DIY home improvement projects in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
The DIY and home improvement markets, as well as DIY home improvement projects, have a strong presence in the United States. Working on such projects by yourself or with family and friends can not only be a hobby, but also a way to save money when dealing with home improvement projects that are not too complex. For companies in DIY and home improvement retail, however, the activity is a way to make money: home centers alone registered sales to the estimated amount of over 337 billion U.S. dollars in 2021 alone. Lumberyards and hardware stores sales combined made up about 200 billion U.S. dollars that same year.
There are several positive effects to tackling home improvement projects by yourself. One of the most obvious reasons is perhaps feeling better about your own home and living in it. Taking the step towards DIY home improvement can also be a way towards learning new skills or even finding a new profession. A lot of DIY-related content can be found online, including step-by-step tutorials in the most diverse home improvement areas. Such content is sometimes provided by small or prominent companies in the sector themselves, seeing as they nowadays also have a strong internet presence. As of 2020, for instance, nearly 80 percent of toys, hobby, and DIY stores in the United States had an Instagram profile. Last but not least, DIY home projects might also increase a home’s value, which would be of help when trying to sell it.
As mentioned above, kitchen remodels are not as popular as interior painting or bathroom remodels, and ranked lower than even new flooring and landscaping. Still, it represents a significant share of home improvement projects, some of which can even be more layman-friendly than bathroom remodel projects. One possibility, for instance, is upgrading kitchen appliances, with refrigerator/freezers faring well as the leading kitchen appliance upgrades in 2021/2022. Here, differently from bathroom remodels, the preferred esthetic direction is transitional, not modern.
There are several positive effects to tackling home improvement projects by yourself. One of the most obvious reasons is perhaps feeling better about your own home and living in it. Taking the step towards DIY home improvement can also be a way towards learning new skills or even finding a new profession. A lot of DIY-related content can be found online, including step-by-step tutorials in the most diverse home improvement areas. Such content is sometimes provided by small or prominent companies in the sector themselves, seeing as they nowadays also have a strong internet presence. As of 2020, for instance, nearly 80 percent of toys, hobby, and DIY stores in the United States had an Instagram profile. Last but not least, DIY home projects might also increase a home’s value, which would be of help when trying to sell it.
Popular projects
According to a survey conducted in 2020, the most common home service project according to the respondents was interior painting. Bathroom remodeling was a close second, with 31 percent, while kitchen remodels did not rank as well. When it comes to master bathroom changes, in 2021, upgraded systems and an increased shower size were the two major changes made. That same year, the favored style for these renovations was modern, while farmhouse was the least popular esthetic.As mentioned above, kitchen remodels are not as popular as interior painting or bathroom remodels, and ranked lower than even new flooring and landscaping. Still, it represents a significant share of home improvement projects, some of which can even be more layman-friendly than bathroom remodel projects. One possibility, for instance, is upgrading kitchen appliances, with refrigerator/freezers faring well as the leading kitchen appliance upgrades in 2021/2022. Here, differently from bathroom remodels, the preferred esthetic direction is transitional, not modern.
