Why are home "improvement" projects so trendy now?

Probably a lot of it is HGTV. And probably because home prices have skyrocketed, so people are renovating instead of moving.

People, especially Millennials, after not being taught any DIY skills by their self-absorbed boomer parents, have lived through an age of droning consumerism. Now, they just want to make things themselves.

In my middle class neighborhood, a lot of rich people from the city are buying summer homes, remodeling them, tearing them down and/or putting in pools. Housing stock is low so buying an remodeling seems to be the thing.

I agree with @chyna. HGTV, sure…but it generally cheaper to remodel than buy a new(er) home.

Eighteen years ago, when we needed more space, it was significantly cheaper to put on a second floor than buy something the same size, ultimately.

People are home more, now that they are WFH. They see many features that need upgrading since they are spending more time at home. Also, features in the home are used more now that people are home, so those items are wearing out sooner than before.

Recipe for a perfect DIY Explosion

add some HomeDepot and Lowes stores in the late 80’s early 90’s for providing easy access to much that is needed.
Add a few shows like This Old House to get people thinking
Dice up a large bunch of HGTV Network shows
Season it with YouTube DIY Videos
Then add a Pandemic like Covid with people being home staring at their walls with extra thoughts, time and desire.

Stir in a big pot
Add some $$$$$

Perfect recipe!!
Beware the recipe may end up as a disaster if there is no capability included

Those houses from the 1970s are getting old. A “mid-century modern” is now over 60 years pld, those suburban housing developments from the 1960s are in need of a lot of modernization.

They want their cabinets redone, they want to modernize the layout of the house, and they want new bathrooms with modern fixtures.

In 1990 my ex and I bought a house built in 1962, it was sold as “updated” But we still had to replace all the thin single pane aluminum framed windows.

On top of that, with the housing crunch driving prices through the roof everrywhere, it is cheape for people to remodel.

@zenvelo is right. Those old houses are old and people are trying to make them better.

Old houses? The original parts of my house are from the 1920s but I agree with the points made.

I have several theories. One is HGTV, This Old House, other channels, social media like Instgram are showing us that we can do it cheaply, DIY, easily. Two is that trends change quickly (so the companies can capitalize) and people want the latest, trendiest (colors, finishes, fabrics, etc.).

When I was little, my grandparents and their friends weren’t replacing kitchens and living room furniture every ten years, like people do now. Affluent friends and family don’t rip out their kitchens every ten years. They have what they have, it’s good and it stays.

Some above have mentioned the pandemic. This trend toward remodeling started before the pandemic. I think it started with This Old House and then got bigger with Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Another trend is for young couples to buy an old (Victorian era) house that’s in crappy condition, remodel it and post it all on social media. I heard there’s going to be a new HGTV show about the same.

Houses from the ‘70’s are due for a first, second, or third renovation, or are being torn down to build new. Some are being added on to, because people work from home more now and need an office space. Also, people are accustomed to larger houses and more garage space.

Renovating tends to hit a community of houses in cycles. Houses built in the 70’s, a lot of them might have renovated in the 90’s. The next cycle would start around 2010’s.

About eight years ago began a shift back to white kitchens and from beige to grey neutrals, which made a lot of houses look very dated. Actually, some houses had that more Tuscan yellowish color with brown countertops, and that really is looking old. Although, most 70’s homes would not really go with that decor.

Also, needing new appliance can sometimes prompt a kitchen renovation.

There is a lot of movement in the last few years in the US, and new owners often make changes to make the house their own.

Just some observations:
Some home improvement projects really are utilitarian. Such as adding space.
But others are just god-awful trends, such as the “all gray” trend, or the “let’s paint our natural wood with barnyard white paint” trend. Or the “Let’s knock a wall down for more open space” trend.
Also, modern fixtures (the ones sold at Home Depot and Lowes) mostly all break within a year. Seriously. I’m not exaggerating. Whereas the fixtures built into your house are meant to last 50 years, if not a lifetime.
I do understand if a house is falling apart or is purchased as a “fixer upper” then obviously a home improvement project is unavoidable.

The pandemic caused people to work from home. They are also setting up home gyms.
Skyrocketing home costs are also affecting this. People may have bought a house figuring they would buy a better place in 5 or 10 years. Now they have to make what they have work.

This is us. 1973 home that’s all original, green laminate kitchen, 70’s fancy accents, wall to wall carpet, built in padded card table-it’s wild.
Now I wfh I’ve noticed random improvements are needed but alas prices and lack of workers has delayed some progress, like lumber prices.
Plus being home means workers can be supervised without having to use vacation time.
Additionally I love HGTV. :)

^^My husband works for a company that makes building materials, lumber, and their selling price is down 40% from last year. The end user is getting shafted if they are still being charged the same high prices. Some expenses inbetween production and the end users might be up a little, like gas for transportation, but not that much.

@JLeslie I’ll mention that to my contractor. We’ll try again this year. Thanks!

@KNOWITALL I’m interested what he says. No rush in telling me. His price maybe is still very high? There are a lot of people in between production and how he purchases probably.

@JLeslie No answer yet. His secretary said I could call Lowes and see. Haha!

@KNOWITALL I don’t know if there is a company between the manufacturer and Lowe’s? I could ask my husband regarding his company.

I do remember when we replaced our floor last year in April because our builders went chip on us.

If you’re looking for flooring or other stuff, always check Costco.com, @KNOWITALL. Most things on their website, you don’t have to be a member to purchase.

I just bought Mohawk luxury plank vinyl flooring from Costco (in store) a few weeks ago. They also have (in store and online), toilets, bidets, lighting (exterior and interior), all kinds of stuff.

Because it’s a good trend to have in the first place. I hope it goes on and on. Thank HGTV if indeed they precipitated said trend. Humans do well living in clean and beautiful places.

@jca2 I will do that, thanks!

@mazingerz88 , the trend has resulted in a situation where you hear noise 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in the suburbs. Constant power tools. What kind of life is that?
And it doesn’t take remodeling to make a place clean.
And all that work to have an all-gray open space interior results in an uglier place.

@Kraigmo I like the grey trend. My generation grew up with wood everywhere!
You’re right on the noise, my neighborhood is the first in our city so everyone is always doing something, myself included. Very loud in summer and fall.

Grey is starting to go out of style.

^If so, too bad. My whole interior is mostly gray, which I love. People generally can’t afford to change up appliances, bathrooms or kitchen cabinets because a color is going out of style. That’s why it’s usually around 20 years or more before anyone updates their house.

@chyna I totally agree that the trend does not matter. All that matters is what the individual likes in their home. My house has been beige and brown throughout this big trend of white kitchens and grey everything. I did have a white kitchen and grey carpet in my first house many years ago.

I like so many types of decor and color combinations. I never liked yellow, that I have always been consistent on. It’s fine when it is in a pattern, but significant yellow undertones in beige or yellow walls, never my thing.

I think most people pay attention to trends when they are house hunting or looking to renovate. Them they start to become more aware of what is currently in the marketplace. Sometimes if you love something off trend it can be difficult to find.

I have never been in someone’s house and thought, wow, their house is so dated, I could care less, and doesn’t even occur to me. I am there to see them not their house. If their house is gorgeous, I will take notice, but if it is nothing terribly special it won’t even register, it is not important.