Anyone who has ever picked up a paintbrush can tell you that not all DIY projects are created equal. For example, decorating pillowcases is a much more achievable project than installing a new light fixture. DIY (Do It Yourself) has become an abbreviation for crafts and home improvement projects of all shapes and sizes, but as anyone who has started (and abandoned) an ambitious DIY project knows, the label Just sticking it on something won't magically make you successful. Things you can actually do yourself.
Still, as DIY continues to grow in popularity, medium-sized home improvement projects are increasingly being abandoned. Look at home improvement stores and real estate shows and you'll find partially demolished sheds, walls that have had wallpaper removed but not repainted, and doors that won't close completely after trying to replace wonky hardware. can do.
We've seen a lot of these half-baked projects at Better Homes & Gardens. I have also guided many homeowners and renters through their own home improvement projects. Still, there's more to understand about how and why people start and finish (or often don't finish) their DIY projects. That's why we're proud to present the first-ever BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report.
The BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report explores the motivations, emotions, and hurdles DIY users face today. In our report, we explore why some people don't try DIY in the first place, why they abandon projects before they're complete, what colors they're bringing to their homes with upgrades, and which spaces they're most excited about. We are analyzing this in detail. Update.
Read on for some of the most interesting findings from our research, and some insights that might inspire you to do your next DIY.
People get scared before they even start a project
If FOMO (fear of missing out) is the social media specter of our time, FOMU (fear of failure) is the boogeyman that lurks at the beginning of every DIY. Our researchers behind the BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report coined this term to encapsulate the fear and uncertainty faced when starting a home improvement project.
What is FOMU (fear of confusion)?
Avoid DIY for fear of making mistakes or costly or dangerous mistakes.
According to our research, 70% of people admit to hiring a professional rather than completing a project themselves for fear of ruining it. 25% of people say they aren't confident they can do it right, 23% are afraid they'll make a costly mistake if they do it themselves, and 22% are afraid of the potential say they are worried about dangerous outcomes (such as flooding or flooding). electrical fire) They are working on the project themselves.
But that doesn't mean people aren't willing to do some of these projects themselves: Renovating an entire room, wall-mounting a TV, laying new floors, and re-tiling a bathroom were among the top projects respondents secretly wish they could do themselves.
Design by Grace Canaan
With the fear of messing up so pervasive, it's no surprise that people prefer projects that they can afford to mess up the most – projects that require the least amount of effort and have the most impact. (Obviously, cost-effectiveness is the key factor here.) Here are the home improvement tasks that people seem to have the most fun doing themselves.
Creating Holiday DecorationsCreating Wall ArtReplacing Door KnobsPaintingsUpgrading Furniture
Of course, on the other side of this list are projects that people are happy to leave to the professionals.
Rewiring electrical wiring Replacing windows Installing a new toilet Laying new flooring Re-tiling the bathroom
While FOMU is certainly a good reason to skip DIY (especially for projects where failure could have costly or dangerous consequences), it doesn't keep you away from it completely. There are many reasons why you might want to DIY a project instead of hiring a professional. Examples include saving money, enjoying the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from successfully completing a project, and taking on a challenge. People say they feel a sense of accomplishment, pride, and happiness after completing a DIY project, but if you scare FOMU, you're missing out on those benefits.
Almost everyone regrets starting the project
It's a virtually universal experience. You decide to start a project. (Let's say you're repainting your bedroom.) Select and purchase paint and supplies. You put away all your belongings. You're the one preparing the space (don't skip the painter's tape!). you start painting. You might get tired after clearing a wall or two. It's late, the furniture and belongings are either in the center of the room or covered with cloth, and the project is only half finished. MPRS: Introducing mid-project regret syndrome.
What is MPRS (Project Regret Syndrome)?
That feeling you get when you lose momentum halfway through a DIY project.
According to the BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report, 89% of people have experienced MPRS, and that number rises to 94% for Millennials and 95% for Gen Z. Additionally, 74% have projects that are currently abandoned after progress was halted by MPRS.
Projects taking longer than expected, DIY user fatigue, and unexpected costs incurred during a project are all major causes of MPRS. If you feel stressed, fatigued, or bored with a project, your motivation will decrease and the project may not be completed.
Further findings from the BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report
Although both FOMU and MPRS can derail projects or prevent them from being completed, people still have a long list of upcoming projects they want to try to upgrade their homes.
According to participants, adding décor, accents, and paintings are a top priority in nearly every room, and small changes like replacing hardware and fixtures and upgrading furniture are also ways people want to update their spaces. There's another way. People are also very conscious about which rooms they want to change the most. First the bathroom, then the living room, master bedroom, backyard, and kitchen.
Design by Grace Canaan
Updating your space, especially with the right colors, is key to creating a positive environment. Respondents said that the most important role of color in the home is to create a relaxing and peaceful environment. (Choosing the right calming paint colors certainly helps with that.) And choosing paint colors is very subjective, and while many people are making their homes more colorful, neutral colors are still very popular. 65% of survey respondents said they prefer neutral, minimalist homes over colorful, maximalist homes, and one in four avoid bright colors altogether. By the way, remember what we said about subjectivity? One in five said that bright colors bring excitement to their home.
methodology
The BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report includes findings from a 20-person invitation-only forum and validated against a survey of nearly 2,000 DIY enthusiasts. Study participants must be at least partially responsible for both the DIY project and their home interior design choices, and must have completed at least one of their DIY projects within the past 12 months there is.