Dr. House: Skip The Shrink, Grab Your Credit Card

Posted by on Wednesday, March 26th, 2014 at 9:42am.

It turns out that thumbing through decor magazines and gazing over photos of better-homes-than-yours is actually a form of therapy. According to a new study by Houzz, well-designed homes are the key to their owners’ happiness.

In its Home & Happiness Survey, the home remodeling and design site discovered that people who recently remodeled or redecorated are happier and more relaxed. Of the more than 6,000 homeowners surveyed, a whopping nine out of 10 agree with that statement. Nearly one third (31 percent) also entertain more often post-reno.

People who have renovated or remodeled in the last two years say they are happier, more relaxed, tidier and entertain more often.The study also shows that most homeowners are happier at home than away (65 percent).

These findings were consistent across men and women, and across home locations in urban, suburban and rural areas. That percentage was as high as 71 percent for people in newly built homes, but it dropped to 51 percent for those who describe their home as “in need of work.”

What are people looking for in a happy home? Topping the list are big windows (74%) and comfortable furniture (70%). The happiest rooms of the home are common areas such as the family/living room (42 percent) and kitchen (15 percent).

If you can’t afford to renovate or redecorate, there are still ways to live a happier lifestyle. According to the study, homeowners are happiest in rooms that are clean and organized (72 percent) and comfortable (68 percent). However, there are gender differences. For men, comfort is king, while women favor rooms that are neat and clean.

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