What Over 1,000 Australians Told Us About Their Dream Homes

In November 2025, Luxo Living surveyed over 1,000 Australians to understand what truly defines a dream home. The responses revealed clear patterns about how modern Australian homes are evolving and what drives furniture purchasing decisions today. 

Survey Summary (November 2025)

• Survey size: 1,171 Australians
• Conducted by: Luxo Living
• Focus: Dream home preferences, furniture buying behaviour, and design trends
• Key finding: Modern minimalist and natural styles dominate, with comfort and durability now the #1 purchase driver

Key Findings from 1,171 Australians

In a November 2025 survey of 1,171 Australians, conducted through Luxo Living’s website survey, Modern & Minimalist (36%) and Natural & Timeless (24%) dominated. Comfort & durability was the top buying driver (45%), and 52% now look to Instagram/Pinterest for inspiration. 47% of them plan to refresh their living room next with sofas as the most sought-after furniture item (36%).

What Is the Most Popular Home Style in Australia?

When Australians described their home style, Modern & Minimalist emerged as the leading aesthetic preference at 36%.

Home style preferences in Australia (2025):

• Modern & Minimalist (36%): Clean lines, functional spaces, and clutter-free living
• Natural & Timeless (24%): Sustainable, organic materials gaining significant ground
• Coastal & Relaxed (17%): The quintessential Australian beach lifestyle
• Contemporary & Luxe (12%): Sophistication with a modern edge
• Eclectic & Expressive (11%): Bold mixing and individual expression

This preference reflects more than aesthetics. In increasingly demanding lives, homes have become sanctuaries of simplicity. The clean lines, neutral palettes, and functional design create spaces that feel both spacious and serene—a practical response to modern living pressures.

The strong showing of Natural & Timeless at 24% signals a growing movement toward sustainability and organic materials, indicating environmental consciousness is increasingly influencing Australian home design. Combined, the two aesthetics represent 60% of style preferences—showing a clear shift toward enduring, quality-focused design.

Try this at home

• Pick a 3-piece base (sofa + rug + coffee table) in calm neutrals, then add 1 natural texture (timber, linen, rattan) to stop minimalist spaces feeling cold.
• Do a clutter reset: if it can’t be stored, it can’t stay. Add one closed-storage piece (sideboard, TV unit, shelving with baskets) to keep the “minimal” look realistic.

Preferred Home Atmosphere in Australian Dream Homes (Light & Airy Leads)

When asked to describe their ideal home atmosphere, 36% chose "Light & Airy"—a preference that aligns naturally with modern minimalist design principles.

Dream home atmosphere preferences:

• Light & Airy (36%): Open, bright, breathable spaces
• Warm & Grounded (29%): Comfort and connection
• Cosy & Lived-In (18%): Authenticity over perfection
• Sleek & Modern (17%): Contemporary and cutting-edge

Australians want homes that feel open, bright, and breathable. This means large windows, pale colour palettes, and furniture that enhances rather than overwhelms space. The close split between Light & Airy and Warm & Grounded reveals a nuanced desire—Australians want spacious, bright homes that still feel welcoming and comfortable.

Choose your vibe (and copy these quick wins)

• Light & airy: use sheer curtains, one large mirror, and furniture with visible legs (it makes the room feel bigger).
• Warm & grounded: layer 3 light sources (ceiling + lamp + warm accent light) and add one large soft texture (rug, boucle chair, textured throw).

What Australians Prioritise When Buying Furniture (Comfort & Durability #1)

When choosing furniture, 45% of Australians ranked Comfort & Durability as their top priority—outweighing all other considerations including price and aesthetics.

Furniture purchase priorities in Australia:

• Comfort & Durability (45%): Long-lasting quality comes first
• Design & Aesthetics (24%): Style matters, but follows functionality
• Price & Value (22%): Fair pricing rather than lowest cost
• Functionality & Storage (7%): Smart solutions for real-world living
• Sustainability & Materials (2%): Growing consideration, particularly among younger buyers

Australians are making considered investments in pieces they plan to keep long-term. Quality has moved from luxury to requirement. This suggests Australians are becoming more intentional about buying furniture that lasts.

While style remains important—nearly a quarter prioritise design—purchasing decisions ultimately favour longevity. That sofa needs to survive children, pets, daily use, and years of living. Looking good is secondary to performing well.

Durability checklist (before you buy)

• For sofas: check frame material, seat support (springs/webbing), and whether covers are removable/cleanable.
•  Do the “real life test”: ask yourself, Will this survive kids/pets/spills and still feel comfy in 2 years? (If not, keep browsing.)

Where Do Australians Find Furniture Design Inspiration?

Social media has fundamentally changed how Australians discover and engage with interior design. More than half (52%) find their home styling inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest, making digital platforms the dominant source for design ideas.

Furniture inspiration sources in Australia:

• Instagram/Pinterest (52%): Primary discovery channel for styling ideas
• Interior Design Websites/Blogs (21%): In-depth content and guidance
• Friends & Family (10%): Word-of-mouth recommendations persist
• n-Store Displays (9%): Physical retail for tactile experiences
• Magazines/TV (9%): Traditional media maintains niche relevance

The modern furniture shopping journey starts online, even when it concludes in a showroom. Australians research extensively, gather ideas, and refine style preferences before making any purchase commitment. This digital-first approach has transformed how people engage with furniture brands and products.

With 73% drawing inspiration from digital sources (social media + websites), compared with 10% from friends and family, the results may reflect how lifestyle and housing needs are evolving across Australia.

Turn scrolling into a plan

• Make a “Top 10 saves” rule: save 10 looks you love, then write 3 repeated patterns you notice (e.g., “curves + oak + cream”). That becomes your style brief.
• Before buying anything from a photo: do the measure + material check (measure your space and look up the materials/finish so it doesn’t look different in real life).

Which Room Do Australians Renovate Most Often?

The living room emerged as the overwhelming renovation priority, with 47% of Australians planning to refresh this space next. This dominance reflects the room's role as the genuine multi-functional heart of the modern home.

Room renovation priorities in Australian homes:

• Living Room (47%): The central hub of daily life
• Bedroom (24%): Personal sanctuaries receiving investment
• Dining (13%): Gathering spaces maintaining importance
• Outdoor (12%): Uniquely Australian outdoor living spaces
• Kids' Room (4%): Family-focused but lower urgency

Today's living room functions as home office, family cinema, playroom, workout space, and relaxation zone simultaneously. This versatility demands furniture that delivers both beauty and genuine functionality. As the most-used space, it naturally shows wear first and feels outdated quickest when style evolves.

Bedrooms rank second at 24%, reflecting a trend toward creating personal retreats. After spending more time at home in recent years, Australians are investing in private spaces that promote better sleep and genuine relaxation.

Outdoor spaces at 12% reflect Australia's unique climate relationship—outdoor furniture isn't luxury, it's essential to the Australian lifestyle. Combined with dining at 13%, a quarter of Australians are focused on spaces for gathering and entertaining.

Start with function, not furniture

• Living room: list the top 2 uses (TV + play, work + relax, etc.) then choose furniture that supports those uses first (layout > style).
• Bedroom: upgrade the “sleep zone” first — bed base, bedside lighting, and storage usually give the biggest comfort boost fastest.

What Furniture Item Is Most in Demand in Australia?

Understanding specific furniture demand reveals how Australians are furnishing their homes in 2025.

Most sought-after furniture types:

•  Sofa or Lounge (36%): The centrepiece of living room refreshes
• Bed or Bed Frame (17%): Supporting bedroom sanctuary creation
• Dining Table (12%): Significant investment piece for gathering
• Outdoor Furniture (12%): Climate-appropriate living essentials
• Not Sure/Just Browsing (10%): Research and discovery phase
• Storage or Shelving (6%): Practical minimalist solutions
• Accent Chair or Décor (5%): Personalisation elements
• Other (2%): Specialised needs

The sofa's dominance at 36% directly correlates with living rooms leading renovation priorities at 47%. Australians recognize that the sofa anchors the living space and drives the room's overall functionality and aesthetic.

Sofa buying shortcuts

• Measure three things: wall length, room depth, and doorway/hallway width (so it fits your space and gets inside).
•  Pick your comfort: if you lounge a lot, look for deeper seats; if you sit upright often, go for medium depth + supportive cushions.

What Defines the Modern Australian Home in 2025

These insights reveal a fundamental transformation in Australian home values and furniture relationships.

From trendy to timeless: The modern minimalist preference alongside natural timeless design shows Australians choosing enduring styles over temporary trends—a practical approach to long-term satisfaction. Combined, the two aesthetics represent 60% of style preferences.

From cheap to valuable: Prioritising comfort and durability over price indicates investment thinking rather than cost-minimisation. Only 22% listed price as their top priority, while 45% focused on longevity. Australians want furniture that justifies its presence over years, not months.

From offline to omnichannel: Social media's dominance in discovery shows that digital platforms now play a major role in how Australians discover and plan their home style, though physical experience remains valued for final decisions. The 52% finding inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest highlights how quickly design inspiration is moving online.

From public to personal: Nearly half focusing on living rooms, combined with a quarter prioritising bedrooms, shows investment in personal comfort and daily quality of life—not just guest impressions. These private, functional spaces outweigh traditionally "impressive" areas like dining rooms.

The sustainability undercurrent: While only 2% listed sustainability as their top priority, the 24% preferring Natural & Timeless style suggests environmental values are influencing decisions indirectly through material and aesthetic choices.

The data tells a consistent story: Australians want furniture that looks sophisticated, performs reliably, and serves their actual lifestyle needs—not aspirational magazine spreads.

How Luxo Living Is Responding to Australian Home Trends

Understanding what Australians want allows us to serve those needs more effectively:

Curating modern minimalist and natural collections that balance clean aesthetics with genuine comfort—proving these priorities aren't contradictory. With 60% of Australians favouring these styles, this represents the core of contemporary Australian home design.

Prioritising durability verification in every piece we stock, ensuring comfort and longevity meet the standards Australians now demand. Every sofa, bed, and dining table must pass the real-life test.

Creating practical digital content on Instagram and Pinterest that moves beyond pretty pictures to useful styling guidance and honest material information. With half of Australians finding inspiration on these platforms, content quality matters.

Expanding living room essentials with sofas, storage, and statement pieces designed for multi-functional modern use. The living room's dominance demands comprehensive solutions.

Developing room-specific resources addressing real priorities rather than generic advice. From bedroom sanctuaries to outdoor living spaces, each room requires specialised consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular home style in Australia?

Modern & Minimalist is the most popular style, preferred by 36% of Australians surveyed in November 2025. Natural & Timeless follows at 24%, making these two enduring aesthetics the clear leaders.

What do Australians care about most when buying furniture?

Comfort and durability rank highest, with 45% prioritising long-lasting quality over price or design. Only 22% listed price as their top priority, showing Australians value longevity over initial cost.

Where do Australians get furniture inspiration?

Instagram and Pinterest are the leading sources, used by 52% of respondents. Interior design websites and blogs follow at 21%, making digital sources responsible for 73% of furniture inspiration.

Which room do Australians renovate most often?

Living rooms are the top priority, with 47% planning a refresh. Bedrooms follow at 24%, showing Australians prioritise the spaces where they spend the most daily time.

What furniture item is most in demand?

Sofas and lounges lead demand, selected by 36% of respondents. Beds (17%), dining tables (12%), and outdoor furniture (12%) follow as key investment pieces.

How has furniture shopping changed in Australia?

The shopping journey now starts digitally, with 52% finding inspiration on social media before purchasing. However, Australians still value in-store experiences (9%) for final tactile assessment before buying.

Methodology

Responses came from Australian adults who completed Luxo Living’s website survey in November 2025; results are indicative and may not represent all Australians. A total of 1,171 Australian adults responded to questions covering home style preferences, furniture buying priorities, room renovation plans, and design inspiration sources. Results are self-reported and reflect current consumer sentiment across Australia's diverse regions and demographics.

Thank You to Our 1,171 Participants

Every response represents someone with genuine dreams for their living space. Whether imagining a light-filled living room for Sunday morning coffee, a modern minimalist bedroom retreat, or an outdoor entertaining area for summer gatherings—these visions matter.

Over coming weeks, we'll share practical guides based on these insights:

• Creating Modern & Minimalist Living Rooms That Prioritise Comfort
• Choosing Durable Furniture That Actually Lasts
• Styling Your Home for Real Life, Not Instagram
• Living Room Furniture for Australian Family Lifestyles
• Designing Light & Airy Bedrooms Without Sacrificing Warmth
• The Natural & Timeless Home: Sustainable Style That Endures

Our Design Philosophy

At Luxo Living, furniture serves life—not the other way around. Australians have made clear they want pieces that honour both their aesthetic sensibilities and their daily realities. They want modern minimalism that welcomes real living. They want light and airy spaces that still feel grounded. They want durability that doesn't sacrifice design.

This isn't about following trends or pushing products. It's about understanding that a sofa isn't just a sofa—it's where families gather, where individuals decompress, where life happens. A dining table hosts homework sessions and work calls as often as dinner parties. A bedroom isn't just for sleeping; it's a sanctuary from the world.

The modern Australian home reflects our values: practical sophistication, honest quality, and spaces designed for how we live. We're here to support that vision—with furniture that performs as beautifully as it looks, that lasts if you need it, and that serves your real life, not an imagined one.

Because coming home should feel like arriving exactly where you belong.