Young homeowners deem being happy with décor as key to mental health, survey finds
Almost half of young homeowners aged 18-24 (46%) see being happy with their living space as pivotal to their mental health, a new interior survey has revealed.
The DIY Fulfilment Survey, conducted by Blinds Direct, looks at the nation’s attitude towards common DIY tasks and our home décor habits, including how much we spend on products each year, and who has seen the biggest improvement in their updated living space.
Gen Z homeowners (aged 18-24) were the demographic that were found to be the most impacted by their living space and décor, followed by those aged 45-54 (34%). Those aged 64 and over least considered being happy with décor as important for mental health (19%).
The survey suggests that those who are affected by their living space are more likely to invest time into improving it, as those aged 18-24 also accounted for the highest proportion of homeowners who are happier with their home now (44%) compared to a year ago.
Interestingly, that age group also accounted for the age group that are most likely to attempt a DIY task themselves, rather than outsourcing it (54%).
For those who avoid attempting a DIY task themselves, the survey found that the majority of people are put off by the cost of materials (50%), followed by the assumed quality of the end result (42%), the time taken to complete (33%), and the level of risk involved (33%).
Darren Green, Managing Director at Blinds Direct, commented, “It’s interesting to see how one person’s expenditure on home décor indicates a significant sum spent across the nation, as well as what the average person’s concerns are when it comes to purchasing a décor product.
“Other heartening outcomes from the survey include that we’re becoming increasingly confident in taking on the challenge of keeping our homes beautiful ourselves. Whether it’s fitting a wooden blind, painting a wall or building a new desk, we are becoming increasingly confident in our own abilities and the positive effect it has on our happiness reinforces the importance of doing things independently.”
As well as looking at cost and décor priorities, the survey reveals which rooms we update most, and which DIY tasks result in the greatest sense of achievement when completed.
