The third annual IKEA Life at Home Report shows that the home goes beyond the physical space. Almost half of the respondents in a new IKEA survey say that they think of home as where they have their most important relationships. People who are satisfied with their relationships at home are also happier with their living situation and feel better overall.

Relationships are an important part of what makes a home. Spending time with friends and family at home is what people do most to create the feeling of home, according to IKEA’s survey. The survey also shows that people with good relationships at home are more satisfied with almost every aspect of their home life: their living situation, their overall happiness and well-being as well as their home as a physical space. However, the survey also shows that social relationships need to be balanced with time spent alone – more private space is what people want most of all to increase their well-being at home.

“We are always curious about people’s lives. In a world that is constantly changing, it becomes increasingly important to understand more about new ways of living and what is important for people’s perception of a good life at home. IKEA wants to be a catalyst for change by having an even better understanding of people’s emotional and personal attachment to their homes. This report has given us many different insights. The finding that stands out the most is the fact that people’s idea of what makes a home is being redefined,” says Mikael Ydholm, Research Manager at IKEA of Sweden.

Another key finding from the survey is the changing manner in which people connect with each other. Technology and compact living influence people’s feelings and behaviours when it comes to relationships at home. Almost one in four think that it is more important to have good Wi-Fi than to have social spaces in order to nurture their relationships at home. Additionally, one in five feel that it is more important to keep in touch with friends and family online than to invite them to their homes. However, the main barrier for relationships at home is that people use their devices to a greater extent, indicating that technology can both limit and enable relationships at home.

“Understanding life at home is at the core of our business. We use insights about people’s real needs, dreams and aspirations in our design and product development. We’re on a journey to gain greater insights into how we can help make people’s home lives better and more meaningful,” says Marcus Engman, Design Manager at IKEA of Sweden.

The IKEA Life at Home Report aims to increase awareness of and spark conversation about what better everyday living in the home actually means. The survey was carried out in April and May 2016 in 12 cities: Berlin, London, Madrid, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto and Zurich. The survey resulted in more than 12,000 responses.

About the Report
The report is based a new survey conducted in April and May 2016 in 12 major cities around the world, previous IKEA surveys, and published studies. The new survey results were collected via online panels in Berlin, London, Madrid, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto and Zurich. A total of more than 12,000 respondents, aged 18-80, participated in the survey. The Swedish business intelligence agency United Minds was commissioned to carry out the survey.

(Source: IKEA)