Owning a wine cellar is seen as the biggest indicator of success in the home, a new study has found.
Hitachi Personal Finance’s study of 2,000 adults looked at what Brits would consider a sign that someone is ‘doing well in life’ – and it turns out owning a holiday home, which can be an attractive investment opportunity, is the ultimate sign of success.
But if we dig deeper into features specifically affecting the home, then some interesting facts emerge about the status symbols we aspire to own.
According to the study, having a wine cellar is seen as the most desirable feature within the home. This is seen to hold more status that someone who has a walk-in wardrobe or someone who owns a ride-on lawn mower.
5 household features that hold the most status
1. Wine cellar (27%)
2. Walk-in wardrobe (20%)
3. Ride-on lawn mower (18%)
4. Double garage (18%)
5. Real wood flooring (9%)
Today’s status symbols have definitely evolved over the decades, as what was once considered a luxury has now become commonplace and considered a necessity of modern life.
The study looked back at the last 70 years and found that in the 1950s-60s, practical household items like toasters and washing machines were actually seen as a symbol of success.
By the 70s – the decade of the dinner party – fondue sets, hostess trolleys and colour TVs reigned. And by the early 80s, thanks to growing interest in technology, it was the Commodore 64 computer that topped everyone’s wish list.
Portable CD players, games consoles, mobile phones and laptops were all must-have items in the 90s, as well beige carpets and black dining table sets.
The next decade saw a shift towards luxurious items, with a hot tub, walk-in wardrobe and double door fridge/freezer among the most desired items of the 00s. And by 2010, high-performance cars, first-class travel and owning a swimming pool were signs that you were successful in life, the study revealed.
