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 DIYers face today. Our report delves into why some never try DIY in the first place, why they abandon projects before they're completed, what colors they're looking to incorporate into their homes with upgrades, and even which spaces they're most excited about. 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 specter of modern social media, FOMU (fear of failing) is the demon that lurks at the start of any DIY endeavor. Researchers for the BHG 2024 DIY Trends Report coined the term to encapsulate the anxiety and uncertainty that can be felt 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 that they would hire a professional to complete a project instead of doing it themselves due to fear of failure. 25% of people don't believe they can get it right, 23% of people are worried they'll make costly mistakes if they do it themselves, and 22% of people don't think they can do the project themselves. I'm concerned that taking on a project could have dangerous consequences, such as flooding or electrical fires.
That doesn't mean people don't want However, you cannot do some of these projects yourself. The top projects respondents secretly want to do themselves are renovating a whole room, hanging a TV on the wall, laying new flooring and retiling a bathroom.
With the fear of messing up being so pervasive, it’s no wonder people most like to do projects they can. I can afford it What ruins things, and what gives you the most bang for your buck with the least amount of effort. (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 decorations
- creating wall art
- doorknob replacement
- painting
- furniture upgrades
Of course, on the other side of this list are projects that people are happy to leave to the professionals.
- electrical rewiring
- window replacement
- installing a new toilet
- We will lay new flooring
- retile 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.
Most people regret 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 BHG’s 2024 DIY Trends Report, 89% of people have experienced an MPRS, with that number rising to 94% for Millennials and 95% for Gen Z. 74% even have projects that now sit abandoned after an MPRS halted progress.
Projects taking longer than expected, DIYers feeling fatigued, and unexpected costs occurring during a project are all major causes of MPRS. Feeling stressed, fatigued, or bored with a project can reduce motivation and lead to the project not being 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.
Updating your space, especially using the right colors, is the key to creating a positive environment. Respondents said that the most important role of color in their home is to create a relaxing and peaceful environment. (Choosing the right calming paint color certainly helps with that.) And choosing paint colors is highly subjective, and many people prefer to make their homes more colorful. On the other hand, neutral colors are still very popular. 65% of survey respondents said: One in four she avoids bright colors completely, preferring a neutral, minimalist home to a colorful, maximalist one. By the way, remember what we said about subjectivity? 1 in 5 people say 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.