According to a new survey by KB Home, one of the largest homebuilders in the US, 81 percent of Americans report spending most of their time in the living room and kitchen, with fewer than 10 percent spending most of their time in the bedroom. Driving this “Great Room” trend is the island – the new hub of the home that serves as a bridge connecting the kitchen and living space as a place for the family to gather. The kitchen is no longer solely a place to prepare meals, instead 56 percent of Americans use their kitchen island or table to work and play on their laptops and devices, while 60 percent of parents use the space to help their kids with homework and projects.
Please see below for a few insights and data points driving the trend for open floor plans and flexible spaces.
- 81 percent of Americans spend most of their time in the kitchen or the living room.
- People are spending so much of their time at home in multi-purpose main living areas and their empty bedrooms are there taking up space. Fewer than 1 in 10 spend most of their time in the master bedroom and most of their time in the bedroom is spent asleep.
- For 76 percent of Americans, a kitchen is also a workplace, TV room and crafting area. This is often aided by the presence of the kitchen island, which is no longer just a place to eat, but also functions as the heart of the home and a home office.
- A majority of Americans (56 percent) use their kitchen island or table to work and play on their laptops and devices, while nearly half (49 percent) use it for paperwork or work.
- 47 percent use their kitchen island or tables as a craft of project space with the DIY trend showing no signs of stopping.
- Kitchens are also bringing people together. 3 in 5 (60 percent) parents work on their kids’ projects and homework at the kitchen island or table. Nearly a third (32 percent) also use it to engage in screen time with their kids, not only to monitor what they watch, but also to bond.
