As we continue to adapt to new ways of living, our homes and DIY choices are also evolving...

According to new research conducted by B&Q in their ‘A Slice of Life 2023 Report’, the importance of utility rooms is rising, open plan living is declining and we’re prioritising our pets when it comes to our home design choices.

As a nation of pet lovers, it comes as no surprise that 38% of Brits admitted they have restyled their home to make space for their pets’ items – and almost two in five have considered moving home to make more space for their pet.

It’s also the needs of pets that are factoring into home design choices, with over 43% admitting that their pet has a big impact on their interior and design decisions.

So, what has caused this boom in pet-based design choices? Like many lifestyle-based questions over the last few years, the answer is lockdown.

A total of 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association. That means the country now has 17 million pet-owning homes – and young people are driving this trend, with more than half of new owners aged 16 to 34.

As we continue to navigate through post lockdown life, homes still serve as multi-use zones where people live and work. That’s why open plan living is declining, as many seek separate spaces to split their work and home lives.

In fact, the report unveiled that over half of Brits now find the idea of temporary partitions, such as adding doors to divide up their open plan living area more appealing.

The research also unveiled that the new middle-class home ‘must-have’ is the utility room - with ?39% noting that a utility room would be one of their most important rooms if they had one. 

To stay on top of this surge in household pets and DIY, make sure to shop wholesale pet supplies and DIY wholesale at Stax now.