What’s happening:

As the weather cools, people are reshaping how they spend time at home. Many are looking for ways to stretch outdoor living later into the season, such as adding fire pits, heaters, and lighting that make chilly evenings more inviting. Others are shifting their focus indoors, investing in comfort-driven upgrades and small home projects that make their spaces feel fresh again. Rather than signaling a slowdown, the arrival of colder months is prompting a wave of creativity and intention around how people use their homes, from cozying up existing spaces to making them more functional and inspiring for the months ahead.

What we found:

  • 46% intend to spend as much time outdoors as possible in the coming months, despite cooler weather
    • To extend their time outdoors, using a firepit or outdoor heater (53%), adding blankets, rugs, and/or outdoor seating (46%), and investing in outdoor cooking appliances (35%) are the most common backyard additions.
  • 31% plan to shift their time indoors and focus on making the inside of their homes a cozy space
    • To make their homes feel inviting in the colder months, form often comes before function. Nearly half of people plan to add cozy furnishings or décor (47%) or set up spaces for hobbies and activities (46%), while fewer are focused on practical improvements like heating or insulation (28%).

Why it matters:

The mix of indoor and outdoor projects shows how people are approaching the colder months and how they plan to spend their winter season. Whether they’re extending outdoor living or refreshing indoor spaces, the motivation is the same: to make their home feel ready for the season ahead. This shift highlights how much home continues to shape people’s sense of comfort and control, and where thoughtful design or small upgrades can make the biggest impact. It also offers a chance to connect with consumers who are already in an improvement mindset. Products and ideas that add comfort, efficiency, or inspiration can meet people where they’re most engaged, helping them shape spaces that feel both inviting and functional as routines shift toward winter.

(N=923, MoE ±3.2%, 95% CI,

Data Collected: October 3-6 2025)

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