Häfele UK has launched the third edition of its Homes for Living report, giving furniture manufacturers fresh insight into how changing homeowner habits are influencing product design, specification and demand.
The research shows that UK homeowners are rethinking how their homes need to perform, with many choosing to improve existing spaces rather than move. According to the report, 87% of homeowners expect to remain in their current property over the next two years, while 42% are planning home improvements during that period. A further 8% said they will reinvest moving costs and budgets into upgrading their current home instead.
This trend is placing new pressure on kitchens, utility spaces, and fitted furniture as homeowners demand practical improvements that make everyday life easier. Häfele’s research found that kitchens now support a growing range of activities, from cooking and eating to laundry, working, storage and socialising. However, 44% of homeowners said they do not have enough space to do everything comfortably.
Storage remains one of the clearest areas of opportunity for manufacturers. Almost a third of homeowners said lack of storage is their biggest kitchen frustration, while 27% cited poor layout. More than half said a clean, tidy and clutter-free kitchen is their top priority, up from 46% in 2023 to 52% in 2026.
The report also highlights rising demand for features that help homeowners get more from the same footprint. Pantry or larder storage, appliance garages, smart lighting, and built-in charging points all feature among the most in-demand kitchen upgrades, showing how functionality is becoming increasingly central to purchase decisions.
For manufacturers, the findings point to a market where furniture must work harder across kitchens and adjacent spaces, as Rachel Tuckey, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Häfele UK, describes: “Homes for Living shows that homeowners are not simply thinking about how their spaces look. They are thinking about how they function, how they support daily routines and how they can make better use of the space they already have.
“For manufacturers, this creates a clear opportunity to respond with products that solve real household challenges. Storage, organisation, integrated technology and flexible furniture systems are no longer small finishing touches. They are increasingly central to how people judge whether a home improvement has delivered value.
“As more homeowners choose to improve rather than move, the manufacturers best placed to support that demand will be those designing around the realities of modern living.”
Häfele’s Homes for Living report can be found at www.hafele.co.uk/homes-for-living
