A comfortable couch, good neighbours and a large bed are the three key ingredients for a happy home, according to a recent poll.

Results revealed the top 20 things which contribute to the perfect home life, with respondents ranking nothing more important than snuggling up on a nice comfy couch in the dark, winter months.

Having a spare room for guests, fast internet and a nice dinner table are also crucial to domestic bliss.

Satellite TV, a fireplace and a large fridge also made the list, while the perfect happy home also needs at least two pets.

The research also found being just over three kilometres from a supermarket, feeling part of the local community and having the countryside no more than eight kilometres away was important to people’s happiness overall.

While privacy is important, the average person felt the nearest neighbours should be just a few yards away, according to the study of 2000, which was commissioned by Banner Homes in the UK.

A third of respondents are also convinced that having pets is crucial to a happy home life, with two the ideal number and dogs preferred to cats.

Two TVs, with the ideal screen size given as 37 inches, was considered an important feature, while seven in 10 thought a television in the living room was absolutely necessary to harmony.

Safety and privacy are also key priorities, while the ability to go for scenic walks is important to six in and being on good terms with several neighbours is also a bonus.

Unfortunately, six in 10 don't feel they are a part of their local community and for these people the biggest barrier was not knowing many people near them, while half were convinced there was no community spirit in their local area.

More than a 10th of respondents said they didn’t feel able to trust a single one of their neighbours.

"People are very realistic when it comes to the small things that make them happy at home and the formula for achieving this is hopefully quite attainable for most," said Piers Banfield of Banner Homes.

"Features like a nice dinner table were ranked highly, proving that the ability to sit down together in our homes as a family is something that's still very valued among increasingly hectic lifestyles."