Introduction to the Trends Report 2021
A guide to the year’s biggest trends in renovation and home design
In this year’s Home Improvement Trends Report, we start by taking a look back at 2020 to see how the year that no one expected has impacted our relationships with our homes.
From the rise of the home office, to the home improvements buyers now value the most – we’ve analysed more than 500,000 jobs on Rated People, and spoken to thousands of homeowners across the UK to uncover the renovation and interior design trends that will dominate 2021 and beyond.
Read the full Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2021, and to receive more great home improvement tips and inspiration, sign up to our monthly newsletter – keep scrolling and a form will appear.
If you’re looking to sell your home in 2021, or you’re just curious about ways to maximise space or update the design – you can find local builders and other tradespeople right here on Rated People. If you enjoy our report, don’t forget to share it with friends on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
Home improvement trends 2021
1. The race for space
The pandemic has changed UK homeowners’ priorities when it comes to what we want from our homes. Lots of us want to add space to our homes, and jobs such as building an extension, adding bespoke storage and knocking walls down to create an open plan, multi-functional space are amongst the top jobs planned.
Our plans to optimise space aren’t limited to our existing properties either; 25% of UK residents want to move to a bigger property in the next year, whilst 29% want to move to a property that has more outdoor space.
Potential buyers are willing to cough up the cash for a home that has the extra space, too. Features promising privacy add the most value to your property, with homeowners expecting to pay around £14,000 more for a self-contained annex. Smaller upgrades are also highly desired – a vegetable patch could get you over £6,000 more for your home.
2. Home is where the home office is
55% of the UK worked from home in 2020, but many of our home office set-ups didn’t inspire productivity. 41% of those working from home told us they didn’t have a proper desk, and 24% said they were embarrassed by their background on video calls. So, it’s no surprise that 38% of us want to improve our home offices in 2021.
The number of ‘home office’ jobs posted on Rated People more than doubled in 2020 and 43% of UK residents say they plan to work from home more than they did before (even if COVID-19 were to completely disappear), so we’re definitely expecting this trend to continue into 2021 and beyond.
When it comes to home office design, our analysis of home offices on Instagram reveals that Scandi styling was increasingly popular in 2020, and neutral colours, house plants and simple furniture are shaping up to be key trends for 2021.
3. Upping the eco
57% of UK residents told us they wanted to be more eco-friendly in 2021 – whether that’s recycling more, eating less meat, or making home improvements to make our homes more eco-friendly or more energy-efficient.
Government initiatives such as the Green Homes Grant are helping homeowners to improve their homes in different ways, and in 2020, uPVC windows and doors, roof insulation and solar panel installation were amongst the top 15 eco jobs posted on Rated People. This year, another 4% of the UK say they plan to apply for the Green Homes Grant, to help them complete green upgrades.
3. Gorgeous gardens
Our gardens were a sanctuary for many of us in 2020. 39% of us got more into gardening during lockdown, and 64% of UK residents now say they wouldn’t buy a home if it didn’t have any outside space.
Many of the top gardening jobs completed in 2020 also made their way onto gardening wish lists for 2021. 47% of UK residents are planning improvements for their gardens this year, and the top jobs that gardeners are keen to tackle are: planting new flowers and trees, creating a vegetable patch; and installing a new shed, fencing or external lighting.
The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2021We’ve analysed over 500,000 jobs posted on Rated People, spoken to thousands of UK homeowners, trawled through Google search data and studied over 100 Instagram posts to deliver the latest home improvement trends right into your hands. From beautiful interiors to innovative renovations, discover some of the best ways to upgrade your home in our new guide. |
What are your home improvement goals for 2021? Whether you’re planning a big renovation or smaller upgrades, share your ideas with us on our social media:
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The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2021We’ve analysed over 500,000 jobs posted on Rated People, spoken to thousands of UK homeowners, trawled through Google search data and studied over 100 Instagram posts to deliver the latest home improvement trends right into your hands. From beautiful interiors to innovative renovations, discover some of the best ways to upgrade your home in our new guide. |
