Americans are giving away family heirlooms, and some are even paying junk-removal services to get rid of their prized possessions. With the cost of furniture having fallen 50% over the past 30 years, the market for second-hand furniture seems to have disappeared.

Three in four Australian homeowners plan to decorate their digs in the next two years, and 41% plan to build an addition or renovate. Tapping into this national obsession, Houzz is a community of home renovators and professionals that's disrupting Australia's $30 billion DIY market.

In 2013, property prices in the UK increased by over 11%. Living spaces may be getting more expensive (and smaller) but new schemes aim to make houses better connected and personally serviced too. How are people and brands reacting to the changing nature of our homes?

Reversing the decline of home economics, women under 30 are taking a break from technology to get crafting. And it's a trend that Brit + Co cater to with a three step approach: content, community and commerce – in that order.