What Were Houzz Users Doing and Planning in Their Homes in 2020?
Which rooms were we updating, what was our motivation and how many challenges did we encounter along the way?
Curious to know which was the most popular room to renovate in 2020? Want to find out some of the biggest project challenges and the problems motivating us to update our spaces? Or are you, perhaps, keen to discover where most of us live? The 2021 UK Houzz & Home Study reveals insights into the types of neighbourhoods and homes Houzz users favour, as well as how and why homeowners were renovating their properties in 2020.
The annual Houzz & Home Study is the largest survey of residential renovating, building and decorating activity. The 2021 study included almost 3,000 respondents in the UK alone and was fielded between April and May 2021.
The annual Houzz & Home Study is the largest survey of residential renovating, building and decorating activity. The 2021 study included almost 3,000 respondents in the UK alone and was fielded between April and May 2021.
Which were the most popular rooms to renovate?
For those who decided to add some extra square footage to their properties, the kitchen was the most popular room to extend, with 36% of respondents saying they’d either renovated or added to their cookspace.
Living rooms were also in focus for upgrading or adding by 32% of respondents, followed by the bathroom, which was either added to or renovated by 31% of those surveyed.
For those who decided to add some extra square footage to their properties, the kitchen was the most popular room to extend, with 36% of respondents saying they’d either renovated or added to their cookspace.
Living rooms were also in focus for upgrading or adding by 32% of respondents, followed by the bathroom, which was either added to or renovated by 31% of those surveyed.
Why are kitchens so popular, and what were we upgrading?
The motivation for 43% of respondents who renovated their kitchens was to update the design and style of the room, while 31% were keen to upgrade the finishes in the space.
Changing the layout was high on the to-do list, with 64% saying this was something they did during their kitchen renovation. Second on the list was upgrading the plumbing, electrics and heating, with 63% telling us they’d undertaken this type of job.
The motivation for 43% of respondents who renovated their kitchens was to update the design and style of the room, while 31% were keen to upgrade the finishes in the space.
Changing the layout was high on the to-do list, with 64% saying this was something they did during their kitchen renovation. Second on the list was upgrading the plumbing, electrics and heating, with 63% telling us they’d undertaken this type of job.
What were we upgrading in our gardens?
The main motivations for outdoor renovations were the same as those for the kitchen, with 39% keen to update the style and 34% focused on upgrading outdated finishes.
The areas commanding most attention from respondents were the beds and borders (36%) and planters (31%). The most popular new outdoor structure was a shed or workshop, which was installed by 18% of respondents, up from 15% in 2019. Decking also rose in popularity, and was added by 16% of respondents, up from 12% in 2019.
The main motivations for outdoor renovations were the same as those for the kitchen, with 39% keen to update the style and 34% focused on upgrading outdated finishes.
The areas commanding most attention from respondents were the beds and borders (36%) and planters (31%). The most popular new outdoor structure was a shed or workshop, which was installed by 18% of respondents, up from 15% in 2019. Decking also rose in popularity, and was added by 16% of respondents, up from 12% in 2019.
What motivated us to renovate?
For a large number of younger homeowners, the reason for making home improvements was because they’d recently moved into a new property. In fact, 43% of Generation Y respondents said this was their motivation for renovating in 2020.
For all generations, however, time and money were a motivating factor for renovating in 2020. 37% of respondents said they’d wanted to renovate all along and finally had the time, while 36% said they finally had the financial means.
For a large number of younger homeowners, the reason for making home improvements was because they’d recently moved into a new property. In fact, 43% of Generation Y respondents said this was their motivation for renovating in 2020.
For all generations, however, time and money were a motivating factor for renovating in 2020. 37% of respondents said they’d wanted to renovate all along and finally had the time, while 36% said they finally had the financial means.
What were our biggest challenges during a project?
For all generations, one of the biggest challenges during their renovation was finding a suitable service provider, with 35% of respondents citing this as one of the top three challenges while making home improvements in 2020.
Finding the right products and materials was also a challenge for 33% of respondents. Staying on budget for all ages, however, was less of an issue than in previous years; 18% of all respondents cited this as major challenge in 2020, as opposed to 35% in 2018.
For all generations, one of the biggest challenges during their renovation was finding a suitable service provider, with 35% of respondents citing this as one of the top three challenges while making home improvements in 2020.
Finding the right products and materials was also a challenge for 33% of respondents. Staying on budget for all ages, however, was less of an issue than in previous years; 18% of all respondents cited this as major challenge in 2020, as opposed to 35% in 2018.
Where do we live?
Whether we live in the countryside, city or somewhere in between, our choice seems to depend on our age, according to our study.
For instance, 42% of those respondents aged between 25 and 39 (Generation Y) live in an urban environment, as opposed to 14% of those aged between 55 and 74 (Generation B). On the other hand, 53% of Generation B respondents live in rural areas, while only 17% of Generation Y do so.
Generation X (aged 40-54), however, are more evenly distributed, with 37% living in urban areas, 41% in suburban areas and 22% in rural areas.
Whether we live in the countryside, city or somewhere in between, our choice seems to depend on our age, according to our study.
For instance, 42% of those respondents aged between 25 and 39 (Generation Y) live in an urban environment, as opposed to 14% of those aged between 55 and 74 (Generation B). On the other hand, 53% of Generation B respondents live in rural areas, while only 17% of Generation Y do so.
Generation X (aged 40-54), however, are more evenly distributed, with 37% living in urban areas, 41% in suburban areas and 22% in rural areas.
Plans have changed for many of our respondents, though, as Generation Y seem more keen on moving to a rural area in the future. 33% of those aged between 25 and 39 who plan to move would like to swap their urban neighbourhood for a rural one, and 67% plan to move from a suburban area to a countryside location.
Generation X, however, seem happy where they are, with 43% of those planning to move wanting to relocate from an urban to an urban area and 29% keen to move from a suburban to a suburban area.
Tell us…
What kind of projects did you undertake in 2020? Share your stories and pictures in the Comments.
Generation X, however, seem happy where they are, with 43% of those planning to move wanting to relocate from an urban to an urban area and 29% keen to move from a suburban to a suburban area.
Tell us…
What kind of projects did you undertake in 2020? Share your stories and pictures in the Comments.
For many of us, renovating within the home’s existing footprint was high on the list of priorities, with 72% of respondents telling us they’d upgraded home features such as rooms, roofing and heating.
Renovating outdoors was popular, with 60% of respondents saying they’d upgraded outdoor grounds, systems or structures in 2020, up from 47% in 2019.
There was also a focus on minor repairs, such as fixing cracks and leaks. This was particularly the case for Generation Y, with 68% saying they’d carried out those particular upgrades in 2020, as opposed to 56% of Generation X and 54% of Generation B respondents.