IKEA Life at Home Report 2021

Balance starts at home

IKEA annually conducts a global research called “Life at Home”. Its topic differs every year and gives a clearer understanding of how the life at home looks like today – and how we can help in making it better for the many.

This year, in times of great uncertainty, we wanted to kickstart a conversation about what matters most – our mental wellbeing. We asked more than 1000 people in Latvia to share thoughts on the intimate relationship between their homes and their mental wellbeing. Here is what we've learned.

Findings

After the challenging 12 months, 27% of people in Latvia say their mental health has suffered.

Through the research, we learned that a home you love can help protect your inner balance: every third in Latvia who felt more positive towards their home also saw a positive impact on their mental wellbeing.

But there’s a flipside. When people are unhappy at home, they are more likely to experience negative mental health impacts. This is why we asked experts to share their advice on how to find balance at home.

Key ingredients for a balanced life at home:

Relationships
Space
Rituals
Community

Relationships

Relationships at home are vital to our mental wellbeing

The pandemic has forced many of us to spend more time at home with family and loved ones. 44% of people in Latvia say their relationships with their families have improved over the last 12 months. However, 13% admit that their friendships have been negatively impacted.

No room for guests?

Only fourth in Latvia believe that their home is suitable for socialising. However, according to IKEA interior designer Darius Rimkus, having guests is possible even in the smallest houses. An extendable table and some folding chairs will make room for everyone. When not in use, such pieces of furniture can be stored on the wall or inside the closet.

When it comes to relationships, psychotherapist Artūrs Miksons says that it is important to talk to each other, but it is even more important to be heard. The listener needs to avoid phrases such as "just pull yourself together", but instead tell the other that everything will work out and I am with you. It is such a healthy interest in each other.

Space

Is your home space supporting your headspace?

How we use our spaces has altered over the past year. To achieve balance, many of us have adapted our spaces to match. 63% of people in Latvia and the same number globally say they’ve had to change the way their home is organized in order to do the activities they want or need to do at home.

"The time of the pandemic required many to adapt and seek compromises, and we see now that people can do it well. Of course, people who don't like working from home or suddenly don't have a place to do sports or engage in other leisure activities, see home remodeling as an additional stressor, as they must move their homes to a place where they don't want to do those activities at all. However, getting used to the situation, many homes have become a support point to shelter from the outside world full of ignorance."

Artūrs Miksons, psychotherapist"

How to keep home neat and tidy?

Interior designer suggests to organize drawers in the hallway, bedroom or kitchen using inserts and boxes. This way, your drawers will remain clutter free, there will be more room for items inside them, and you will be able to re-organize them less frequently.

Decorative boxes and wicker baskets can help you organize the things without hiding. They will provide you with both practical storage and a stylish way to decorate your interior.

Divide household chores by days, e.g., do the washing on Mondays, vacuum the floor on Tuesdays, and so on. Having such daily routines only requires half an hour every day instead of half a weekend, so you can spend the rest of your time on some other heart-pleasing activities.

Rituals

Is home providing us with enough opportunities to look after ourselves?

The role of the home has been transformed. Now it is a place for activity and productivity as well as relaxation. Finding balance through good daily routines is key for our mental wellbeing.

Almost every fifth in Latvia say that self-care and relaxing at home SPA are the most important in terms of helping to maintain a sense of mental wellbeing.

“Have your own SPA treatment box with all the essentials (body scrub, face mask, sea salt, scented candles, etc.) in one place. Then, just by opening it you will know that it's time for yourself and everything else can wait. Hang some twigs of eucalyptus in the shower and let them spread their scents in the humid air. If your bathroom does not provide a relaxing atmosphere, refresh the room with textiles and accessories: choose a shower curtain, bath mat, and towels in matching colours, add a beautiful soap dish or boxes for smaller items. The mood in the bathroom will instantly shift to nice and cosy.”

Darius Rimkus, IKEA interior designer

The ability to relax is essential for our wellbeing

According to psychotherapist Artūrs Miksons, relaxing is a necessity for a person to function well. There is no formula for how and how often a person should rest - it is very individual, so everyone must listen to their feelings. In addition, it‘s a mistake to wait for a vacation to take a break, because there is also rest needed until then - on weekday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. Also try to avoid trying to relax from one job while doing another because any activity requires some capacity from a person. You also need to assess your abilities by asking honestly, for example, after a hard-working day if workout in the gym will be the most suitable way to relax? I recommend not to be afraid to experiment until you find the activity during which energy is not spent but accumulated.

IKEA interior designer Darius Rimkus recommends having a separate space for each relaxing activity. Think about the tools and environment you need. Home textiles will provide cosiness and lighting will set the right mood. Reading a book or doing handicrafts will require high-quality functional lighting, while dimmable lamps or candles will be just perfect for listening to music or enjoying a cup of tea.

Community

How much do your communities do for you?

Whether it’s local neighbourhoods or Messenger groups, communities are important to us. They support our practical, social, and emotional needs – and we have been turning to them more over the last 12 months.

After spending more time in their neighbourhoods, 21% in Latvia say that their mental wellbeing benefited from having a sense of belonging in the neighbourhood.

Future home

How close are you to your dream life at home?

People are clearer than ever about what they want and need from where they live. The things which best describe our expectations towards the ideal home now is making private space for everyone living in the household, living close to friends and family, and most of all - having an immediate access to green spaces and nature. Our survey has also shown that a home that is easy to clean and keep clutter free became higher in importance too during the last 12 months.

“During times when it is not possible to control some kind of aspects of our lives, like the uncertainty during pandemic situation, the home becomes one of those few things that we can still control. We can influence how cozy a home is, how it looks and feels, or whether the house is tidy. Being able to control what is going on at home can make a person feel that they are still determining something - it may seem insignificant, but it still gives the brain a signal that there is a place of security and stability.”

Artūrs Miksons, psychotherapist

IKEA Life at Home Report