A house is a building. A home is the warm glow of living room lamps on cold winter nights, kitchens buzzing with life and conversation, and shelves lined with much-treasured memories.

A home is a house that is lived in, but that doesn't mean it's a house groaning under the weight of its own accumulated clutter. A house can be neat and tidy and still have the warm, friendly welcome of a family home.

Turning a house into a home is often about subtle touches and the small details that make the big picture complete. It's not expensive, and it can involve the simplest things. Here are a few tips to turn your house into a home full of character, comfort, and beauty.

Make the Kitchen Your Hub

Kitchens are for cooking in, right? Well, yes, kitchens are certainly for cooking, but with a bit of thought and planning they can be so much more besides.

A good kitchen is where the family comes together to eat meals, chat about the day and, well, be a family. It's the room we head to first when we come in from the cold. In a word, it's the hub of the house.

Making your kitchen the focus of your home is easy. Make sure there are enough chairs for everyone. Put up your favourite family photos and get busy with the fridge magnets to transform it from a practical room into a friendly and informal space.

Another good idea is to hang plants or - even better - bouquets of fresh herbs from the ceiling. If that's not possible, keep some fresh flowers on the kitchen table.

Then encourage people to use it, and not just at dinner time. The kids can do their homework on the kitchen table when they get in from school. Invite friends round and let them enjoy a cuppa or a glass of wine in the kitchen while you cook dinner. That way, you're not left out of the fun.

If your kitchen is too small for a table, use the dining room instead. But leave the doors to the kitchen open and give it an open-plan feel, so the two rooms feel part of the same friendly living area.

Don't be Afraid of Colour

Show houses are always painted white, cream or magnolia so that prospective buyers can project there own tastes onto clean, bare walls.

Once you own your home, there's no need to keep it like that. You may love plain, neutral shades like magnolia, but the occasional splash of colour will add warmth, depth, and a personal touch.

You don't have to go mad. If you have a white living room, why not paint one wall - or even just the chimney breast - a bolder colour, like red or purple. It will break up the room and give it a more intimate feel - perfect for the autumn and winter months.

It doesn't even have to involve picking up a paintbrush. Flowers can add a splash of life and colour to any room, particularly in the gloomy days of winter. Pictures can too. In a family home, there's nothing wrong with placing a few favourite family photos in every room, but mix them up. Don't just display the kids' school portraits - photos of great family holidays or a beloved pet will add variety and colour.

Rugs and cushions can add a warm and cosy feel to any home, particularly if you have bare wood or laminate flooring. Buy them in rich, deep colours, like red, orange and gold. That way, you'll always be happy to snuggle into your soft furnishings.