Home improvements: Your kitchen can be key

A recent Ikea survey has offered insight into how UAE residents perceive their homes.

The survey revealed that for more than 60 per cent of respondents, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Many said that the activities that take place in the kitchen make their house feel more like home. For 32 per cent, cooking with friends and family contributes to a sense of homeliness, while being able to freely make a mess in the kitchen was important to 30 per cent. Meanwhile, 23 per cent responded that home was about being able to relax and regularly throw gatherings. More than 76 per cent had hosted at least one gathering in the previous month.

More than half of respondents cook almost daily with younger family members, highlighting the importance of quality family time.

While many people spend significant time and money decorating their houses, 53 per cent believe that it’s “the little things” (such as pillows, accessories, customised picture frames and plant pots), rather than larger items, that make it feel like home.

* Ikea; www.ikea.ae