What are the UKs favourite household items?

The Britain at Home report found that a wide variety of non-essential items are now found in the home, from cooking tools (the most popular item for homeowners is a food mixer, owned by 69% of people) to artwork (owned by 47%) and different types of exercise equipment (35% of people own either one or more fitness-related items).  

Investment in these nice-to-have goods has seen the value of contents in the home rise by £2,900 over the last year. The communal areas saw the greatest levels of investment in 2016, with the average value of the living room increasing from £4,911 to £5,358 since 2015, and the kitchen up from £5,596 to £6,206 in the same period.  

Five of the most popular household items are all found in the kitchen, as programmes such as the Great British Bake Off and MasterChef continue to dominate UK screens driving a nationwide interest in culinary pursuits. In addition to the two thirds of people who own a food mixer, significant numbers of homeowners have splashed out on a slow cooker (54%) and coffee machine (47%).

High-tech gadgets are also top of the list for Brits looking to spruce up their living space; more than a third (36%) of people own games consoles, whilst a quarter (23%) have Bluetooth speakers. Other popular items helping people keep up the great British tradition of gathering together to watch their favourite programmes include a home cinema, which a sixth (15%) of homeowners have invested in and an Ultra HD TV, which one in ten people (11%) own..

However, a number of the top ticket items are less relaxation-oriented. In the space of just a year, the popularity of home-based exercise equipment has more than doubled. While last year a fifth (19%) of people owned home gyms, in 2016, 35% of people said they keep fitness equipment or bikes in the home.

Tim Downes, senior claims manager, Lloyds Bank Insurance said: “Across the UK people are increasingly using their home as not only the centre of family life, but a place to spend time doing their favourite leisure activities. As part of this, homeowners are making the most of their space by investing in items that they can enjoy with friends and families.

To make sure you can enjoy your hard-earned items worry-free, it’s important to ensure that your insurance policy continues to fully meet your needs, so take the time to check periodically that your cover is adequate. That way, you’ll be protected in the event of any issues, from accidental breakages, to theft and water damage.”