Over 70% Answer "A Child's Room is Necessary": Survey of 1,000 Parents in their 30s-40s in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area | When does it become necessary?

groove agent, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Satoru Ebinuma), which provides one-stop services from purchasing used homes to renovation design and construction, conducted a survey on the necessity of children's rooms among 1,000 married men and women in their 30s and 40s with children, residing in the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba).

■ Survey Summary
- 72% answered that a child's room is necessary. The most common timing was "upper elementary school grades" at 43%.
- The ideal learning space was a "completely partitioned private room" for 52%.
- The biggest housing concern regarding changes in family structure was "insufficient storage."
- 65% are attracted to the variability that adapts to lifestyle changes.

■ Survey Results
72% answered "a child's room is necessary." The response "not necessary" increased by 5.9% compared to the previous survey.
When asked about the necessity of a child's room, the results were: "absolutely necessary" 27.0%, "preferably necessary" 45.1%, "either is fine" 18.6%, and "not necessary" 9.3%. Compared to the 2022 survey, those who answered "not necessary" accounted for 9.3% of the total, a 5.9% increase.

The most common timing for needing a room was "upper elementary school grades" at 43%, similar to the previous survey.
For those who answered "a child's room is necessary," the timing was: "lower elementary school grades" 13.3%, "upper elementary school grades" 42.6%, "junior high school" 29.2%, "high school" 3.4%, and "when they ask for it" 11.5%.

The ideal learning space was a "completely partitioned private room" for 52%.
When asked about the ideal learning space for a child in the home, the results were: "completely partitioned private room" 52.4%, "a corner of the living room" 31.3%, "dining table" 15.8%, and "other" 0.5%.

The biggest concern about the current home regarding future family structure changes was "insufficient storage" with 425 votes (multiple answers allowed).
The results were: "insufficient storage" 425 votes, "not enough rooms" 366 votes, "cannot change the layout as children grow" 268 votes, and "worried about property value decline" 99 votes.

Reasons for wanting to move in the future (excerpts) included: "The number of rooms needed changes with growth," "The current house is too small and I feel sorry for the children," and "Children will become conscious of privacy and need their own rooms."

65% are attracted to "variable floor plans."
When asked if they are attracted to "variable floor plans" that can be partitioned or opened up as children grow without moving, the results were: "very attracted" 17.4%, "somewhat attracted" 48.0%, "not very attracted" 24.4%, and "don't know" 10.2%.

Ideal housing conditions for raising children (excerpts) included: "Small private spaces, large living and dining areas," "Spacious enough for children to run, no steps, no sharp corners," and "A house where the layout can be changed to suit life stages."

■ Examples of 'Variable Renovation' that Adapt to Lifestyle Changes
- A case of creating a child's room that can be divided in the future.
- A case of creating a kids' space with a nook and bunk beds in a hallway adjacent to the LDK.
- A case of a one-room layout with a frame that allows for easy addition of private rooms.

■ Conclusion (Comment from Mr. Nishimura, First-Class Architect and Head of the Architecture Division)
It's important to think about children's rooms not just in terms of "necessary or not," but from the perspective of "when, for how long, and how they will be needed." The period a room is genuinely used as a child's room is about 10 years, so fixing a private room from the start just for the future can be a waste. The nature of the room also changes depending on the number of children and their personalities, and it's impossible to predict future changes accurately. That's why, rather than partitioning rooms finely from the beginning, it's desirable to secure a large, usable space with a "variable floor plan" that can be divided when needed. With property prices soaring recently, consulting with a company that has the perspective of effectively utilizing limited space is crucial for future home selection.

■ Event Exhibition Announcement
Zero Renove will exhibit at the "ninaru Festa" in May 2026.
Date & Time: May 30 (Sat) & 31 (Sun), 10:00-17:00
Venue: Futako-Tamagawa Rise Studio & Hall

■ Survey Overview
Method: Web survey
Target: 1,000 married men and women in their 30s-40s with children, residing in the Tokyo metropolitan area
Period: May 1-2, 2026
Organizer: groove agent, Inc. (Zero Renove)