Many Americans have seen the time spent in their home increase tenfold this past year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This extra time spent at home as impacted Americans in ways not seen before because of a combination of the economy, routine disruption and extra tolls taken on our physical and mental health.
This made us wonder, in what ways to our home designs support and impact and physical and mental health and what can be done to improve both?
ImproveNet surveyed nearly 3,000 Americans in 24 major cities across the country to find out. The impetus of the survey was to try and learn more about American’s connections to their homes and overall levels of wellness and happiness. They asked about home design and home characteristics that fit into 5 different categories that can impact or physical and mental health.
Listed below are the breakdowns of the 5 categories:
Relaxation
- Limited noise from traffic, neighbors, and sirens
- Limited computer and phone notification in the home
- The home is organized and decluttered
- The home is clean enough to hosts guest in the home
- Home maintenance tasks are not overly stressful
- The home as a pool, bathtub, or hot tub to soak in for relaxation
- There is no TV allowed in the bedroom
- There is not phone use allowed in the bedroom
- The bedroom is cool at night
- The bedroom is very dark
- The bedroom is very quiet
- The bedroom has a nice and supportive mattress to sleep on
- The home has lots of natural light
- The home is filled with several houseplants
- The home has ample space to garden
- The home has a view of trees, water, and other natural elements
- Space to sit outdoors in the sun
- The home has pictures of friends and family in plain view
- The home has art and meaningful décor for inspiration
- Pets are allowed in the home
- The neighbors are friendly
- Other house occupants provide minimal stress Support of body
- Space to exercise
- Ergonomic and supportive furniture
- The kitchen encourages cooking
1. A view of trees, water, or other natural elements (91% of happy homes have this)
2. The bedroom is cool at night (89% of happy homes have this)
3. A nice supportive mattress to sleep on (88% of happy homes have this)
4. Space to sit outdoors in the sun (87 % of happy homes have this)
5. The bedroom is very quiet for sleeping (85% of happy homes have this)
6. The home has ample space to exercise (85% of happy homes have this)
7. The home has art and meaningful décor for inspiration (83% of happy homes have this)
8. The home is clean enough to host guests (82% of happy homes have this)
9. The bedroom is very dark for sleeping (82% of happy homes have this)
10. The kitchen encourages cooking (82% of happy homes have this)
11. The home has limited noise from traffic, neighbors, or sirens (81% of happy homes have this)
12. The home has pictures of friends and family throughout the home (81% of happy homes have this) 13. The home is organized and free of clutter (79% of happy homes have this)
14. The home has space to garden outside (74% of happy homes have this)
15. The home has a pool or bathtub or hot tub to soak in for relaxation (67% of happy homes have this)
16. Pets are allowed in the home (66% of happy homes have this)
17. The home has ergonomic and supportive furniture (65% of happy homes have this)
18. The house has several houseplants indoors (61% of happy homes have this)
19. Friendly neighbors (61% of happy homes have this)
20. Other home occupants are not overly stressful (59% of happy homes have this)
21. Lots of natural light in the home (51% of happy homes have this)
22. Home maintenance tasks are not stressful (50% of happy homes have this)
23. Limited computer and phone notifications (43% of happy homes have this)
24. No TV in the bedroom (24% of happy homes have this)
25. Ny phone in bedroom (11% of happy homes have this)
The cities with the happiest homes during the COVID-19 pandemic
The next part of the analysis ranked the top cities for happy homes during the pandemic based on the characteristics listed above. See the full city rankings below:
1. Houston (A)
2. Miami (A)
3. Charlotte (A)
4. Jacksonville (A)
5. Portland (A)
6. Dallas- Ft. Worth (B)
7. Phoenix (B)
8. Atlanta (B)
9. Seattle (B)
10. Cleveland (B)
11. Detroit (B)
12. Austin ©
13. Minneapolis – St. Paul (C)
14. Denver (C)
15. Los Angeles (C)
16. Boston (C)
17. Nashville (C)
18. Indianapolis (C)
19. Chicago (D)
20. San Francisco (D)
21. San Diego (D)
22. Philadelphia (F)
23. Pittsburgh (F)
24. New York (F)
On top of the full city rankings each city was ranked at the most and least supportive for the 5 traits outlined above.
Relaxation
Best
1. Seattle
2. Charlotte
3. Phoenix
4. Minneapolis – St. Paul
5. Miami
Worst
1. Los Angeles
2. Austin
3. New York
4. Pittsburgh
5. Indianapolis
Sleep
Best
1. Portland
2. Charlotte
3. Pittsburgh
4. Jacksonville
5. Seattle
Worst
1. Minneapolis – St. Paul
2. Detroit
3. San Francisco
4. Chicago
5. New York
Connection to nature
Best
1. Jacksonville
2. Houston
3. Austin
4. Detroit
5. Denver
Worst
1. Pittsburgh
2. New York
3. Phoenix
4. Philadelphia
5. Seattle
Comfort
Best
1. Miami
2. Cleveland
3. Houston
4. Jacksonville
5. Charlotte
Worst
1. San Francisco
2. San Diego
3. Philadelphia
4. Chicago
5. Pittsburgh
Support of body
Best
1. Houston
2. Miami
3. Atlanta
4. Los Angeles
5. Austin
Worst
1. Philadelphia
2. Pittsburgh
3. Nashville
4. Denver
5. Boston
