Find out what users favourite family moments are in the home with IKEA

[AbbiCMumsnet]

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From snuggling on the sofa and watching a film, to reading your child a book before they go to bed, the home captures hundreds of small moments in day-to-day life that often bring a lot of joy. With the Christmas season coming up, it’s these kinds of moments that play an important part in the festivities, whether it be making mince pies in the kitchen, or ceremoniously putting the star on top of the tree. With this in mind, IKEA want to hear your favourite family moments in the home, and what makes them special.

Here’s what IKEA have to say:
“Incorporating playful elements into any room creates an inviting space for a whole host of indoor activities. Whether you’re a kid – or a kid at heart – it’s easy to turn your living room into a place for lighthearted fun! Whatever space you have to play with, planning a space where children are free to express themselves boosts their confidence.
Read your favourite book on the sofa, while the rest of the group turns dining room chairs into a game of musical chairs. Or, turn display cushions into an impromptu pillow fight. Simply add matching seating for kids and adults, then the little ones get to imitate grown-ups. Role play is great for developing their social skills. Who wouldn’t feel twenty years older sitting enjoying a cup of tea in a POÄNG chair?”

What are or have been some of your favourite family moments in the home? How have these changed as your children have grown older? Which rooms in your house remind you of the fond memories you’ve created in them? With the winter months closing in, which Christmas traditions in the home do you do as a family - and which are you most looking forward to? Perhaps you have a favourite festive film you watch every year without fail?

However big or small, share your favourite family moments in the home with IKEA on the thread below, and you will be entered into a prize draw where 1 MNer will win a £300 IKEA voucher.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[PickledChicory]

One thing I do love about dark nights and cold weather is being able to come in from the cold, perhaps after a dog walk and all get cosy on the sofa. Hot drinks maybe a game or film. Total snuggly bliss

[boptanana]

I love Sunday roasts on dark winter evenings with the fire burning and a glass of wine. Chatting to my dc and dp.

[Whyisitsodifficult]

Lighting a fire, curtains shut and watching a film!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Putting up the Christmas tree (we always do so on the first Sunday of Advent), although last year we had to take it down because the kittens were flexing their climbing skills in it.

Once homework's done, snuggling up to watch a film downstairs.

[giddyypixie]

My favourite family times are when we put a film on, draw all the curtains so the room is dark and snuggle under cosy blankets, munching on popcorn!

[tillymint21]

Now my children are young adults it’s time spent in the kitchen, just chatting or talking over things (with lots of tea and cake) or making dinner together.

[QuietAndStill]

We have 5 DC and on Saturday and Sunday mornings, they all one by one end up making their way through to our bed, until there's 7 of us in it and the cat. 🙂

[nettymay]

Grandad plays the accordian and we have a raffle ticket and winner chooses the next song. Very funny especially when grandad does not know the tune!

[Goingovertosusanshouse]

I am already getting super excited about the festive season! Now the children are at school I find it hard to cram it all in like we used to. We have an advent calendar with drawers, sometimes they will get a toy, sometimes chocolate and sometimes an activity. The activities are my favourite and it’s become a real festive tradition, we make decorations, cards, watch the snowman, the snow dog and Father Christmas back to back, have our first mince pies on Dec 1st. Christmas Eve is always a new Christmas book and we’ve now got a lovely collection. We love snuggling up with these books and sharing them every year.

[gringina]

It doesn't get lovelier then four generations of us sat around a dining table laden with food. Whilst my 23 month old grandson, pops onto random laps, as if by magic, to share a toy, or book. But my heart melts when he sits with his great grandad Sammy, I feel so grateful.

[pusinky]

We love getting early on Sunday morning and bake a cake or cookies together.

[blackleggingsandatshirt]

I have lovely family memories
Of growing up as a child
mum dad and sisters together
we'd argue then be reconciled

We’d to go the cinema on occasion
mum dad sisters and me
I remember especially seeing Warhorse
Although that was sad for me to see

We loved board games together
Then later go for a drive
With a roast dinner with my favourite mashed potatoes
When back home we’d later arrive

My family is so important
for it is the ultimate bond
I have so many special memories
Of which I’m so fond!

[youkiddingme]

I love our family Christmasses. We have so many little traditions and my highlight is playing charades, we are all terrible at it which makes for much hilarity.

[IonaAilidh11]

movie nights in with all the kids snuggled up on sofa

[SeekingShade]

Baking at the kitchen table.

[phillie1]

Sunday roasts

[AuFinch]

For me what makes the home is the family in it!!! So my initial response would be "belly laughs" - thats what makes a home for my family. You name it we have a good laugh about it, even silly things that other people wouldnt find funny at all.

Memories - that is what makes the home special, like when our son made a huge train track out of thomas the tank engine pieces (we used to go to car boots and buy loads of cheap track peices) - he loved that so much and spent hours talking about his trains and what they were doing! The track would go under the table, round the back of the sofa, into the hallway and back, and up and over the coffee table (with various bits and household items supporting the track)!

Putting a tent up, or making a "den" out of bed sheets are other memories that i love we always used the huge vintage stripey sheet and when it goes in the wash and i pull it out of the washing machine it makes me smile remembering snuggling up to read a story in the "den" and having little "picnics" in there and playing card games like SNAP when you have to shout SNAP really loud! (that was one of the rules of our game).

We still do some of our silly games, our son is 18 now but he still gets chased round the sofa when he has said something cheeky! The films we watch have changed but we still love to have our nibbles and snacks and all squash up on the sofa together and we have a few supersoft blankets to snuggle under when its winter. We sometimes do our silly games, like sometimes when we watch a film i.e. Harry Potter we have a huge bowl of marshmallows and you are only allowed to stuff one in your mouth when someone on the film says "harry"!

[minkeymonkeys]

I love it when we all sit and have dinner together.

[kagglen]

Spending Saturday mornings baking cakes with the family.

[SSCRASE123]

The first time when we lit the fire in our new home, a very old country cottage was fabulous and the memories of that first winter/Christmas are amazing.

[maureen3733]

Playing board games on a cold winters night

[dogdog]

A lovely autumn walk, collecting conkers and leaves, then warming up by the fire and reading stories.

[AR2012]

When we brought our newborns home for the first time. introducing them to our pets.

[strawberrisc]

Favourite moments are ALWAYS Christmas Day, from when the children were small to now. When they were little it was the full-on excitement when they saw "he's been" and then a day spent playing with new toys. Now it's all being together with work phones and email switched off.

[abigailflo7]

My daughter left for university. In September so the house is a little quieter. Still will not put the tree up at Christmas until she's home this year as its our tradition to do this together