New research from Yorkshire Building Society shows Christmas wishes of owning their own home take on extra sparkle for would-be first-time buyers.
In fact, over half of those who don’t own their own home (54%) said Christmas reminds them how much they would like their own pad to personalise without restrictions, with more than a third (37%) saying seeing other people’s decorated homes motivates them even more. While 35% admitted to wishing they could host festive get-togethers in a home of their own.
And for those lucky enough to have their own place to call home already, there’s no doubt that younger households are leading the festive flair. Gen Z (aged 14–28) and Millennials (29–44) out‑decorate Boomers (61 to 79), spending around four times as much on trimmings this year. Average décor spend sits at £47.20, with Gen Z at £82.30, Millennials at £74.90 and Boomers at £20.20.
Across the age groups, decorating styles vary widely: 13% go full ‘Santa’s grotto’, 31% take a moderate approach, 31% keep things light, 12% go minimalist, and 10% don’t decorate. Enthusiasm is strongest among younger cohorts, with 61% of Gen Z and 60% of Millennials saying their homes feel fully festive or that they decorate multiple spaces - a sign of the pride and wellbeing people draw from having their own front door to festoon, especially with the UK’s average first‑time buyer age around 34.
The top reasons people gave for tree-mendous decorating include enjoying the tradition (49%), creating a warm and welcoming home (46%), boosting seasonal mood (40%), making the festivities feel special (40%), creating a cosy atmosphere for visitors (31%), providing comfort and routine (25%), and doing it for children or family (23%).
But sellers should tread carefully: 44% of active buyers say tacky or excessive decorations during a viewing would give them a poorer impression of the area.
Tom Simpson, managing director of homes at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “While it’s good to see many people are embracing all the fun of the festive season, it also underlines a serious message: having your own space to decorate, to enjoy comfort, relaxation and precious time with loved ones, really matters. Our data demonstrates that would-be first‑time buyers are keeping their long‑term goal – to fulfil their home ownership dreams - firmly in sight.
“We’re focused on helping borrowers to overcome affordability challenges, high prices and cost‑of‑living pressures, so that by next Christmas, more people will have a place to call home. For those who already do, we hope they enjoy every moment of their festive break.”
Yorkshire Building Society’s innovative £5K Deposit Mortgage has helped more than 1800 first-time buyers onto the property ladder since it was launched in March, 2024. Designed to tackle the biggest barrier to homeownership - finding a large deposit - the product allows people to purchase a home worth up to £500,000 with just £5,000 upfront, cutting years off their saving time. The Society was also one of the first to respond to the regulator’s introduction of greater flexibility for lenders to set their own higher- loan-to-income (LTI) limits, subject to approval. These enhancements have already helped customers to borrow, on average, 15% more - or £37,000 extra - towards their home purchase.
