Being stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to reevaluate their lives, leading some to embrace a simpler way of living by starting a vegetable garden or figuring out an effective work-life balance. Will this change in habits spark a minimalist resurgence in the long term?

Having emerged from Tumblr and established a presence on TikTok, the cottagecore subculture has seen young Americans go online to post pastoral aesthetics and participate in activities that are more common in rural areas. But what exactly is driving Gen Z’s interest in quaint lifestyles?

Home improvement brand Lowe’s has released a commercial that highlights the joy and satisfaction of redecorating in the time of COVID-19. With many homeowners interested in upgrading their abodes, the ad shows how changing up your surroundings can boost happiness and wellbeing.

IKEA has launched its first Christmas ad, ‘Silence the Critics’, in which objects around a couple’s home come to life and rap about their ‘rubbish’ cluttered house. By acknowledging the stress that comes with having family around, the retailer is hoping that ‘home shame’ will drive customers to buy.