Can’t get on the property ladder? As the idea of owning a home becomes increasingly distant for young adults, the demand for 'graddy annexes' – attached to parents' homes – is increasing and is one of the many ways families are coping with Gen Yers’ inability to buy their own home.

Stress is in high supply across urban areas, but the same can’t be said for space. As pressures mount, it’s pushing some people – Gen Yers in particular – to seek greener pastures. Many young Americans and Germans are combating the claustrophobia of concrete jungles by heading out to the countryside, setting up in towns with more space, more community, and a sense of being at one with nature.

The desire to make our homes as cosy as possible is not just affecting the cushions and blankets we buy, but also the scents we choose to spread through products like diffusers and candles. With Gen Y keen on all things ‘natural’ and ‘clean’, what smells appeal to the noses of this cohort?

Furniture brand West Elm is encouraging young homeowners to take pride in their home decor, and move on from the grungier digs of their student days. With home ownership losing universal appeal among Gen Yers, West Elm is playing up the joys of embracing traditional routes to adulthood.