Renovating
What Did Houzz Users Do to Their Homes in 2019?
Which were the year’s most popular projects, what motivated us to undertake them, and how long did each job take?
Were new kitchens more popular than bedroom makeovers in 2019? And which generation was more likely to be tackling a doer-upper? The new 2020 Houzz & Home Renovation Trends Study reveals which parts of our homes we’ve upgraded and why, as well as the areas each age group focused on and what their motivations were.
If you’re curious to peek through the keyhole of the Houzz community, read on. We’d also love to hear all about your projects in the Comments section.
If you’re curious to peek through the keyhole of the Houzz community, read on. We’d also love to hear all about your projects in the Comments section.
Which generation did the most renovating?
While more than half of homeowners (51%) reported a renovating project in 2019, tackling nearly three interior rooms on average, one age group took the lead in terms of undertaking work on their homes.
It was the Gen Xs (aged 40-54) who accounted for two in five renovating homeowners in 2019 (42%), followed by the Baby Boomers, aka Gen B (aged 55-74), who took a 37% share of projects.
Gen Ys, aka the Millennials (25-39), trailed behind, representing just 19% of home renovators.
While more than half of homeowners (51%) reported a renovating project in 2019, tackling nearly three interior rooms on average, one age group took the lead in terms of undertaking work on their homes.
It was the Gen Xs (aged 40-54) who accounted for two in five renovating homeowners in 2019 (42%), followed by the Baby Boomers, aka Gen B (aged 55-74), who took a 37% share of projects.
Gen Ys, aka the Millennials (25-39), trailed behind, representing just 19% of home renovators.
What did Houzz users do to their homes in 2019?
We’ve been abuzz with ways to enhance our abodes, and home improvement activity in 2019 as a whole was up from 2018.
So what were we getting up to? The majority of Houzz renovating homeowners opted for decorating, with 72% of us giving our homes an aesthetic reboot, up from 67% the previous year.
In terms of bigger projects, we remained just as active, with 57% of respondents opting to renovate in 2019, the same figure as in the previous year.
As for which rooms or areas we focused on, it was neck and neck between the bedroom and bathroom at 29% each, while our living/family rooms and kitchens were very close behind, at 27% and 28% respectively.
We’ve been abuzz with ways to enhance our abodes, and home improvement activity in 2019 as a whole was up from 2018.
So what were we getting up to? The majority of Houzz renovating homeowners opted for decorating, with 72% of us giving our homes an aesthetic reboot, up from 67% the previous year.
In terms of bigger projects, we remained just as active, with 57% of respondents opting to renovate in 2019, the same figure as in the previous year.
As for which rooms or areas we focused on, it was neck and neck between the bedroom and bathroom at 29% each, while our living/family rooms and kitchens were very close behind, at 27% and 28% respectively.
What are Houzz users doing with their outside space?
Gen B have been up to doing the most work on their gardens (49%), but Gen Xers and Gen Ys were not far behind, both at 46%. However, when it comes to what each age group was focusing on, the differences are greater.
Gen B have been up to doing the most work on their gardens (49%), but Gen Xers and Gen Ys were not far behind, both at 46%. However, when it comes to what each age group was focusing on, the differences are greater.
Illustrating, perhaps, that gardening is a pleasure to enjoy when you have more time on your hands, 30% of Gen Bs and 27% of Gen Xs upgraded their beds and borders, while only 23% of Gen Ys did the same, as seen on this graph. However, that’s not to say Gen Ys don’t enjoy their gardens, too: 23% of them added a lawn, compared to 13% of Gen Bs and 16% of Gen Xs.
Elsewhere, Gen Y were most likely to add a deck (15%), Gen B were more likely to add a gazebo or pergola (8%).
Elsewhere, Gen Y were most likely to add a deck (15%), Gen B were more likely to add a gazebo or pergola (8%).
Are more extending or improving?
As in 2018, more of us in 2019 renovated within our home’s existing footprint (76%), while some 22% extended in some way.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
As in 2018, more of us in 2019 renovated within our home’s existing footprint (76%), while some 22% extended in some way.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
What were the motivations for different generations to renovate?
The report revealed that way more Gen Ys tended to be renovating because they’d just moved into a property (a huge 50% of them).
And, interestingly, it’s also Gen Ys who are most likely to have bought a new home (19% compared to just 9% and 10% in Gen B and Gen X respectively).
Gen Xers were more likely to pursue a project because they’d wanted to do it all along and finally had the financial means, than because they wanted to customise a recently purchased home (41% versus 36% respectively).
Gen Bs were more likely to get going on a project because they finally had the time (41%).
The report revealed that way more Gen Ys tended to be renovating because they’d just moved into a property (a huge 50% of them).
And, interestingly, it’s also Gen Ys who are most likely to have bought a new home (19% compared to just 9% and 10% in Gen B and Gen X respectively).
Gen Xers were more likely to pursue a project because they’d wanted to do it all along and finally had the financial means, than because they wanted to customise a recently purchased home (41% versus 36% respectively).
Gen Bs were more likely to get going on a project because they finally had the time (41%).
Which age group was most likely to buy ‘a project’ when purchasing a home?
It was Gen Y who were also more likely to have bought a home that needs substantial work (38%), while Gen B are more likely than the others to have bought a new build (6% compared to 4% in both other age groups).
But both Gen B and Gen X have often bought a home that needs moderate or mild renovation (47% and 50% respectively).
It was Gen Y who were also more likely to have bought a home that needs substantial work (38%), while Gen B are more likely than the others to have bought a new build (6% compared to 4% in both other age groups).
But both Gen B and Gen X have often bought a home that needs moderate or mild renovation (47% and 50% respectively).
As such, Gen Ys needed to do significant work to their homes, and were more likely to have had to upgrade chimneys, exterior doors, gutters, insulation, roofing and structural items than the other generations.
They are also more likely to have had to upgrade electrical items, heating, home automation, entertainment, plumbing, security and ventilation.
They are also more likely to have had to upgrade electrical items, heating, home automation, entertainment, plumbing, security and ventilation.
How long did the renovations take?
How long would you spend planning a home renovation? More than a year? Possibly. If you’ve recently undertaken one, you’ll know this stage can often take as long as, or even longer than, the work itself. According to our respondents, planning for a home renovation project took them between 5.7 and 12.9 months on average for different types of projects.
Some areas of the house took longer than others, with kitchens, living/family rooms and lofts requiring a lengthy 10 months of prep on average. Basements took the longest, with respondents saying on average these took more than 13 months before construction work started.
In terms of executing those plans, respondents said that construction across all types of renovations took between 1.9 (main bathroom) and 13.4 months (basement).
How long would you spend planning a home renovation? More than a year? Possibly. If you’ve recently undertaken one, you’ll know this stage can often take as long as, or even longer than, the work itself. According to our respondents, planning for a home renovation project took them between 5.7 and 12.9 months on average for different types of projects.
Some areas of the house took longer than others, with kitchens, living/family rooms and lofts requiring a lengthy 10 months of prep on average. Basements took the longest, with respondents saying on average these took more than 13 months before construction work started.
In terms of executing those plans, respondents said that construction across all types of renovations took between 1.9 (main bathroom) and 13.4 months (basement).
Tell us…
What kind of projects did you undertake in 2019? Share your stories and pictures in the Comments.
What kind of projects did you undertake in 2019? Share your stories and pictures in the Comments.
The study gathered information from 7,562 respondents in the UK; here, we’re focusing on the 3,416 of those who are both UK homeowners on Houzz and renovated their primary residence in 2019.