Lack of space is one of the biggest reasons Brits choose to upsize, especially as family needs change. And with the housing market in 2025 holding relatively steady and rising by around 1.8%, it raises the question many homeowners are now asking: Is this the right time to upsize, or is it more cost-effective to extend the home you already have?
In this guide, we cover the latest upsizing figures of 2025 that truly matter, along with what to expect in 2026. We also explore why certain rooms across the UK are being left unused, how men and women differ in the ways they underuse space, and which rooms are most considered as ‘dead space’—often ending up as storage for clutter.
How Britons Use (and Don’t Use) Their Rooms: 2025 Survey Findings
To understand how homeowners around the country are utilising the spaces they already have, we commissioned a survey of 2,000 adults via Censuswide and asked them about how they currently use the rooms in their homes.
The analysis of this survey shows that there is a lot of potential in the homes and gardens people already have, with many admitting to having lofts, garages and even whole rooms currently being underutilised.
| How is the room currently being used? | Loft | Garage | Shed | Spare room | Utility room | Outhouse | Basement |
| It is primarily used for storing clutter, boxes, or items that don’t have permanent homes | 36.50% | 26.15% | 33.70% | 17.00% | 15.60% | 11.30% | 8.85% |
| I haven’t found a clear purpose or function for the room yet. | 8.85% | 6.10% | 5.60% | 6.50% | 6.35% | 5.95% | 4.95% |
| It’s awaiting renovation or decoration to become usable. | 5.60% | 5.00% | 5.75% | 6.80% | 6.30% | 4.90% | 3.95% |
| It’s a spare room, but we don’t have enough furniture or furnishings to make it functional. | 5.65% | 5.00% | 4.80% | 8.10% | 5.10% | 4.70% | 5.30% |
| It’s meant to be a guest room, but guests rarely stay. | 3.55% | 2.10% | 2.95% | 17.65% | 2.95% | 3.00% | 2.50% |
| The room is too small or awkwardly shaped to be easily used. | 5.70% | 2.10% | 3.55% | 4.30% | 5.50% | 2.75% | 2.20% |
| I don’t have the time or budget to make it functional right now. | 5.40% | 3.30% | 3.40% | 2.45% | 3.40% | 2.45% | 1.75% |
| I don’t have this room in my house. | 28.75% | 50.25% | 40.25% | 37.20% | 54.80% | 64.95% | 70.50% |
Loft and Shed Clutter Dominate Underutilised Spaces
Storing household clutter is the biggest cause of underutilised space among homeowners. More than a third (36.5%) say their loft is used as a dumping ground, while around a third (33.7%) report their shed is used to store items without a permanent home.
Garages, Spare Rooms, and Utility Rooms Also Primarily Used for Storage
While a quarter of adults (26.15%) said their garages, spare rooms (17%) and utility rooms (15.60%) were ultimately just used for household storage, few admitted that these practical spaces had been identified as an area that could be renovated to become more usable.
Spare Rooms Often Misused or Underutilised
Spare rooms are often misused, with 17.65% of Britons reporting their rooms have not been used by guests as intended. Over 8% lack enough furniture to make the space functional, and only 6.5% plan to renovate or redecorate.
Renovation Plans Focus Mostly on Spare and Utility Rooms
Of all the spaces earmarked for renovation, spare rooms and utility rooms (6.3%) are the most underutilised spaces being considered, followed by sheds (5.75%), lofts (5.60%), and garages (5%).
Key takeaways on how Britons use their spaces:
- Lofts are the UK’s most common storage room, with more than a third of Brits (36.5%) mainly using it for holding clutter and belongings that do not have permanent homes.
- Sheds and garages are not far behind, with around 33.70% and 26.15% of Brits respectively using these spaces as storage for clutter.
- Spare rooms are intended to be guest rooms, but 17.65% of Brits say this has not happened yet, and 8.10% say they do not have the furniture to make it functional.
- Lofts are the most common space without a purpose, as 8.85% say they are not sure what to do with the ceiling space.
- Less than 1-in-10 Britons have identified space in the home to renovate into a more functional space.
Battle of the Sexes: Who is Most Guilty of Storing Clutter?
With storage emerging as a leading reason for Brits underutilising otherwise functional spaces, now we look at how differently men and women are when it comes to using the extra spaces they do have, and see which gender is the most guilty when it comes to repurposing household storage for clutter.
| Room is primarily used for storing clutter, boxes, or items that don’t have permanent homes | Male (%) | Female (%) |
| Shed | 49.92 | 63.28 |
| Garage | 47.25 | 59.02 |
| Loft | 47.03 | 55.37 |
| Utility room | 30.81 | 39.43 |
| Spare room | 25.49 | 28.84 |
*Respondents who do not have the room in their home were excluded, and the remaining data was normalised
The insights reveal that women are more guilty of storing household clutter around the home than men, across every possible space.
Where Household Clutter Lives and How Home Spaces Are Really Used
The clear winner: Garden sheds are the most common space for storing clutter for both women and men, with almost two thirds of female shed owners (63.2%) and half of male shed owners (49.9%) allowing their sheds to become a storage area for household items without a permanent home.
Close contenders: Garages and lofts follow closely, as more than half of women admit to using their garages (59%) and lofts (55%) for extra storage, compared to only 47% of males who do the same.
The least likely culprit: Spare rooms are least likely to be used for storing clutter, with only a quarter of men (25.49%) and women (28.84%) choosing this space in the home to keep items that are yet to find a permanent home.
A space without a purpose: Rather than being used for clutter, spare rooms are generally seen as having a more important role. Two fifths of women (43.68%) say these rooms are not used enough by guests or lack sufficient furniture to be functional, with just over a third of men (38.61%) agreeing.
Aside from storage, the way spaces in the home are being used consistently differ depending on who is using them. Additional insights from the survey show:
- Outhouses are the spaces leaving homeowners most unsure about their purpose as 18.72% of men say they have not found a clear function for their outhouse and 14.58% of female owners say the same.
- Utility rooms, basements, and outhouses are the rooms most likely to be slated for renovation or redecorating, regardless of gender.
- Women are more likely to say their utility room is most in need of renovation or decoration (12.6%), though lack of time and budget is a significant factor for 8.51% of female utility room owners.
- For 7.64% of men, lack of time and budget is what is stopping them from turning their outhouses into a more functional space.
- Describing utility rooms as “too small” or “awkwardly shaped” to be easily used is a major factor for underutilisation for all genders.
- More women (13.40%) say this of utility rooms than men (11.24%).
*Respondents who do not have the room in their home were excluded, and the remaining data was normalised
The North South Divide: UK’s Top Clutter Capitals
Not all cities rely on the same type of space when it comes to storing unused belongings, clutter, and those inevitable mystery boxes. Across the UK, storage habits vary noticeably by location, with certain rooms emerging as clear favourites.
Cities That Store the Most Clutter
Overall, the insights reveal that Newcastle is home to some of the UK’s biggest hoarders, storing among the highest amount of household clutter, especially when it comes to their lofts, spare rooms, and outhouses.
| Rank | City | Loft | Shed | Garage | Spare Room | Utility Room | Basement | Outhouse |
| 1 | Newcastle | 43.02% | 37.21% | 32.56% | 25.58% | 29.07% | 9.30% | 17.44% |
| 2 | Nottingham | 35.00% | 41.00% | 36.00% | 19.00% | 18.00% | 9.00% | 14.00% |
| 3 | Plymouth | 42.86% | 36.73% | 26.53% | 26.53% | 16.33% | 6.12% | 10.20% |
| 4 | Norwich | 35.82% | 41.79% | 32.84% | 16.42% | 13.43% | 7.46% | 10.45% |
| 5 | Bristol | 31.58% | 38.95% | 29.47% | 14.74% | 18.95% | 12.63% | 10.53% |
| 6 | Sheffield | 45.45% | 40.00% | 18.18% | 21.82% | 16.36% | 3.64% | 9.09% |
| 7 | Southampton | 46.15% | 29.67% | 30.77% | 19.78% | 9.89% | 6.59% | 10.99% |
| 8 | London | 35.73% | 33.27% | 26.28% | 16.26% | 16.26% | 13.04% | 10.96% |
| 9 | Birmingham | 34.74% | 35.79% | 23.16% | 17.37% | 14.74% | 8.42% | 14.21% |
| 10 | Leeds | 40.15% | 28.03% | 28.03% | 17.42% | 12.88% | 9.85% | 9.85% |
UK Cities Storing the Most Clutter in Lofts
Lofts are the most used storage space in several cities, particularly in Southampton and Belfast, where 46% of residents use them to stash away possessions. Sheffield follows closely at 45%, while Plymouth and Newcastle are tied at 43%, suggesting lofts remain a popular solution where space allows.
UK Cities Storing the Most Clutter in Sheds
Sheds also play a significant role when it comes to rehoming clutter, especially in Liverpool, where 43% of households use their outdoor spaces for extra storage. Norwich and Nottingham are close behind with 42% and 41% respectively utilising sheds for storing clutter, with Sheffield and Bristol not far behind (40% and 39%).
UK Cities Storing the Most Clutter in Garages
Garages are most heavily relied upon in Nottingham, with over a third of residents (36%) using them primarily as bonus storage space. A third of adults in Newcastle and Norwich (33%) are just as guilty, while those living in Southampton (31%) and Belfast (30%) agree that garages hold their own as a practical option for stashing miscellaneous clutter.
UK Cities Storing the Most Clutter in Spare Rooms
Spare rooms, while less commonly used for storage, still feature prominently in some cities. Plymouth and Newcastle lead the way, with 26% of residents in each city using spare bedrooms to store belongings, while just over a fifth (22%) of adults in Sheffield, Manchester (20%) and Southampton (20%) say the same.
How Londoners Manage Clutter Compared to the Rest of the UK
London shows a varied approach to storing household clutter, with over a third of residents using lofts and about a third relying on sheds and garages for extra storage. However, only around 16% of Londoners use spare rooms for storage, which is noticeably lower than the UK average of approximately 19%. This suggests that spare rooms in London are less frequently repurposed for storage compared to other cities. Given the limited space in London homes, there may be opportunities to explore different uses for spare rooms, especially as other parts of the country are making more use of these spaces to manage household belongings.
Together, the data highlights how storage choices reflect not just personal habits, but the types of homes and spaces that define each city.
Spare Room Hotspots
A recent study from David Wilson Homes reports that three quarters of British homeowners have at least one spare room in their homes, a fifth of whom say it is because of the “empty nest effect” after children have grown up and left the family home. For another third of homeowners (35%), they admit the spare room has no real use.
Our survey shows that spare rooms are often not used as intended. In some cities, homeowners want to improve these rooms by enlarging their homes or adding extensions but face challenges such as limited time and money. In other cities, spare rooms exist mostly in theory rather than in daily use. They are meant for guests but remain largely empty and often lack the furniture needed to be functional.
| City | It’s meant to be a guest room, but guests rarely stay. | We don’t have enough furniture or furnishings to make it functional. | It’s awaiting renovation or decoration to become usable. | I don’t have the time or budget to make it functional right now. | The room is too small or awkwardly shaped to be easily used. |
| Cardiff | 22.37% | 11.84% | 3.95% | 3.95% | 3.95% |
| Edinburgh | 19.75% | 9.88% | 8.64% | 3.70% | 3.70% |
| Leeds | 19.70% | 11.36% | 6.06% | 3.79% | 4.55% |
| Newcastle | 19.77% | 4.65% | 8.14% | 5.81% | 3.49% |
| Belfast | 26.79% | 5.36% | 5.36% | 0.00% | 3.57% |
| Manchester | 15.72% | 6.29% | 10.69% | 5.66% | 2.52% |
| Liverpool | 14.81% | 11.11% | 6.17% | 0.00% | 8.64% |
| London | 19.09% | 8.32% | 6.24% | 2.27% | 4.54% |
| Bristol | 18.95% | 5.26% | 12.63% | 2.11% | 1.05% |
| Birmingham | 14.74% | 8.95% | 8.95% | 1.58% | 4.21% |
| Nottingham | 19.00% | 8.00% | 4.00% | 2.00% | 5.00% |
| Brighton | 17.39% | 7.25% | 5.80% | 1.45% | 5.80% |
| Glasgow | 16.67% | 7.14% | 7.14% | 1.19% | 3.57% |
| Sheffield | 7.27% | 12.73% | 7.27% | 3.64% | 3.64% |
| Norwich | 16.42% | 4.48% | 4.48% | 1.49% | 5.97% |
| Plymouth | 18.37% | 4.08% | 2.04% | 0.00% | 6.12% |
| Southampton | 9.89% | 7.69% | 2.20% | 0.00% | 4.40% |
UK Cities with The Most Underused Spare Rooms
Belfast tops the list for the most underused spare room, with more than a quarter of households (27%) reporting that their guest room is rarely genuinely used by guests. While this suggests many homes in the city have additional space waiting for occasional visitors, many homeowners admit these rooms need more furniture in order to make them more functional for guests.
Cardiff follows, with 22% indicating a similar story with spare rooms missing the all-important visiting guests, while 12% say their guest rooms do not have the essential amenities needed to make the room functional. A fifth of adults in Edinburgh, Leeds and Newcastle also admit to having spare rooms where guests rarely stay.
London’s Underuse of Spare Rooms
In London, nearly one in five households (19.09%) have spare rooms meant for guests but rarely used. Unlike other cities, few Londoners cite lack of time or budget as a barrier. Instead, many face challenges with room size or layout. Around 4.54% say their spare rooms are too small or awkwardly shaped, and 8.32% lack the furniture to make them functional. Over 6% report their rooms are still awaiting renovation. With these physical limits, London homeowners may need to consider alternative solutions for storing their belongings beyond relying on underused spare rooms.
Overall, the data points to a number of cities where households may already have the extra space they aspire to, even if it remains largely untouched, highlighting how spare rooms often function as a luxury rather than a necessity in everyday life.
Facts & Figures: Spare Room Statistics
- 55.7% of owner-occupied homes in England have at least two unused bedrooms (English Housing Survey, 2025).
- In Scotland, about 70% of households have at least one spare bedroom, with 35% having two or more (The Times 2025).
- Census 2021 data: 69% of households in England and 76% in Wales have more bedrooms than they need (Office for National Statistics).
- Detached/semi-detached houses are more likely to have spare rooms, particularly in suburban and rural areas. Nearly 91% of detached houses are under-occupied (Office for National Statistics).
- Almost 90% of outright owners in England live with more bedrooms than required (Office for National Statistics).
- 32% of homes in England have two or more spare rooms that could be rented out (Airbnb, 2023).
- UK hosts renting out a private room on Airbnb earned a median of ~£2,400 in 2022 (~£170M total in earnings) (Airbnb, 2023).
Cities Planning to Transform Unused Rooms
The same David Wilson Homes survey reports that more than half of British homeowners (51%) plan to transform their spare room into a space for personal enjoyment. The most in demand transformations are home offices (23%), personal gyms (18%), and games rooms (15%).
Our insights spotlight Manchester as the UK city with the most transformational plans in the works, with more than half of those surveyed (60%) saying they have renovations or redecorations planned for their unused spaces. Edinburgh follows, with 57% of adults saying they have plans to transform spaces in the home to make them more usable.
| City | Loft | Shed | Garage | Spare Room | Utility Room | Basement | Outhouse |
| Manchester | 7.55% | 6.92% | 8.18% | 10.69% | 9.43% | 6.29% | 10.69% |
| Edinburgh | 11.11% | 7.41% | 7.41% | 8.64% | 9.88% | 7.41% | 4.94% |
| London | 5.67% | 5.67% | 6.81% | 6.24% | 6.24% | 4.35% | 5.67% |
| Birmingham | 6.32% | 6.84% | 5.26% | 8.95% | 4.21% | 3.68% | 4.74% |
| Bristol | 4.21% | 7.37% | 6.32% | 12.63% | 6.32% | 0.00% | 3.16% |
| Leeds | 2.27% | 7.58% | 4.55% | 6.06% | 9.09% | 2.27% | 3.79% |
| Plymouth | 8.16% | 10.20% | 2.04% | 2.04% | 4.08% | 6.12% | 2.04% |
| Nottingham | 5.00% | 4.00% | 5.00% | 4.00% | 8.00% | 2.00% | 6.00% |
| Belfast | 7.14% | 3.57% | 5.36% | 5.36% | 3.57% | 3.57% | 5.36% |
| Newcastle | 5.81% | 4.65% | 1.16% | 8.14% | 9.30% | 2.33% | 2.33% |
| Southampton | 3.30% | 6.59% | 5.49% | 2.20% | 5.49% | 4.40% | 4.40% |
| Glasgow | 4.76% | 4.76% | 3.57% | 7.14% | 7.14% | 2.38% | 1.19% |
| Cardiff | 7.89% | 2.63% | 2.63% | 3.95% | 5.26% | 2.63% | 3.95% |
| Liverpool | 3.70% | 6.17% | 1.23% | 6.17% | 2.47% | 4.94% | 3.70% |
| Sheffield | 5.45% | 3.64% | 1.82% | 7.27% | 1.82% | 3.64% | 3.64% |
| Norwich | 2.99% | 1.49% | 1.49% | 4.48% | 4.48% | 7.46% | 4.48% |
| Brighton | 4.35% | 4.35% | 0.00% | 5.80% | 4.35% | 2.90% | 2.90% |
How Londoners Can Unlock Value from Spare Rooms and Flexible Spaces
In London, 41% of homeowners say they plan to transform underutilised spaces, reflecting the high value placed on making the most of space in the capital. Unlike other cities where renovation plans are more concentrated around specific rooms, Londoners’ intentions are spread across spare rooms, garages, and utility rooms, each accounting for around 6% of planned changes. This pattern suggests that internal space in London is viewed as a valuable asset, often better suited to improving day-to-day living or long-term property value than being used for storage. As homeowners look to protect or increase the value of their properties, keeping rooms flexible and functional may take priority over filling them with belongings, encouraging the use of solutions that do not rely on sacrificing usable living space.
Additional insights show that 41% of millennials are keen on investing in properties they can improve on through renovations and redecorating, while the latest Houzz UK Renovation Trends Study report that more than half (51%) of British homeowners renovated their homes in 2024, with a median spend of £21,440 – a 26% rise from 2023.
Adding a double bedroom can increase the value of a 2-bedroom home by around 14%, according to Nationwide Building Society (2023). This is equivalent to around £15,000 to £30,000 (according to JBKind, 2024), depending on the location and property type.
In fact, Property Reporter notes that in some London boroughs, like Kensington and Chelsea, adding a bedroom could add up to £180,885 to the value of the home. While this is very clearly dependent on property size and location, it certainly is one way to make the most of unused spaces in the home.
The Latest Moving & Upsizing Statistics
While renovating might sound like a costly venture, adding an extra bedroom to the home can increase the overall property value when it comes to selling on the property market. In comparison, upsizing to a bigger home is another option that comes with its own pros and cons.
Here we break down the latest research on moving and upsizing.
- Britons are staying in their homes longer than ever, as Zoopla research (2025) shows that Brits will move house every 23 years on average, an 155% increase from 1988 when people moved every 9 years on average.
- The latest English Housing Survey (2023/24) suggests that a third of those aged 16-54 have moved into larger properties in the last three years.
- Almost three quarters (72%) of current homebuyers are looking to upsize their homes, with the majority (54%) motivated by the need for more space due to growing families (Regency Living Survey, 2025).
- The 59% of prospective “upsizers” say they are struggling to find a suitable property (Regency Living Survey, 2025).
The average cost of moving house:
- HomeOwners Alliance (2025) estimates the cost of moving to a new home at £13,018 on average (including buying and selling).
- The cost to buy a new house alone is around £8,000 (including stamp duty or general house moving costs), or £4,000 for first-time buyers.
- Zoopla (October 2025) reports the average house price in the UK is £270,200, with first-time buyer homes costing around £236,811.
- Savills (2025) predicts a 1% rise in UK mainstream house prices this year and 24.5% growth over the next five years.
No one wants to struggle more than necessary when moving house, however, things do not always go to plan schedule-wise, and this can mean you are left with a lot of furniture and other bulky household items you don’t know what to do with.
Why More Households Are Turning to Storage
From the SSA UK Annual Industry Report 2025 it has been noted that:
- Nearly 80% of mature self storage sites are occupied, showing storage is now a widely used, mainstream space solution rather than a niche option.
- UK self storage occupancy sits at 75% nationally, even as new sites open, a sign of sustained, long term demand.
- Around 40% of domestic storage use is linked to house moves, renovations, or life changes, the exact moments when households feel squeezed for space.
With a process as potentially stressful as moving house, storage is the last thing you want worry about. Luckily at Attic Self Storage, we are able to offer a number of specially tailored moving home storage solutions to help take some of that weight off your shoulders.
Go, Grow or Store?
Comparing the Three Main Ways to Create More Space
When weighing up the choices of upsizing, renovating, or using external storage, storage units are typically the most affordable short-term option, while renovation often delivers the best long-term value, and upsizing is usually the most expensive route overall.
Storage as a Low-Commitment Way to Relieve Space Pressure
UK self storage is a relatively low-commitment way to relieve space pressure without taking on debt or disrupting daily life, while renovating sits in the middle ground: upfront costs are higher, but improvements such as loft conversions or extensions can add a great deal to property value – particularly in high-demand areas.
Why Upsizing Carries the Highest Financial Commitment
Upsizing, by contrast, involves the steepest financial leap, factoring in higher property prices, stamp duty, legal fees, moving costs, and increased ongoing bills, which can easily outweigh the space gained. Affordability and value depend heavily on location, property type, and household needs: city homeowners face higher purchase premiums but may benefit more from renovation, while those in smaller homes, flats, or short-term living situations may find storage offers the best flexibility.
With the UK housing market continuing to grow steadily through 2025 and beyond, the choice is becoming increasingly complex, making it more important than ever to stay informed with the latest figures. Just as well we have compiled them all for you in one place.
What the Latest Storage Data Reveals About Household Behaviour
This shift in how people manage space is reflected in the SSA UK Annual Industry Report 2025:
- More than 40% of self storage customers now stay for over a year, with many remaining for several years. This suggests storage is increasingly used as a longer-term alternative to moving or renovating.
- Customer turnover in the UK storage sector has fallen below pre-pandemic levels, indicating that people are holding onto storage for longer as housing decisions are delayed.
When Storage Becomes the Sensible Middle Ground
For many households, which makes storage a practical way to buy time without locking into a major financial decision. If you find yourself in need of extra space but are hesitant about moving or renovating, consider renting a storage unit. At Attic Self Storage, we offer flexible solutions with 24/7 access and award-winning customer service. Use our Storage Cost Calculator to get an accurate idea of your storage options in one of the busiest cities in the UK.
Posted on 9th January 2026 by Shanaiqua Desa
