IKEA launches ’Life at Home Report 2020’

This seventh ’Life at Home Report’ explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our life at home, now and in the years to come. In this year’s report, IKEA shares its findings from expert interviews and extensive surveys with 38,210 people in 37 countries including Korea. 

Home became our ’sanctuary’

In 2020, life at home for everyone, everywhere was transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 96% of people saying they stayed in their main home during lockdown or restrictive measures. For some, this has been difficult, but for many, home has proved to be the haven they needed – for relaxing, rebooting, and feeling both safe and comfortable, as 78% of those surveyed saying that their home during the pandemic has been a sanctuary. In addition, almost half (46%) of respondents felt that their homes fulfilled five fundamental emotional needs: privacy, comfort, ownership, belonging, and security, even more during the restrictive or lockdown periods than ever before. From Korea, ’comfort’ had the highest level of emotional needs being met with 49%, exceeding the global average of 44%. ‘Belonging’ had the lowest, at 38%, far below the global average of 46%. 

New priorities for life at home

From all this time spent at home, new priorities have emerged. As many people realised and appreciated the important role of the home, they began to value relationships with the people in them differently, too. When asked which activities at home were enjoyed more during pandemic restrictions, ’more time and meals with family’ was the most common response given. Also, when asked to choose from a list of options what they would most like to change about their homes, based on their life at home so far in 2020, people focused on space. Working and living more flexibly at home has prompted people to change the things that many considered most important in a ‘good home’. Instead of more or bigger bedrooms, more diverse needs like ’a space to pursue hobbies or interests’ (38%), ’a private garden or outdoor space’ (35%), ’a study or home-working space’ (33%)’  now take priority. Location is also slipping down the priority list, as nearly half of the respondents (47%) globally agree they would consider moving further from their place of work for a better home. 

The Big Home Reboot

2020 marks a reboot of people’s relationship with their homes. Bringing together IKEA’s primary research over the last seven years, interviews with experts, and an exploration of trends likely to affect the way we live in the next decade, three big shifts that will gather pace and influence future lives at home have been identified. Homes evolving in the right way will be vital to satisfy emotional needs and maintain closer relationships in a new, changed world. These three shifts are, ’the multipurpose home’, ’the local home’, and ’the healthy home’. As pandemic restrictions lift and change, more permanent structural and lifestyle changes will emerge, and homes will need to adapt to become truly multipurpose. The pandemic has brought about a renewed belief in the value of community, seeing many relying on local networks for physical and emotional support, the resources we needed and social interaction. Also, with hygiene and health now top priorities, homes of the future will need to be ready for the next health crisis, as well as meet our emotional needs. 

More information and the full version of the ’Life at Home Report 2020’ can be found on the IKEA Life at Home microsite.