What Makes a House a Home?
For the last several years, the furniture company IKEA conducted an international survey to learn what people are prioritizing when they consider what is important to them in a home. The survey included 22,000 people in 22 markets. In the latest study (2018) some dramatic trends were noticed. Two of the major findings are:
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The study found that 64% of people globally would rather live in a small home in a great location than a large home in a less ideal area.
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The researchers were surprised to learn that fully 60% of people want to create a home that’s different than the one they were raised in.
The study found that the concept of “life at home” is, in fact, profoundly changing, the world over. Our homes are indeed getting smaller as people trade enhanced space for convenience. Homes are also getting “smarter” with each passing year (in some cases this can be more accurately measured in months). For example, after a day at the office, the internet and artificial intelligence now allows us to prepare our homes before our arrival – temperature, lighting, door locks, etc. are now commonly controlled remotely (just a short time ago, this was the stuff of science fiction).
But with all this being said, certain needs have remained stable over time. The overwhelming majority of respondents cited five traditional needs as paramount: Privacy (90%), security (90%), comfort (87%), ownership (66%), and belonging (71%) as highly important elements to a satisfying home life.
But people are also social animals. The study found that to be happy at home, a sense of community is important. “The richness of life beyond the four walls enhances those five emotional needs.” Many, in their need for belonging, seek experiences in the community that surrounds where they live. Therefore, it’s no surprise that 44% of people who feel content at home also desire that community is an extension of the home.
Some other tidbits from the study are that 25% work more from home than ever before, over one-third bathe or shower outside the home multiple times a week, and about 25% use AirBnB to earn extra money from their home. While especially the last item seems to contradict the desire for privacy expressed by many, sometimes hard compromises are necessary.
Jeffrey Dungan, an international architect (not associated with the study), has noticed that more people want to set aside space in their homes to start a business. He notes that people are turning their hobbies and creative pursuits into home-based businesses. “The home is more and more becoming a place of business.”
In sum, while some traditional needs concerning the home remain stable over time, changes due to technology, entrepreneurship, and a longing for independence are altering the concept of what a “home” means.