In 2023, nearly half of Russian households expanded their living space, adding ground floors, attics, verandas, and other extensions. This finding comes from a joint study by the online hypermarket VseInstrumenty.ru and the research agency A2, with a copy available through socialbites.ca.
Approximately eight thousand participants across all regions of the Russian Federation took part in the survey. The results show that 18% of respondents invested between 100,000 and 500,000 rubles in construction work, while 16% allocated between 500,000 rubles and 1 million rubles. A notable 10% spent more than 15 million rubles on such projects. These figures illustrate a broad range of project scales, from modest enhancements to major home renovations. In many cases, homeowners pursued practical gains—additional space for family life, storage, or work areas—reflecting a trend toward functional upgrades alongside aesthetic improvements.
The majority of respondents, 21%, completed construction within six to nine months. About one in five finished in three to six months, and 19% reported that their renovations exceeded a year. When choosing construction materials, Russians tended to rely most on personal recommendations from friends and acquaintances, which influenced 17% of decisions. This reliance on trusted networks underscores a preference for tangible, lived experiences over purely commercial assurances when assessing product quality and suitability.
Other influential factors included price and brand reputation, each cited by 14% of participants, along with online recommendations (13%) and input from builders (10%). The least influential aspect, in contrast, was the design and appearance of materials, suggesting that performance and practicality often outweighed visual considerations during procurement decisions. This emphasis on value and reliability over style mirrors practical consumer behavior observed in many housing-related purchases across North America and beyond.
Beyond new construction, 28% of respondents updated their home interiors in the last three to five years. Another 27% did so within the past one to three years, and 21% in 2023 alone. The principal motivation for changing decor was fatigue from old surroundings, reported by 25% of respondents. This trend reflects a broader cycle of renewal where households refresh spaces to better match evolving lifestyles, family needs, and personal tastes.
Interior updates also included furniture and décor purchases. About 21% spent up to 50,000 rubles on furniture and related items, while 16% allocated between 100,000 and 200,000 rubles. The most renovated areas were bedrooms and living rooms (27%), followed by corridors (20%) and kitchens (18%). These patterns indicate where families tend to invest for daily comfort and user experience, often prioritizing high-use rooms that shape everyday life within the home.
When selecting household goods, price remained a key driver at 21%, with brand and country of origin each noted by 17% and 16% respectively, and online reviews influencing 14%. Designers’ projects were considered by 12% of respondents. The data illustrate a pragmatic buying approach, balancing cost with brand trust, provenance, and peer opinions, while professional design services played a smaller role in consumer choice.
Earlier reporting also highlighted how much housing costs could rise in Russia, with considerations about private home construction in early 2024. The evolving preferences of Russians when choosing house designs were noted as part of this broader market snapshot, signaling ongoing shifts in how spaces are planned, financed, and realized. These trends in the Russian market offer useful benchmarks for comparative analysis with similar housing and renovation dynamics in North American markets, where factors such as space optimization, energy efficiency, and long-term value drive decisions.