IKEA: It’s time to bring the joy of cooking and enjoying meals together back into our everyday lives

According to the latest global IKEA Life at Home Report, which the company conducts every year across 39 countries, including Serbia, 40% of people worldwide say that cooking is one of their favourite activities, right after watching TV and reading. However, compared to other areas of the home, the kitchen is the space people are least satisfied with, especially those living in smaller apartments. The most common challenges are a lack of storage space, difficulties with organisation, and keeping things tidy.

That’s why IKEA is launching a global initiative aimed at turning kitchens and dining rooms around the world back into places of gathering, enjoyment, and connection, while also helping people make cooking and sharing meals more pleasant, accessible, and sustainable.

Another interesting insight from the Life at Home Report reveals that cooking and sharing meals can significantly contribute to overall well-being and happiness at home. Parents who involve their children in meal preparation are more satisfied with their lives (72%) compared to those who don’t (61%).

In Serbia, 29% of people living with children say they involve their little ones in preparing meals at home, while 21% state that the youngest family members are interested in learning how to cook.

“Cooking and sharing meals are among the simplest yet most beautiful ways to connect – with food, with tradition, and with each other. However, in today’s fast-paced environment, especially in increasingly urban settings, shared cooking and dining are becoming rare. IKEA wants to help people around the world rediscover this joy by making kitchens more functional, affordable, and inspiring, regardless of the size of their home or budget,” says Aleksandar Rajčević, Market Manager at IKEA Serbia.

With more than 80 years of experience in life at home, IKEA is dedicated to understanding people’s cooking and dining habits, as well as addressing their real needs and challenges in the kitchen. Starting in September, more than 200 new products and solutions will be introduced, designed to transform cooking from a chore into a joy for everyone. The full range for cooking and dining will support every step in the kitchen – from storing and organising, through preparing and cooking, to setting the table, serving food, enjoying meals together, and cleaning up afterwards.

With a strong focus on affordability, the new IKEA products are designed to support healthier and more sustainable habits in the kitchen, including reducing water consumption, preventing food waste, and making it easier to sort waste.

For more information about IKEA’s full cooking and dining range, visit the IKEA website, the IKEA Belgrade store, or one of the IKEA planning studios.