IKEA Global Study Reveals How Screens, Space and Time Pressure Are Redefining Where and How People Eat

IKEA Global Study Reveals How Screens, Space and Time Pressure Are Redefining Where and How People Eat

(IN BRIEF) A major new global study by IKEA, based on more than 31,000 respondents across 31 countries, reveals that traditional dining habits are shifting, with nearly one in five people now eating dinner on the sofa and fewer than half using a kitchen table. The research highlights the impact of screens, limited space, and busy lifestyles on shared meals, with only 7% of households enforcing device-free dining and many people multitasking while eating. Time pressure remains a key barrier to cooking at home, especially for younger generations and urban families. The findings also point to widespread frustration with kitchen space, rising interest in spicy food, and enduring emotional importance of food as a way to connect. IKEA says it will increase its focus on Cooking & Eating in response, designing more flexible kitchen solutions and encouraging meaningful moments around food.

(PRESS RELEASE) ÄLMHULT, 11-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — New global research commissioned by IKEA shows that eating habits are rapidly shifting, with nearly one in five people now regularly having dinner on the sofa rather than at a traditional dining table. The findings, drawn from one of the largest Cooking & Eating surveys ever conducted, highlight how screens, shrinking living spaces, and evolving daily routines are reshaping one of the most fundamental social rituals: sharing a meal.

The survey, which gathered responses from more than 31,000 people across 31 countries, reveals that fewer than half of respondents (44%) typically eat dinner at a kitchen table. Instead, 18% eat on the sofa, 4% eat in bed, and 4% stand in the kitchen while eating. In the UK specifically, almost half of people (48%) now eat dinner on the sofa, compared with just 31% who use a dining table.

Lorena Lourido Gomez, Global Food Manager at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), said that despite the deep emotional significance of food and shared meals, modern lifestyles are putting increasing pressure on traditional dining routines. Busy schedules, compact homes, and competing priorities are making it harder for families and households to gather together in the same place at the same time.

The research also found that only 7% of households enforce device-free dining, while 54% of people watch television when eating alone and 40% do so even when sharing a meal with others. Time constraints remain the biggest obstacle to cooking at home during weekdays, particularly among younger generations: 38% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennials cite lack of time as a major challenge. Households with children and those living in dense urban environments report additional difficulties, including limited kitchen space and insufficient equipment.

Reflecting on the broader implications of the findings, Lourido Gomez said that modern life is fundamentally reshaping how people connect through food, raising concerns about loneliness and digital distraction. At the same time, 60% of respondents still believe that connection through food is important. She emphasised that food remains a powerful way of expressing care and affection across cultures, which is why IKEA is placing greater focus on Cooking & Eating this year to help people reconnect around shared meals and design meaningful everyday experiences.

The report also highlights several notable global trends. Only 44% of people eat at a kitchen table, while alternatives such as sofas, beds, or standing in the kitchen are becoming more common. Germans are the most likely to consume expired food to reduce waste, with 55% reporting this behaviour. The average global dinner time is 6:44pm, though it varies widely by country, with Spain averaging 8:54pm and Finland as early as 5:17pm. Most people finish dinner in under 30 minutes, and lower-income households are twice as likely to eat in less than 10 minutes compared with higher-income groups.

Spicy food is growing in popularity, with 27% identifying as spicy food lovers, particularly in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Meanwhile, sweets remain a universal comfort, enjoyed by 46% of people globally and as many as 64% in China. Dining tables, while used less for meals, still serve important social functions, with many people using them for celebrations, connection, conversation, and everyday interaction.

Meal multitasking has become the norm rather than the exception, with a majority of people watching television while eating. At the same time, kitchen frustration is widespread: 25% of respondents cite lack of storage, and 25% complain about insufficient counter space. Nearly half of all respondents report some form of dissatisfaction with kitchen space, particularly in Asia, urban households, families with children, and among Gen Z and Millennials.

Nanette Weisdal, Range Manager for Kitchen & Appliances at Inter IKEA Group, said that kitchens are evolving beyond their traditional role as purely functional spaces. As homes become smaller and open-plan living becomes more common, kitchens are increasingly blending into living areas. IKEA is therefore developing new products and solutions designed to maximise every centimetre of space while maintaining warmth and personality, with the aim of turning kitchens into welcoming, multi-functional hubs of the home.

The Cooking & Eating Survey was conducted by YouGov on behalf of IKEA between August and September 2025, using a nationally representative sample across 31 markets. The final report, published in January 2026, presents its findings across four thematic chapters and aims to deepen understanding of how people cook, eat, and connect in contemporary life, in support of IKEA’s vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people.

Ingka Group, which operates IKEA retail in 32 markets and accounts for 87% of global IKEA retail sales, continues to use these insights to shape its strategies and product development across IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments, and Ingka Centres.

About the IKEA Cooking & Eating Survey

The survey was conducted by YouGov for IKEA (31,339 participants across 31 Ingka markets: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA). Fieldwork was conducted between August and September 2025, using a nationally representative sample weighted by gender, age, geography, and income. The Cooking & Eating report uses the key findings from the survey, it was finalised in January 2026 and provides fresh insights into global cooking and eating habits, presented across four themed chapters: Comfortable Chaos, Discomfort Foods, The Social Pressure Cooker, and Resetting the Table. The findings support a deeper understanding of how people cook and eat today, contributing to IKEA’s vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people.

More information at: https://www.ingka.com/reports/.

Here you can watch a roundtable featuring Lorena Lourido Gomez, Global Food Manager at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), Nanette Weisdal, Range Manager for Kitchen & Appliances at Inter IKEA Group, and Claude Fischler, French anthropologist and sociologist, moderated by Katie McCrory,  Positioning Leader and one of the key responsible for the Life at Home Reports in Ingka Group. Together, they explore the most compelling insights from the IKEA Cooking & Eating Report 2026. Among the key takeaways, the experts agree on one thing: the dining table remains an essential place for meaningful conversations and decision‑making at home. Even in a fast‑changing world, it’s still the spot where families reconnect, unwind, and make sense of their day:

About Ingka Group

With IKEA retail operations in 32 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 87% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com.

Media Contact:

email:  press.office@ingka.com
Tel: +46 70 993 6376

SOURCE: IKEA