Household clutter is creating tension in homes as people contend with busier lives and smaller living spaces, according to a new global study from IKEA.
The IKEA Store & Organise Report 2026: Finding Meaning in the Mess surveyed 31,488 people across 31 markets and found that 38 per cent of homes have someone who leaves things out with the expectation that another person will deal with them.
The study describes the behaviour as a “silent protest” and identifies household organization as an issue extending beyond storage, with clutter contributing to disagreements and influencing how people use their homes.
The kitchen countertop was identified as the most difficult space to keep clutter-free, with 24 per cent of respondents citing it as such. It was also the space most likely to cause an argument, at 37 per cent.
The study found that 10 per cent of respondents use their oven for storage, a figure that rises to 21 per cent in South Korea.
At the same time, the findings suggest that many people are moving away from the idea that a home needs to be minimalist or perfectly organized. Fifty-nine per cent of respondents said they prefer a lived-in home over a minimalist one, while the report points to a shift toward what it calls “meaningful mess” — keeping possessions that have personal value and purpose.
“People aren’t chasing a perfect home anymore. They want a home that feels like them — one that holds their stories, their memories, the things that matter. What we keep says a lot about who we are. It was never just stuff. At IKEA, we believe everyone deserves a home that works for them. That’s what smart, affordable solutions are for,” said Licca Li, Home Furnishing & Retail Design Manager, Ingka Group (IKEA).
Sentimental attachment also plays a significant role in what people keep. The report found that 82 per cent of respondents retain things purely for sentimental reasons, even when the items are rarely used or kept out of sight.
Twenty-six per cent said they keep mementos from past relationships, with men more likely than women to do so, according to the study.
Storage spaces can also become catchalls for items that are no longer needed. Sixty-eight per cent of households have what the report calls a “drawer of doom,” with cables among the most common contents. Among Boomer men, 54 per cent continue to keep cables for gadgets they no longer own.
Clutter can also affect social plans. One in 10 respondents said they have cancelled plans with friends because their home was too messy, while 34 per cent said they move clutter around before guests arrive.
The study also found that some people associate mess with creativity. Fifteen per cent of respondents globally said they see mess as a form of creativity, although the figure varied significantly by market, reaching 31 per cent in China and four per cent in Japan.
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