We spend a lot of our time at home. It therefore goes without saying that it should be somewhere that makes us happy, content, and able to ‘get away from it all’.
But how happy does your home really make you feel?
A recent study by retailing company Kingfisher and the Happiness Research Institute (how comforting is it that they exist?!) has revealed the impact of our homes on our wellbeing.
We’ve picked out three key areas from The GoodHome Report 2019 that appear to be the key to unlocking happiness.
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Emotional conditions
The study reveals that there are five core elements that result in a happy home: pride, identity, comfort, safety, and control.
Let’s consider how they might translate into everyday life.
- This, according to the report, is the most significant emotion, which contributes to 44% of how happy people are with their home. And that makes sense, because there’s nothing quite like walking into a room and revelling in what is yours.
- Home is where the heart is, but it’s also deeply personal. For most people, their home is a reflection of their identity, from the colour on the walls to the little trinkets placed above the fireplace or the images on the walls.
- That feeling when you’re on the train after a long day at the office and just want to be in your PJs on the sofa? That reason you can’t be bothered to go out on a winter evening? Yep – that’s the comfort of your home in a nutshell.
- There are few places on earth where you should feel safer than your own home. Walking in and shutting that door should dispel any sense of fear or trepidation that might unfortunately come from areas in which you have less control of the surroundings or people around you.
- Your home is yours. That means you decide what happens to it, how it’s decorated, and what you get up to within its four walls. Where else do you have that level of freedom?
If you’re missing any of those emotions when entering your home, something might be wrong and need to be addressed.
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Home improvements
It’s thought that 74% of people who have an interest in home improvements are happier than those who don’t.
Those improvements could be anything – from large-scale renovations to a fresh lick of paint. But, that’s the beauty of home improvements – they’re personal, unlimited (almost) in scope and exciting, no matter what you happen to be planning.
A big factor of happiness in the home lies with making proactive improvements on a regular basis, and if you’ve undertaken any form of DIY recently, you’ll know exactly why. Once the blood, sweat, and tears have dried, you end up with something of which you can be truly proud. You look at your completed project and enjoy the results every day.
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The kitchen
It should perhaps come as no surprise that the kitchen significantly impacts the happiness of homeowners.
In particular, renovating a kitchen has the capability of significantly increasing happiness levels. This is because for most families, it’s the beating heart of the home and metaphorically sits just above the bathroom when it comes to its ability to make us happier.
Considering how much time most people spend in their kitchens, it’s no wonder that an upgrade can have such a positive impact on one’s wellbeing.
Clearly, our homes shape our lives. So, whether you’re undertaking a bathroom re-model or kitchen renovation this year, make sure you keep your happiness in mind and call on the people who can help you fall in love with your home all over again!