The evolution of the British home is laid bare in a new study that highlights changing tastes and technology over the past five decades.
Where once pebble dashing, crazy paving and coloured bathroom suites were regarded as the height of sophistication, they now top the list of the home improvements we loathe the most.
Today’s property owners want a state-of-the-art entertainment zone (44 %), a wet room (43 %), and home improvements such as bi-fold doors and conservatories that improve the indoor/outdoor flow, ‘bringing the outside in’ (58 %).
Surprisingly the results showed that a separate dining room is high on the wish list for more than half of us (56 %), contrasted with open plan kitchen/diner living spaces which are less desirable (39 %). Installing underfloor heating (35 %) and brightening up our homes by adding a conservatory or orangery (31 %) were voted some of the most sought-after home improvements of today.
The
survey of over 2,000 homeowners, commissioned by Anglian Home Improvements, looked at how our tastes and the way in which we use our homes have changed over the past 50 years.
The results show that almost three out of ten (29 %) respondents believe the sharing of household tasks between men and women has been the most significant social change that has influenced how we use our homes over the last half century. Almost of quarter of respondents (24 %) said the ability to work from home due to technological advances had also had a significant influence on the way we use our homes.
The main reason cited for why people make improvements to their homes was adding monetary value (47 %), while three out of ten (30 %) said it was to save costs and a similar number (28 %) said it worked out as being more cost effective than moving house.
Looking to the future, respondents predict that homes will become smarter thanks to further technological advances (50 %), as well as becoming more energy efficient (30 %). Robot cleaners, fridges that automatically do the weekly food shop, self-cleaning glass and walls designed to conserve energy were listed among the innovations predicted to become popular within the home over the next 50 years.
Top 10 most loved home improvements
1. Indoor-outdoor flow 58 %
2. Separate dining room 56 %
3. TV/music/cinema room 44 %
4. Wet room 43 %
5. Decking 40 %
6. Dressing room 39 % and open plan living 39 %
7. Gym/exercise area 25 %
8. Coloured bathroom suite 20 %
9. Crazy paving 15 %
Top 10 most loathed home improvements
1. Pebble dashing 52 %
2. Crazy paving 43 %
3. Coloured bathroom suites 42 %
4. Gym/exercise area 26 %
5. Decking 23 %
6. Open plan living 22 %
7. Wet room 16 %
8. TV/music/cinema room 14 %
9. Dressing room 11 %
10. Indoor-outdoor flow 7 % and separate dining room 7 %
Looking to the future, respondents predict that homes will become smarter thanks to further technological advances (50 %), as well as becoming more energy efficient (30 %). Robot cleaners, fridges that automatically do the weekly food shop, self-cleaning glass and walls designed to conserve energy were listed among the innovations predicted to become popular within the home over the next 50 years.
Top 10 most loved home improvements
1. Indoor-outdoor flow 58 %
2. Separate dining room 56 %
3. TV/music/cinema room 44 %
4. Wet room 43 %
5. Decking 40 %
6. Dressing room 39 % and open plan living 39 %
7. Gym/exercise area 25 %
8. Coloured bathroom suite 20 %
9. Crazy paving 15 %
Top 10 most loathed home improvements
1. Pebble dashing 52 %
2. Crazy paving 43 %
3. Coloured bathroom suites 42 %
4. Gym/exercise area 26 %
5. Decking 23 %
6. Open plan living 22 %
7. Wet room 16 %
8. TV/music/cinema room 14 %
9. Dressing room 11 %
10. Indoor-outdoor flow 7 % and separate dining room 7 %
