IKEA Home Life Monitor 2025
With Sotomo, IKEA takes a look behind doors that are normally closed to outsiders in Switzerland and examines people’s everyday lives at home:
How do they live, use their rooms and furnish them? What is the attitude to life and satisfaction like at home? How is communal living organised and housework divided up? And what role do invitations and shared meals with guests play?
The IKEA Home Life Monitor examines life at home in these four areas on the basis of a representative survey of the population. The first edition of the study series focuses on cooking and eating at home.
“"Home” can be many things. For some, it is a place of retreat and relaxation, for others, the vibrant centre of family life. And for others, it is simply an expression of their own personality. ”
What are Swiss homes like?
Our homes are very varied, but there are common patterns. On average, couples live in four- room apartments in agglomerations, families in five-room detached houses and single people in two-room city apartments. Many of us share similar needs when it comes to our homes.
Feel-good living: 80% prioritise comfort in their homes, while 62% also require their furnishings to be functional.
The clear number one: For 92% the living and dining room is their favourite room.
Cool relationship with the bedroom: The bedroom is the favourite room of just under a quarter of the people.
Space is in short supply: 41% complain that they do not have enough surface space in the kitchen, while 33% complain that they do not have enough storage space.
The home as a place of retreat
Almost everyone feels comfortable within their own four walls. Eight out of ten people say they very much like being at home, especially those who own their own home. Only 14% would rather go out than stay at home. Home is a happy place for the vast majority of the people.
At home in the evenings: City dwellers spend 5.5 evenings a week at home. And this figure is even higher for people who live in the countryside.
Little spontaneity: 73% of homes only have people drop by unannounced once a month.
Toilet door half-open: 56% of the people leave the toilet door ajar, and only 6% actually lock it.
Please remove your shoes: 98% of the people take their shoes off when they come through the door. 69% of the people wear slippers, while younger people prefer to walk around in their socks.
IKEA Home Life Monitor 2025
The IKEA Home Life Monitor reveals how closely our way of life is linked to culture, community and emotions.
Living together under one roof
When people live together, tensions inevitably arise. Almost one in two people argue about cleanliness or tidiness at least once a month, and almost a quarter argue about this as frequently as once a week. In general, Swiss people are very tidy and prioritise a tidy home (72%).
Pre-cleaning before cleaning: 40% of the people clean their home before their cleaner arrives.
Who does more? Men and women have differing opinions, especially when it comes to cleaning and shopping.
Household chores are a family affair: 75% of 14 to 17-year-olds help with loading and unloading the dishwasher.
Kitchen no-no: Seven out of ten people have zero tolerance for dirty work surfaces.
Cooking, eating and guests
Home-cooked food is very important in Switzerland. 97% of the people cook their own meals several times a week, and two-thirds cook as often as every day. Italian and Swiss cuisine are particularly popular – with dishes such as pasta, risotto, curry and chicken.
Food tastes better together: 75% of couples and families almost always sit together at the table to eat.
The way to the heart is through the stomach: 49% spend more time cooking when friends or family are coming over.
Mindfulness versus enjoyment: Women (44%) cook mindfully, while men (41%) are more focused on enjoyment.
No mobile phone at the table: Almost two-thirds of the people do not allow phones at the table.
