A smiling child in a white t-shirt balancing a toy on their head.

The new Life at Home report is here! A decade of discovery

The IKEA Life at Home Report is one of the largest and most distinctive research projects of its kind in the world. This year, we reflect on a decade of data collected from over 250,000 research participants in more than 40 different countries.

We are driven by our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. And we believe that a better life starts at home. That’s why we’ve been publishing the Life at Home Report every year since 2014: by understanding life at home, we can help make it better.

Thank you for inviting us in!

Home visits are at the heart of everything we do at IKEA including the Life at Home Report. Meeting people where they live gives us a deep understanding of the needs and dreams they have at home. The data and insights work as input to our business, they bring us closer to the solutions people are reaching for. Through home visits we truly get to the heart of real life at home.

“We are obsessed with making life at home better, so it’s been incredible to take a look at the last decade of research we’ve undertaken to really understand what millions of people around the world need and dream at home. Now we have the formula for creating a better life at home, we want to help as many people as possible ease the big tensions that get in the way – whether it’s finding enough privacy or making more sustainable choices – and put home at the heart of living well. We’ve got the knowledge and the solutions to give everyone the opportunity to make a better life at home,” says Belén Frau, Global Communication Manager, IKEA Retail (Ingka Group).

Two children sit on the top step of a staircase.
An orange cat is curled up cosily on a round pink cushion.
A woman in a long skirt and head scarf stands in the open doorway of a building in the city.
A closeup of a small photograph of two people.

It's been a busy 10 years 

Changes in the world around us create changes in our lives at home. We’ve observed some significant trends in four areas over the time we've been creating the Life at Home Report.

Technology: from intruding on personal relationships, to making home more efficient. As early as 2017, people told us it negatively impacted their relationships and killed conversation, and 27% were spending less time with a partner due to being online. During the pandemic, technology became a lifeline, connecting work, study and family. Today, only 21% of us feel we use too much screen time.

Wellbeing: from an outside-of-home action, to wellness embedded in home life. Ten years ago we were more likely to rely on activities outside of home to boost wellness, and in 2018 we learned that 23% of us left the house to find alone time. The pandemic marked a turning point, and in 2021, 35% of us wanted our own green space within easy reach. Today, physical health is the second highest concern for life at home (37%) after household finances (40%).

Climate change: from affecting distant corners of the world, to sustainability as a personal responsibility. In 2016, only 15% of people felt guilty about owning too many things. As an aspiration for sustainable living, 20% of us now feel our ideal home would allow us to be self-sufficient with energy and food.

Multifunctional homes: from work being separate from home, to spaces with many purposes and activities. Ten years ago, people often left home to eat out, exercise, work or find entertainment. In 2020, we saw that 29% began exercising at home, 49% enjoyed cooking more, and 32% enjoyed working from home more than going to the office. Today, people want space at home to prioritise their hobbies and interests.

 

A family plays with a toy train set on the floor of a living room.
A neatly organised cabinet with glass doors.
A person wearing overalls sits on a stool at a desk in a home workspace.
A group of seven women standing outside a house.

“Over the years, it’s become clear that the way we feel about home has a massive impact on how we feel about ourselves. Our research shows that by making positive changes to our home, we can create enormous impact in our lives and in the communities around us. A better life really does start at home!”

Katie McCrory
Global Leader for the Life at Home Report

A smiling woman wearing a scarf.

Ways to a happier home, by the numbers

One of the best things about talking to people about life at home is hearing what makes them feel good. It's uplifting, informative and just might inspire you to make some changes at your own happy home. Here are some tips from the research:

Pets boost at-home happiness: Half (52%) of those surveyed in this year’s 2023 report say that home is their favourite place in the world. This rises to 60% of people that have pets. Paws for thought indeed for households that didn’t adopt a furry friend in the pandemic puppy boom.

Dream homes equal a dream life: Almost three quarters (72%) say it's important to have a home that helps them feel positive about the future, and sleep is the secret weapon for a better everyday, with a third (33%) saying catching some much-needed Zs is essential for happier mental health. Time to start manifesting. And upgrade that mattress...

Tidy home, tidy mind: Two fifths (40%), say that a tidy and organised home makes them feel more content and relaxed. Luckily, IKEA has countless options for home storage units and cabinets that can stand up to anything life can throw at them.

Greener homes are happier homes. Sustainable living gives a boost of positivity – almost three quarters (72%) of people who think they live sustainably today also feel positive about their current life at home. By 2030, IKEA aims to inspire and enable one billion people to live a better everyday life within the limits of the planet. Smart solutions include everything from IKEA’s Buy Back and resale circular services, to solar panels that can turn rooftops into power stations.

Love thy neighbour: Connecting with those around us is essential in creating a sense of home. A quarter (24%) of those living alone get a sense of belonging from chatting with a neighbour, which rises to 28% of those living in rural areas. It’s never too late to knock on the door and introduce yourself.

Contentment can be found behind closed doors. With the boom in renting, and rise of shared living spaces and multigenerational living, home isn’t always the private sanctuary that we need it to be.  But privacy at home is a key for a happy home, with a third (33%) agreeing that privacy is one of the most important things for feeling content and at ease.  

Multi-sensory spaces boost relaxation. Those polled perfect their spaces by setting the mood with music (19%), ensuring their home smells fresh (18%), and adjusting the temperate (14%) so it’s just right.

 

Three small children sitting and playing at a dining table.
A record player sits atop wooden shelves.
A young man in a white tshirt uses a sewing machine.
A woman in a yellow top and jeans waters plants on a balcony.

Curious for more about life at home?

This year, the Life at Home research uncovered three key tensions that represent the push and pull of pressures that millions face in their daily lives: doing more vs. doing less, togetherness vs. privacy and living well vs. living within our means. Relatable, right? Check out the new report to learn more...

 

Read the Life at Home Report