Joyful home, joyful life. Life at Home Report 2023

Life at Home Report is one of the biggest and most distinctive global researches that IKEA conducts every year in order to find out how people are feeling in their lives at home – and how we can help make it better. 

Last year, we surveyed over 37,000 people who live in different homes in as many as 40 countries, including 1007 Estonia’s residents.
 

In a chaotic world, home should be a place to unwind

We asked people in Estonia, what aspects would be the most important for them in an ideal home. For most of us it's being able to unwind (51%) and be our true selves (47%). Home should be the sanctuary where we can easily enjoy ourselves and step back from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

"From time to time, everybody needs to be alone to listen to their inner voice and recharge batteries. A cosy home environment provides the opportunity to be in your bubble, where you can be yourself, unwind and relax, and establish a better connection with yourself."

Kristel Habicht-Spriit
Psychologist

Wellbeing goes hand in hand with tidiness

Whilst keeping the home tidy is often seen as a chore, it does have its upsides. More than a third (38%) of us say that it adds up to the sense of mental wellbeing, while 38% agree that having a tidy, organised home helps us feel content and at ease. 

"Organising relaxes us mentally and is an important source of energy and inner strength. Order and cleanliness in the physical space and having a sense of control over a tidy home contributes to our general sense of well-being and satisfaction."

Kristel Habicht-Spriit
Psychologist

Better sleep is all about having the basics in place:

• Right temperature (35%), which can be ensured by choosing the right duvet.
• Darkness (26%), which can be created with darkening curtains.
• Favourite pillow (23%), which is easy to find! Simply follow this guide.

Nature plays a powerful role

Every sixth person in Estonia name connecting with nature as a way to feel content and at ease. Luckily, everyone can have a green oasis at home, even without access to outdoor space.

Togetherness vs. privacy

We all need our own space, and we all need to spend time with our loved ones. However, this year’s research uncovered that only 43% in Estonia say that home provides enough privacy for everyone living in it. This is important to improve as the right amount of privacy is one of the key aspects for feeling content and at ease at home for 43% of us.

"Create your private corner right in the living room – it could be an armchair or a corner sofa with a footstool, a coffee table or a laptop stand for keeping a cup of hot drink and a candle close at hand. Among the simplest solutions to separate such space from the rest of the shared living room or bedroom are room dividers. They can help to create the feeling of a room within a room and provide some privacy. If the divider is well designed and made from natural materials, it can even give extra cosiness."

Pedro Castro
IKEA interior designer

Some things are better left private

• 27% sing or dance when no one is around.
• 28% walk around naked at home.
• 4% think that their home might be haunted.