More than half of residents in Latvia want a home that stays orderly and still reflects their personality. IKEA survey data show that six in ten respondents prefer a tidy home in which things that express who they are remain visible. Dariuss Rimkus, head of IKEA’s interior design department, said the results show that order matters to many people, while a home should keep its character and sense of life.
Fourteen per cent of respondents like to display favourite items, such as books or handmade work, in a visible place on open shelves or in glass cabinets. Rimkus said collected and self-made objects can become strong interior accents and give a room an individual character. He added that walls can store belongings in a practical way: a perforated panel with hooks or flexible cords can hold art supplies and light sports equipment. Narrow open shelves can carry books and present a vinyl collection as artwork.
Some things stay out of sight, sometimes even from the rest of the household. Many people find it hard to part with belongings because they might be useful later, and one in three residents in Latvia keeps such items in a place that is not visible. Almost a quarter of respondents store objects that do not fit the style they want behind closed doors. Snacks and treats are hidden in every third household, and one in four residents in Latvia said they sometimes make purchases they conceal from the people they live with.
Rimkus said a home that tells a personal story still needs a practical place for everyday things and for items people would rather keep unseen. He pointed to planned storage and multifunctional furniture that make better use of space already available. Belongings kept behind closed doors, he said, still need an orderly system so they can be found easily. Light boxes and drawer inserts can organise small items, from cosmetics to charging cables. He noted that many people still do not store things vertically. Storage can be placed above a door, a bed or a desk, cabinets can run up to the ceiling, and shelf inserts help use cupboard space more fully.
Rimkus said the findings confirm the value of a functional, adaptable living space, especially as homes around the world become more compact. Careful storage, he explained, should reduce visual clutter, make what is needed easy to find, and leave room for what people want to show. Modular furniture that combines open and closed sections is one option. Open shelves with soft lighting can highlight favourite art, handicrafts or collections for the household and for guests, while closed cupboards suit everyday objects and valuable or personal items.
In August 2026, the research company Norstat carried out the survey at IKEA’s initiative among residents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, asking about storage and organising habits. In Latvia, 1,000 people took part. The study looked at what an orderly, well-organised home means, which interior people prefer, how they rate order at home, and which belongings they keep in view or out of sight.