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Design has the power to change how we feel, how we heal, and how we move forward. A new six-month study following one resident’s transition into an IKEA Trauma-Informed Design (TID) Tiny Home offers a powerful look at just how meaningful that impact can be.
The study tracked a formerly homeless resident who moved from a standard housing unit into an IKEA-designed tiny home intentionally crafted with trauma-informed principles—safety, dignity, comfort, and emotional well-being—built into every detail. Through surveys and interviews over half a year, researchers explored how the environment influenced the resident’s daily life.
The difference was striking.
One of the most significant changes came in the resident’s sense of physical safety. What began as uncertainty and discomfort quickly shifted to confidence and calm; by the end of the study, the resident “strongly agreed” that they felt safe both inside and outside their home. Emotional comfort, dignity, and connection remained steady throughout, reinforcing just how important thoughtful design can be in supporting recovery and stability.
The resident’s own words paint the clearest picture of transformation. Three months in, he shared:
“It is changing my life completely — every day I wake up, my perspective of life is different. When I leave the house, I sometimes just want to stop and look at it; it makes me so happy.”
By the six-month mark, even after experiencing a traumatic event, the home continued to serve as a foundation for hope and growth. As he described:
“I’ve turned it around… Living here has made me feel more hopeful and helped me accomplish things I never thought I would achieve.”
While this study focused on a single resident, the findings offer an encouraging glimpse into how trauma-informed design—when thoughtfully applied, as IKEA has done—can support healing, empowerment, and long-term stability in supportive housing.
It’s a reminder that design is never just about space. It’s about people. And the right environment can truly help someone begin again.
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