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Highlights of Life At Home Report 2022

    There’s no place like our own home

    Every year we speak to people all over the world to find out what life at home means. Last year, we heard from over 37,000 people living in homes of all shapes and sizes across 37 countries. We’ve been struck by the unique ways people live and discovered that when home shines with personality, life can feel a lot better for everyone living there.

    During times of deep uncertainty, we continue to turn to home as a place of comfort and security. Our research shows that we’re more likely to feel good about home when it reflects our personality.

    What makes us feel at home?

    Home is a place where we can be our weird and wonderful selves. We found that no matter where or how we live, it comes down to the same essential ingredients: security, comfort, belonging, ownership, privacy, enjoyment and accomplishment.  

    “
    In my flat I can finally be my own adult, I have my own four walls, I can take care of myself, be a part of society while making my own decisions.
    ”

    Jeldos, Germany

    9 in 10

    of people

    say it’s important to feel enjoyment at home, but only 5 in 10 get it.
    72%

    of people

    in Japan say their home is where they get the most enjoyment compared to 43% of people in Spain.
    59%

    of people

    in Thailand say their home is where they get the greatest sense of achievement vs. just 29% of people in South Korea.
    Woman sitting on her bed, surrounded by soft toys, reading a big book.

    What makes the ideal home?

    A place where we can cast off our shoes, wipe the stresses from our minds and zero in on the things that bring us joy and satisfaction.

    More than half of people we surveyed believe the most important aspect in an ideal home is the ability to unwind and relax.

    Creating homes that reflect us

    At its best, home acts like a mirror to our identities. In practice, this means that when we look around our home we see our unique personality reflected back. When we feel our home reflects our identity, we’re 1.5 times more likely to feel more positive about it.

    “
    A home is an extension of one’s personality; we can see their lifestyles through their ornaments, their choice of sofa, TV… A person’s home is something that they configure to reflect who they are.
    ”

    Tom, UK

    58%

    of people globally

    agree that their home reflects who they are.
    62%

    of homeowners

    feel that their identity is reflected in their home.
    42%

    of renters

    think their space shows their personality.
    A room filled with interiors with a window and a garden outside.

    What makes the ideal home?

    A home that reflects who we are is better for us, but creating that home is tough when we struggle to find inspiration.

    When we do get inspired, seeing what real people have achieved fires us up to follow their lead. It provides us with ideas for what can be done, and it also gives us the confidence that we need to get it done – one small change at a time.

    The power of possessions

    It’s what we have in our homes, rather than who, that most determines how much of ourselves we see around us. We want to be reminded of special moments and the possessions we display are like a red thread linking us to distant times and places.

    We asked what are the elements that make home feel like a reflection of yourself, and this is what people said:

    42%

    of people

    say it’s things they’ve bought themselves.
    40%

    of people

    say having space for their needs and interests.
    32%

    of people

    say it’s the people they live with.
    “
    It‘s only been a few months, but it’s a room that I love and I‘ve collected a lot of things and built it up. It’s like a castle.
    ”

    Ishida, Japan

    Clothes in different colors and shapes hanging on a rope gainst the the wire yard background.

    What makes the ideal home?

    Sometimes, these things we keep become a source of household tension.

    Too much ‘stuff’ is one of our biggest bugbears. Clutter makes cleaning hard work and acts like a barrier preventing our true identity from breaking through into our home.

    The top frustrations we face are:

    Worldwide, 4 out of 5 people are regularly frustrated by aspects of their home.

    #1

    An unclean home

    25% of people are regularly frustrated by aspects of their home.
    #2

    Household chores

    23% of people are regularly frustrated by aspects of their home.
    #3

    Too much clutter

    21% of people are regularly frustrated by having too many things without a designated place.

    Cutting through the clutter

    We are often feeling frustrated by having to do cleaning, not having enough space for our things. So, by making small changes and displaying some of our much loved possessions, we can easily make our home feel more like ours.

    A room with an open balcony door where clothes hang to dry after washing.
    A bookshelf hung on the wall with various types of interior details on it.
    A large bookshelf against the wall with various types of interior details on it against a green background.
    A shelf hung against a white wall with various accessories for the home.
    A wardrobe filled with shelves and cabinets where clothes and other accessories hang in a small room with an grren color in the background.

      Giving spaces purpose

      For many people, multifunctional rooms can feel like confused spaces. But rooms with no use are equally frustrating. It can be challenging to balance giving spaces a clear purpose with the needs of the other people we live with.

      “
      Originally, it was intended to be a family study room, but we took the desk to a private room and it was empty. Now it's a room with no purpose. We put a big TV in there, but we don't watch it here, and it has become a big hallway-like area. I don't feel very comfortable here.
      ”

      Kikuchi, Japan

      1 in 3

      people

      say their ideal home would make better use of space.
      41%

      of people

      think their home provides privacy for everyone living in it.
      A woman standing in the background of a pot of different patterns.

      What makes the ideal home?

      For our home to truly reflect us, it must include space for our needs and interests.

      But it’s a juggling act – rooms still need to have a defined purpose, and they need to provide everyone with a place to be alone, together.  

      A large moose stuffed animal sits on a chair with clothes on in a room filled with decor and clothes.

      Home is our personal space

      We’re more likely to feel good about our home when it reflects our personality. Through the items we treasure, spaces we use and people we live with, we create homes as unique as ourselves. Did you know: Only 8% of us care what other people think about how we live at home.

      And when our living spaces reflect us – in all our quirky and imperfect glory – they have a powerful, positive effect on the way we view our homes, ourselves and whatever’s happening in the world around us.