Hybrid, with multifunctional spaces, the use of recycled and sustainable materials and the presence of open spaces and common areas. This is what ‘the houses of the future’ look like. But beware: when in a country, you find a home and a trend: as is well known, the covid-19 pandemic has profoundly changed the traditional idea of housing, which has also become the workplace for billions of people.

Trends and tastes in the home

While in general, more than 58 per cent of countries see ‘hybrid’ homes, i.e. homes in which tenants live and work, as a key design trend of the future, there are more pronounced trends in some states than in others.

The Americans are the only ones who want open kitchens, while the British are looking for more soundproofing and the Germans want self-cleaning surfaces. Poles, on the other hand, like to sit on ottomans and favour brown tones, while the Spanish are the only ones who want more rounded shapes in their interiors and the French have the most eclectic tastes.

In eight countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Poland and Hungary) out of 12, the trend towards recycled and/or sustainable materials was cited as important, with one third of the countries expecting to see an increased use of natural materials in furniture.

Probably the most important trend for the future of interior design is sustainability. Indeed, in seven of the 12 countries, biophilia, the trend towards using plants, water and other natural materials indoors and outdoors, is set to grow in the near future.

What is the minimum area of a flat?

The country with the smallest house surfaces is the United States, where, for example, dwellings in New York have a minimum size of 13.9 square metres, followed by France and Italy (14 square metres) and the Czech Republic (at least 16 square metres), while in Dubai it rises to 21 square metres. For a two-room apartment, Poland requires at least 27.5 square metres, Austria 30 square metres, Spain 36 square metres and the United Kingdom 37 square metres. It should be noted that in France the minimum size will rise to 28 square metres as of this year, twice as much as today.

Which country has the most houses?

Contrary to what one might have imagined, considering Italians’ love of bricks and mortar, Italy does not rank first among the countries whose citizens have the most houses. The primacy of the state with the most homeowners (among the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the United Arab Emirates) goes to Hungary, with 91% of inhabitants owning a house. In last place is Germany: here, only 50.5% of Germans own their own home, the lowest percentage in the EU.

Which is the country where most houses are rented?

The record for the country with the highest number of citizens living in rented rather than owned houses goes to the United Arab Emirates, with a share of 70 per cent. This country, however, has another peculiarity, with only 3 square metres here the size of the bedrooms is the smallest ever.

How much do household expenses account for?

According to OECD data, expenditure on housing absorbs about 20 per cent of the population’s monthly income, making it the largest source of expenditure for most people.