A nationwide survey by online interior specialist Wayfair has revealed that the majority of people look online to purchase items for the home, and most of these are aged 18 to 24 years old.
The first month of moving into a property sees people spend an average of £1,000 to £3,000, while older residents aged 35 to 44 are more like to spend up to £5,000 on items for a new home. The research also revealed that men are more likely than women to take time off work to decorate the home, although women are the key decorating decision-makers, a trend which major home improvement retailers B&Q and Homebase have picked up on with recent ad campaigns.

The survey, which involved almost 800 respondents from across the UK, found 48% of women make home decorating decisions as opposed to just 26% of men. Meanwhile, second hand furniture retailers are set to benefit more from the younger generation than older, with just 36% of those aged 18 - 25 reporting that they prefer new furniture to used. 63% of those aged 55 or over said they would buy new.

The priority of rooms was also highlighted in the survey with the kitchen rated as the most important room to decorate while the dining room and hallway are the lowest on the list of priorities.

Wayfair UK managing director John Kennedy said ''It's interesting to note the commitment that people show to improving their homes. When you consider the difficult economic climate we are currently experiencing, I think it just goes to show how much value people place on having a happy and comfortable home from which to have their lives.''

Full results from Wayfair's survey can be found here.