Privacy, Wi-Fi and Facebook Friends: The “Home” of the Future

• June 20, 2016

by Nena Perry-Brown

Every year, Ikea publishes something called the Life at Home Report, which explores how people view and structure their home lives. The Swedish furniture company uses the report to develop wares that are compatible with and responsive to those needs and wants. However, the report, the third installment of which came out this month, also provides insight into what people prioritize when it comes to their home.

For example, the latest report found that 38 percent of the respondents consider their neighborhood to be an extension of the home. Furthermore, 42 percent of people feel more “at home” outside of their primary residence.

Privacy is also a big priority as shared spaces become more the norm. Of those surveyed, one in four said that if they had an extra hour in the day they would spend it alone.

Technology, of course, has also become a prominent part of our home lives. Roughly half of all millennials surveyed would give up their sense of smell in order to keep an electronic gadget. Twenty-three percent of all respondents say that having reliable WiFi in the home is more important than having a social space. Another 19 percent find it more important to keep in contact with their friends online than to invite them over.

The manner in which people accumulate items for the home has also changed, as objects that “do something” have increased in value. While over 20 percent of people buy something new for their home every week, 37 percent say that they enjoy do-it-yourself (DIY) projects or “hacking” around the home.

“We are moving from valuing practical benefits to appreciating the emotional aspects of objects,” the report stated. “This trend seems especially strong for Millennials who put higher value on emotional features, such as art and design and that the home is unique – while older people still want practical things to be in order.”

The report’s findings are based on over 12,000 survey responses from a dozen cities around the world. To view the full report, click here.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/what_makes_a_home_lessons_from_ikeas_third_annual_report/11374