Table Talk Event - IKEA Life at Home

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Table Talk with leading life at home experts

To launch the IKEA Life at Home Report 2021, we explored the intimate relationship between our homes and our mental health by hosting a lively panel discussion which was livestreamed to an audience around the world. At the heart of the conversation was a simple question: Does mental wellbeing start at home?

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Speakers included Marcus Engman (Chief Creative Officer, Ingka Group), Michelle Ogundehin (Writer, author, brand consultant and TV presenter), Stefan Vanoverbeke (Deputy Retail Operations Manager, IKEA Retail) Lemya Osman (Home Furnishing Direction Leader, IKEA Retail North America) and Maria Jeansson (Customer & Consumer Insights Leader, Ingka Group). The event was hosted by Katie McCrory (Life at Home Communications Leader, Ingka Group).

The last 12 months have been challenging for all of us, with more than one in four people globally saying their mental health has suffered. A happy home can definitely help – those who felt more positive about their homes were much more likely to see positive mental health impacts. However, 14% of people say that where they live doesn’t sufficiently meet their mental health and wellbeing needs.

To dig into the data and learn more about what we can do to make home a place where mental wellbeing thrives, we invited five experts from within and beyond IKEA to discuss the findings. They unpacked the data to better understand what it means for us all, as well as touching on the potential impact on the retail sector and the future of interior design. The experts also shared some tips for ways anyone can create a home that helps them get the most from life – suggestions ranged from relaxing in an IKEA showroom to get in touch with your emotional needs, to installing air purifying curtains and decluttering a favourite spot and taking a “shelfie”. You can catch up on the conversation here:

Speakers included Marcus Engman, Chief Creative Officer at Ingka Group, and Michelle Ogundehin, a writer, author, brand consultant and TV presenter, who both shared their thoughts on why the world was ready for a conversation about the crucial contribution of the home to our mental wellbeing. Stefan Vanoverbeke, the Deputy Retail Operations Manager for IKEA Retail and Lemya Osman, Home Furnishing Direction Leader for IKEA Retail USA, provided some reflections on the opportunities for IKEA to further democratize interior design and bring sustainability and mental health together through new products and services. And Maria Jeansson, Customer & Consumer Insights Leader for Ingka Group, shared more about the standout trends behind the insights and what we might expect from next year’s research. The event was hosted by Katie McCrory, Life at Home Communications Leader at Ingka Group and the lead on the IKEA Life at Home Report.

Check out the full report for more insights on mental wellbeing at home and share your tips for #BetterHomeBalance with us on social media.

Read the 2021 report here About IKEA Life at Home

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