Kate Watson-Smyth and Pilkington discuss how homeowners are choosing to improve rather than move

On Friday 13th January, Pilkington collaborated with award-winning homes and interiors blogger, renovation expert and journalist, Kate Watson-Smyth in a series of radio interviews to discuss the changing trends in home renovation.

During her radio day, Kate explored research findings collected by Pilkington in a survey of 1,000 UK homeowners. The results indicated that 66% of British homeowners have made improvements to the home in the last five years, with 70% having renovated in the last year alone.

Additionally, in the last 12 months, home owners have already spent closer to £7,500, indicating that they’re more passionate than ever about home improvements.

So what is it that has homeowners so determined to adapt their living space? Creating more light – something householders often use modern glazing to achieve – is a key motivation, something one in eight (13%) say is in their top five reasons for renovating.

Carrying out repairs or essential maintenance (59%), adding value to the property (41%), weatherproofing (23%) and creating more space (22%) also appear on the list of motives for carrying out home renovation. 

And what exactly are homeowners investing in? Almost one in ten (9%) are lusting after a glass box extension – and with modern glazing being as energy efficient as brick, conservatories and orangeries can now be utilised all year round to add light and space to the home.

Other things homeowners would love to invest in are granite worktops (29%), built in appliances (18%), a kitchen island (16%), or a boiling water tap (16%).

But despite ambitious aspirations, 70 per cent of homeowners say they have started but never quite completed their improvement to-do lists. Women have carried out more home improvements than men over the last five years, but are more likely to slip behind schedule.

Those in the South East are likely to spend the most on a home improvement project – but also top the list of those never completing, closely followed by Wales and those in the East.

It seems the majority of homeowners would do well to make a New Year’s resolution out of carrying their home improvement projects through to completion. 

If you’d like to listen to Kate’s interview, click here