what actually makes somewhere feel like home?
To explore this, we surveyed 1,000 people across the UK and combined our findings with national data, psychological studies, and social trends. This article dives deep into the emotional and sensory elements that transform a space from ‘somewhere we live’ to ‘somewhere we belong’.
1. Personalisation and Sentimental Value
Our survey revealed that 79% of Brits believe the most important factor in feeling at home is the ability to personalise their space. This aligns with research by Aviva, which found that family photographs (39%), a fully stocked fridge (30%), and fresh bed linen (23%) are top contributors to a space feeling emotionally familiar.
In rented or temporary spaces, small touches—like lighting candles, playing favourite music, or unpacking personal items immediately—were frequently cited by respondents as “anchors” that emotionally connect them to a new space.
Adding personal mementoes like holiday souvenirs, artwork, or even fridge magnets can rapidly cultivate a feeling of permanence, no matter how long the stay.
2. Safety, Routine and Environmental Control
Safety is another top-tier concern. 88% of respondents said a secure and private environment was critical to feeling truly at home. This is supported by the Brabantia “Joy of Home” survey, which showed that three-quarters of participants see home as their emotional sanctuary.
Psychologists argue that autonomy—the ability to control your surroundings—directly impacts our emotional attachment to a space. From setting your own sleep and wake times to choosing lighting, sound, and temperature, this sense of control breeds comfort.
With the rise of smart home tech, renters and homeowners alike are finding new ways to customise environments to their needs—boosting both convenience and emotional satisfaction.
3. A Sense of Community and Familiarity
More than just private comfort, a true sense of home includes external belonging—that connection to neighbours, local businesses, and shared spaces. According to Get Living’s study of over 10,000 UK residents, 63% reported that being on a first-name basis with local shopkeepers, or regularly seeing the same faces, increased their sense of rootedness.
Interestingly, respondents in built-to-rent or co-living environments reported higher community satisfaction than those in traditional rentals. This suggests that communal design and lifestyle programming can significantly influence emotional integration.
4. Design, Layout and Sensory Triggers
Interior design plays a more powerful psychological role than many realise. Our survey found that 68% of people cited natural lighting, 61% mentioned open layout, and 52% valued clutter-free environments as essential to comfort.
Studies have shown that warm lighting, tactile fabrics, and ambient soundscapes (like soft music or natural sounds) are critical sensory triggers in producing feelings of peace and control.
Design principles such as hygge (Danish coziness), biophilic design (natural materials and greenery), and feng shui (energy flow) are becoming mainstream—helping people intuitively build nourishing spaces.
5. The Role of Routines and Rituals
While tangible objects matter, it’s often our habits and rituals that emotionally bond us to a space. 71% of people in our survey said they felt more ‘at home’ once they established daily or weekly routines.
Whether it’s brewing a cup of tea at the same time each morning, taking evening walks, or doing a Sunday “reset” clean, these patterns help mark time, stabilise identity, and transform space into place.
These findings are consistent with lifestyle research from wellness experts, who link home routines to lower anxiety and improved emotional grounding.
6. Connection to Nature and Outdoor Space
Having access to nature—even small doses—significantly boosts emotional well-being. 81% of respondents said that access to greenery, natural light, or views of nature made them feel more “at home.”
Even in urban areas, simple additions like houseplants, balcony herb gardens, or nature-themed decor were named by participants as key comforts.
This aligns with NHS-backed studies showing that nature exposure reduces cortisol (stress hormone) and improves serotonin (mood hormone) levels. Spaces that connect inside to outside—through big windows, outdoor seating, or nearby parks—foster faster emotional connection.
7. Shared Experience and Emotional Memory
Feeling at home also stems from memories created in the space. Our respondents frequently mentioned birthdays, family dinners, and movie nights as emotionally significant.
A house becomes a home not just because of what’s in it, but because of what’s happened there. This reinforces why long-term guests in serviced apartments or relocators staying in contractor housing often feel more at ease after a few shared meals or moments with colleagues.
8. Case Study: Temporary Stays, Permanent Feelings
One respondent shared how living in temporary Nezt accommodation for a three-month infrastructure project unexpectedly felt like home:
“At first I thought, ‘It’s just a short stay.’ But by the second week, my housemates and I had a routine—we’d share dinners, watch the same Netflix shows, and decorate the hallway. It wasn’t just where I stayed; it became our little world.”
This case study echoes broader findings that emotional connection isn’t about length of stay—it’s about what happens during it.
9. Building Home, Wherever You Are
Whether you’re in a long-term residence or a short-term contract role, these strategies can help you feel truly at home:
- Personalise immediately: Unpack fully, add your favourite colours, textures, and scents.
- Create routines: Set morning, evening, or weekly rituals that anchor your time.
- Use all senses: Introduce calming sounds, scents, and tactile comforts.
- Connect outside: Learn local streets, say hello to neighbours, frequent the same shops.
- Embrace memory-making: Cook, laugh, celebrate milestones in the space.
Home is built by action, not duration.
Final Thoughts: What Home Really Means
The UK’s relationship with housing is changing. More people rent than ever before, more move for work, and more live in shared or temporary spaces. But no matter where you live, one thing is clear:
Home isn’t where you are—it’s how you feel when you’re there.
From personal expression to emotional memory, routines to community ties, the factors that make us feel “at home” are deeply human—and entirely possible to cultivate.
At Nezt, we understand that creating comfort isn’t just about location or layout—it’s about connection. That’s why we help workers, families, and relocators across the UK find not just a place to stay, but a place to belong.
Explore flexible, well-furnished accommodation that feels like home—whether you’re staying for a month or a year—at Nezt.co.uk.
