As housing prices rise in Türkiye, lifestyles change, and the use of space in urban living is being redefined, a new era is beginning in housing preferences. One of the most prominent recent trends in the housing market is that, while apartment sizes are shrinking, the need for storage rooms, smart storage solutions, and functional spaces is increasing. A change in household structure also stands out in the background of this transformation. According to TURKSTAT (TÜİK) data, the average household size in Türkiye was 4 people in 2008, but it declined to 3.14 as of 2023. With shrinking households and increasing urbanization, the new-generation homebuyer now places greater importance not only on the number of rooms or square meters, but on adaptable spaces within the home, hidden storage solutions, pantries, walk-in wardrobe areas, entryway wardrobe capacity, balcony or terrace use, and on-site storage areas within residential compounds.
SOA Holding Chairman of the Board Yalçın Artukoğlu, in his assessment on the subject, stated:
“There has been a very clear transformation in the housing market in recent years. As homes get smaller, users’ expectations are shifting toward more functional and smarter solutions. Today, buyers are no longer looking only at square meters, they are looking at the home’s adaptable areas, its storage capacity, and the details that make life easier. The new-generation homebuyer asks ‘Where will my belongings fit in this home?’ before asking ‘How many square meters is it?’ For this reason, in our projects we treat storage and organization planning as a fundamental part of design from the very beginning of the planning process. Properly planned storage areas both improve quality of life and strengthen the long-term value of the home.”
“THE NEW-GENERATION BUYER IS NOW BUYING FUNCTION, NOT SQUARE METERS”
Homebuyers’ increasing e-commerce habits, the growing need for order within the home, and the spread of small-square-meter living are bringing new planning approaches to housing projects. Among the most important factors influencing housing preferences recently are details such as spacious entryway closets, laundry and cleaning cabinets, pantry space in the kitchen and high-capacity cabinetry solutions, a dressing area in the bedroom, and the balcony or terrace being designed together with storage. In addition, independent storage units within residential sites are also among the new expectations that make daily life easier for users.
Experts emphasize that as smaller homes become more common, projects with strong storage planning enable faster decision-making during the sales process and increase user satisfaction. Planning storage areas correctly helps the home feel more spacious, allows living areas to be used more efficiently, and contributes to the home maintaining its value over the long term. SOA Holding, meanwhile, aims to continue a design approach in the new period that focuses not only on layouts and square meters in housing projects, but on functional living scenarios.