Changing household contents: sleeved blankets, slow cookers and sewing machines set to soar

Sales of blankets with sleeves, vacuum flasks, long johns and even sewing machines are set to surge, according to new research from Aviva.

The insurer’s latest ‘How We Live’ study of 2,000 UK adults looks at how home contents may change in light of the rising cost of living and higher energy bills.

It suggests that three fifths (61%) of the population will buy new items or make changes to their homes this year, to deal with the challenges ahead. The survey shows which articles are most likely to fly off the shelves.

Blankets in various guises are particularly popular. The survey suggests a 113% increase in adults who own a “sleeved blanket'' by the end of the year, while owners of electric blankets could be up by 89%. People using traditional blankets and thick duvets could see an upsurge too, with the study suggesting an increase of 35% by the end of the year.

Energy-efficient kitchen appliances are on people’s wish-lists too. The study suggest air-fryers could be found in almost half of UK homes by the end of 2022, an increase of 89% over the course of the year. Ownership of vacuum flasks is predicted to increase by 44%, while slow cookers / pressure cookers could be up by 35%.

Staying warm is understandably on people’s minds. The number of people investing in thermal underwear is expected to increase by three quarters (73%) by the end of the year, while owners of small heaters for individual rooms could rise by two thirds (67%). Spikes are predicted for hot water bottles (up 33%) and dressing gowns (up 26%) too.

There is even a suggestion that people could be saving money by making their own clothes, with those owning sewing machines up by 60%.

Kelly Whittington, UK Property Claims Director for Aviva, says: “External forces and societal trends often have an impact on the items we keep in and around our homes – and even to the structures of our properties themselves. With living expenses at the forefront of people’s minds, it’s natural that they’re making changes to help keep costs down.

“By monitoring how people live and the possessions they are likely to have, we can assess any inherent risks to help individuals protect their homes and belongings.”

There is also evidence that people may be making changes to the fabric of their homes, as well as their home contents with stoves and real fires potentially doubling by the end of the year. The number of residents considering solar panels has also soared: 7% of respondents said they had them already, while a total of 19% of UK adults plan to have them at their homes by the end of 2022 – almost triple the original number.

Kelly Whittington adds: “While many of these planned purchases are smaller and may be unlikely to affect people’s home cover, we’d urge people to take care when ordering electrical items and only buy from reputable suppliers and manufacturers. We have witnessed an increase in fire claims through faulty chargers, so we’d encourage people to be on their guard.

“We’d also recommend people get in touch with their insurer if they plan to make substantial changes to their homes – for example installing solar panels or fitting a real fire. By doing this, people can be sure they have the right cover for their needs, whatever changes they’ve made.”

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