Homeowners want every day to feel like a special occasion.
A new study has found the average homeowner waits nearly three decades before breaking out special occasion items — so what’s stopping them?
The recent poll of 2,000 U.S. homeowners found that, across every generation from Gen Zers to baby boomers, two in three (68%) said they wish they could live every day like a special occasion, and 58% said if it were practical, they’d use their “special occasion” items every single day.
A majority of homeowners (79%) have items they hold dear, set aside only for special occasions, and 69% of whom reserve fragile and intricate items such as dishes and glassware.
Commissioned by SMEG USA and conducted by Talker Research, the study revealed that 64% of homeowners have never touched these special occasion items, leaving them to collect dust waiting for the “right” moment.
In fact, 54% have never even used a “special occasion” item because the right moment hasn’t yet come up.
The study found one possible explanation: 48% state that they don’t use their special occasion items every day because they are worried about damaging them, and 45% say they’re impractical to use daily.
Four in 10 people (42%) believe that many of their dishes and glassware need to be washed by hand — especially items like vintage dishware, dishes made from unique materials, and items made from sterling silver.
While 29% said they wash these things by hand after every use, a majority (57%) choose to wash their rare dishes and glasses on a regular basis, regardless of whether it was used or not.
One in five (21%) wash them monthly, while 36% wash weekly.
Many admitted to owning items that they know could technically be put in the dishwasher, but still choose to wash by hand.
“Don’t let the fear of cleanup and maintenance take away from your joy in using the special items from around your kitchen,” said Mattia Sala, product manager at SMEG USA. “Beautiful dishes, glassware, and cookware can help make an ordinary day feel extraordinary, and modern kitchen technology makes it easier to care for these cherished items.”
Homeowners choose to save special items, like dish and glassware, for the bigger highlights in their lives. According to the study, this includes special occasions like holiday gatherings (70%), anniversaries (65%), getting married (57%), milestone birthdays (56%), and graduations (50%).
When thinking about the future, 83% of people with special items said they’ll pass them down to their children, grandchildren, and other family members. In fact, 41% have purchased items with the intention of making them a family heirloom.
Some respondents shared that their heirlooms-in-the-making included candy dishes, crystal glassware, and vases.
Sala continued, “An easy place to begin making ordinary days feel extraordinary is in the kitchen – by doing simple things such as using your collectible cookware on a quality range designed for outstanding cooking results, chilling your finest vintage to perfection in a wine cooler that looks sleek in your kitchen, and using your favorite stemware to elevate a weekday meal.”
“Then, enjoy the benefits of loading it all into a well-quipped dishwasher that can handle everything from the bulkiest pots and pans to delicate items so that you have more time to enjoy the finer things in your life every day.”
What are people bringing out their very best dishes and glasses for?
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American homeowners; the survey was commissioned by SMEG and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Aug. 21 and Aug. 27, 2025.