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MALMÖ, Sweden, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Almost 1 in 5 individuals now eat dinner on the couch, in keeping with a brand new international examine by IKEA that reveals how screens, area, and shifting routines are quietly remodeling one in every of our most human rituals.
TOP 10 developments based mostly on IKEA Cooking & Consuming Survey
The examine, one of many largest Cooking & Consuming surveys ever performed with 31,339 respondents throughout 31 markets, discovered that fewer than half (44%) eat dinner at a kitchen desk, whereas 18% dine on the couch, 4% eat in mattress, and one other 4% stand within the kitchen. Within the UK, almost half (48%) now eat on the couch, whereas 31% eat at a kitchen desk.
The survey additionally reveals that solely 7% of individuals reside in households with gadget‑free insurance policies on the eating desk. In distinction, 54% watch TV when consuming alone, and 40% accomplish that even when consuming with individuals they reside with. Lack of time stays the largest barrier to cooking at residence on weekdays, significantly amongst youthful generations: 38% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennials cite it as one in every of their prime challenges. Individuals dwelling with kids and people in quick‑paced city environments report much more obstacles, together with restricted area and inadequate kitchen tools.
Lorena Lourido Gomez says: “Collectively, these findings reveal how trendy life is reshaping one in every of our most human rituals, reflecting rising issues about loneliness and digital distraction, at the same time as 60% say connection by means of meals issues to them. It’s clear that meals stays one of many strongest love languages throughout cultures. That’s why we’re placing much more concentrate on Cooking & Consuming this 12 months to assist convey individuals again collectively round meals, and to design for actual, significant moments in on a regular basis life.”
The place, when, and the way we eat
Throughout the globe, consuming has turn into extra fragmented, casual, and cell. People and Hungarians are additionally twice as more likely to eat in mattress in comparison with different nationalities (9% vs 4%), and Brits are almost 3 times extra probably than the worldwide common to not have a eating desk.
The typical meal time world wide is 6:44pm. As houses get smaller, the normal notion of “sitting right down to eat” is being changed by extra fluid, on-the-move behaviours.
For extra info, go to IKEA Cooking & Consuming Report 2026 and Ingka Newsroom.
