Better Homes and Gardens, the leading lifestyle brand which reaches nearly 40 million readers each month, has released findings from its 8th annual exclusive survey revealing attitude and behavior trends of homeowners in the U.S.
This year’s research focused on the millennial generation and its preferences on customization and smart technology in home design. Just over 1,600 U.S. female homeowners living in single-family homes shared their thoughts on home improvement spending, the importance of functional design and value in home technology.
During a presentation at the National Association of Home Builders Show in Las Vegas, Jill Waage, brand executive editor for Better Homes and Gardens, presented these findings and offered insight on the needs of today’s current and future home owners.
“Our research shows that women 35 and under feel strongly that their homes are a reflection of their own personalities,” Waage says. “Further, members of this generation view technology as a way to customize living spaces to fit their needs. Year over year, millennials are increasingly adopting a positive outlook on the incorporation of smart technology into their homes, and are using it to personalize the homeowner experience.”
Key findings from this year’s “Home Factor” survey include:
A FOCUS ON PERSONALIZATION
Millennials place importance on maintaining a home that is more personalized to their preferences than the generation before them. Almost two-thirds (63% percent) of millennial respondents surveyed say that having a home customized to their tastes and needs is a top priority. Similarly, 6 in 10 millennial respondents say that having a home that is “a reflection of me” is more important to them than to their parents’ generation.
THE INTEGRATION OF SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY
Smart technology is increasingly seen by US women, particularly those under 35, as a feature that improves home safety, health, and connections with families. Millennials agree that smart technology is customizable to their needs (74%), makes their homes more energy efficient (70%) and saves them time (67%).
Shifting Attitudes
As opposed to just one year ago, millennials have a more positive outlook on smart technology in the home.
• In 2015, 68% of millennials said that smart home technology is a good investment, as compared to only 57% in 2014.
• In 2015, 73% of millennials said that smart home technology makes their homes safer, as compared to only 64% in 2014.
• Millennials today think that smart technology makes their homes healthier (64%), compared to only 55% in 2014.
According to the compnay, the millennial cohort feels that smart home technology is becoming easier to maintain. Fifty-five percent of millennial respondents say that smart home features are easily maintained and upgraded, as compared to only 46% of millennial respondents in 2014.
Smart Technology Use
Today, 54% of homeowners under 35 use at least one of the 16 smart technology features measured in the study. On their wish list, 39% of millennials say that they would most like to use smart devices to operate appliance settings, while 36% say they would like quality sleep tracking and reporting.
Technology Customization
74% of millennial respondents say that smart technology is customizable to their needs, while 64% say that it can be integrated into their style, taste and décor.
Costs of Home Technology
Though respondents say that home technology is customizable to their needs, only 51% of millennial respondents say smart technology is customizable to their budget. Across generations, 7 in 10 respondents say smart technology costs a lot of money.
OPINIONS ON SPENDING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT
Compared to older generations, millennials are willing to pay more for high quality products. However, while 44% say they are willing to spend top dollar to get exactly the features and quality they want, 60% also say they are willing to compromise on what they want in order to save money.
Of those surveyed, 1 in 5 homeowners is in the process of planning or working on an interior project—led by those ages 35 and younger. While millennial homeowners are similar to older homeowners with regard to the many types of projects they are working on and planning, survey responses found a higher interest in creating office space and adding storage at home:
• 13% of millennial homeowners are creating a home office, work space, or family communication center.
• 15% of millennial homeowners are adding storage space.
The idea of personalization also extends into exterior spaces.
• 1 in 3 millennials say that exterior makeovers are expensive and not worth the investment. Compared to traditional curb appeal projects like new doors, paint or roofing – landscaping ranked as the top priority (at 44%) for millennials looking to boost curb appeal.
• About half of millennials (51%) report that they decorate their outdoor living space like they would an indoor dining or living room. More than 3/4 (77%) say they want their outdoor living space to feel like a relaxing retreat.
• Millennials surveyed report they are looking to upgrade or make additions to their outdoor living spaces, including landscape lighting (27%), a fire pit (26%), and lamps or party lights (24%). Almost one-quarter of millennials (24%) plan to add or upgrade comfortable seating, outdoor dining tables and chairs, and other accessories that make the outdoor area feel like a room.
“The places where millennials choose to spend their money are very telling of the values within this generation,” Waage notes. “The addition of a home work space speaks to the mobile millennial who is less confined by a corporate office or job. The emphasis on outdoor living and entertaining testifies to the importance of togetherness. And with the addition of smart home technology, millennial attitudes toward the home incorporate connectivity in every sense.”
About the survey: The quantitative online survey was fielded in October 2015 among 1,610 U.S. female homeowners living in single-family homes. Of those surveyed, 800 respondents (49.7%) are from the Better Homes and Gardens “Meredith Knows Women” consumer panel, while 810 respondents (50.3%) were secured through Survey Sampling Inc. to represent U.S. female homeowners.
For more information, visit bhg.com.
