These Areas of the UK are Investing in Home Improvements the Most

Homeowners all over the UK are constantly investing in their homes. Whether it’s minor repairs or major renovations, the home improvement market is booming.

This consistent spending creates a very dynamic market with high chances of success for trades and construction professionals. But which areas of the UK are investing in home improvements the most, and what does this mean for professionals in the trades industry?

This article will provide comprehensive and detailed answers to these questions, with statistical data to support each claim.

National Snapshot of Home Improvement Spend

The home improvements UK market is a substantial sector. In fact, the UK’s home improvement market was valued at £11.3 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach £16.67 billion by 2033, according to Hillary’s UK Home Renovation Trends and Statistics Report of 2025.

This is an expected rise of almost half (+48.8%) in just nine years. The report also states that almost seven million UK homeowners intend to renovate their homes by 2027, with an average spend of £14,000 per project, so this pattern of growth looks set to continue way into the future.

The report goes on to provide some more astonishing statistics. For example, by 2030, annual sales for DIY and decorating in the UK could reach £30.8 billion. This represents a rise of 3.4% in the space of six years. Additionally, sales figures for flooring grew by almost three-quarters (+72.1%) between 2015 and 2025.

According to data on Pinterest, new bathrooms are one of the most popular home renovations for 2025, with 89,000 pins across 276 unique boards. Google Trends data also shows that new windows were one of the most commonly searched home renovations in 2024, with an average of 73.71 monthly searches.

Additionally, the average cost of renovating a typical 3-bedroom house in the UK in 2024 was £76,690. This further shows how big the home renovation market is in the UK.

Regional Spending Comparisons

Home improvement spending varies significantly across different regions of the UK, reflecting diverse economic conditions and various housing market dynamics. Some regions lead in overall home improvement spending, while others show a higher proportional commitment to home upgrades.

According to the data in Hillary’s UK Home Renovation Trends and Statistics Report of 2025, those located in the South East tend to spend the most on home improvements, with an average weekly spend of £58.80.

This is roughly 2.5 times more than the average homeowner in Northern Ireland, who typically spent £22 per week on home improvements in 2022-2023.

The research also shows that homeowners in Wales spend less than a third (30.75%) of their weekly housing expenditure on home improvements. This is the largest percentage in all of the UK regions. This number contrasts with people living in the capital, as they spend the lowest proportion of their weekly housing expenditure on home improvements – around one seventh (14.11%).

This means that Welsh homeowners are proportionally spending more than double on improving their properties compared to people based in London. However, the difference in their average weekly housing expenditure as a whole is only around two-fifths (37.9%).

So, those in London are typically spending £270 per week on their homes compared to £184 per week in Wales, due to the economic differences between these regions.

Where Spotlights Are Shining

Beyond the previous and current spending trends, understanding the future of home improvement expenditure is also key.

Data in a recent report by Aviva claims that almost seven million homeowners plan to renovate their homes within the next two years, and the average spend is expected to be £14,000 per household.

This national data can then be broken down into the regions that are intending to do the most home renovations in the coming years.

A recent home improvement survey by SupaLite identified Wales (58%) and Yorkshire and Humber (48%) as the regions where homeowners are most likely to be planning home improvements in 2025.

Northern Ireland ranked as the least likely to be carrying out home improvements at 32%. This emphasises the regional differences in home improvement activities.

The high numbers of national home improvements are also shaped by regional priorities.

For example, the Aviva Report states that homeowners planning renovations in the West Midlands place the highest priority on working from home arrangements, with 26% of homeowners in this region planning to install a home office.

This is a significant 11 percentage points higher than the national average. This highlights a continued demand for adaptable living spaces in this region.

In contrast, homeowners looking to renovate their properties in London are most interested in adding more space, with a quarter (25%) planning to extend the overall size of their property. This is four percentage points above the national average.

Additionally, 26% of London homeowners intend to add another bathroom, toilet, or shower room. This is a nine-point increase compared to the national average of 17%. This push for larger and more functional spaces in London is often driven by the need to accommodate relatives and multigenerational living.

Meanwhile, Scottish homeowners are more focused on making their homes appear more beautiful, with three-fifths (61%) planning renovations to enhance the appearance of their properties, surpassing the national average by seven percentage points. This highlights a regional emphasis on aesthetic upgrades and interior design projects.

Beyond the specific room functions or aesthetics, energy efficiency still remains a very strong motivator nationwide. More than half (56%) of homeowners surveyed by Aviva reported making energy efficiency improvements within the last two years, and over half of those who hadn’t were planning to do so.

Younger homeowners, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are leading this charge, with 86% having focused on improving energy efficiency in their homes within the past two years. This indicates a consistent national trend and highlights a need for tradespeople in the energy-efficiency field across the nation.

What’s Driving These Regional Trends

There are several factors that are driving these regional home renovation spending differences, from economic differences to property characteristics. The main things driving the differences are affordability, savings ratios, and green refurbishments.

• Affordability: In areas with high house prices, spending on improvements often offers better value than moving. Renovating an existing property can be a more financially viable option for homeowners who want to enhance their living space without incurring the significant costs of relocating.
• Savings Ratios: According to theONS Development of regional household expenditure measures report, London boasts a high household saving ratio of 24.1%, while Wales actually reported a negative savings ratio of 5.4% in 2022. This suggests that, rather than building up savings, Welsh homeowners are actively investing their money (or incurring debt) into physical home improvements.
• Green Refurbishments: A notable trend across the UK is the increasing focus on energy efficiency. Recent data indicate that solar panel installations are booming. Barbour ABI’s Home Improvement Index highlights a humongous increase of 223% in the installations of solar panels over just the past five years alone. This drive towards sustainable living and lower energy is likely influencing renovation decisions across all regions, particularly where government incentives or local initiatives are available.

Labour & Market Impacts

The huge and demanding home improvement market has a big impact on the trades industry. Within the industry, there is clearly consistent demand and opportunities for growth.

According to Hillary’s UK Home Renovation Trends and Statistics Report of 2025, as of 2024, the revenue of UK decorating and DIY retailers totalled approximately £8.82 billion for the year.

The report also states that this follows a general upward trajectory over the previous 16 years, rising from £6.18 billion in 2008 to a peak of £9.47 billion in 2020, with minor fluctuations in between.

According to Barbour ABI’s Home Improvement Index 2024, in 2021-2022, households spent £60 billion on repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) of the housing stock.

Three-quarters was spent on alterations and improvements, and around £40 billion of the overall RMI work was contracted out. This solidifies the immense value of skilled tradespeople in this sector, and the contractor market in the UK is continually booming.

Looking ahead, RMI spending and output are projected to grow by 3.0% in 2025 and 2.8% in 2026, according to the government’s Construction Building Materials Commentary, June 2025.

Case Study Highlights

With 58% of homeowners planning improvements and a high proportional spend, Wales is not just a general hotspot – it is a leader in the green revolution.

According to The MCS Foundation, Wales home upgrades data shows that the region has seen a record year for renewable installations, with over 100,000 Welsh homes and businesses now having certified renewable energy systems.

In 2023 alone, there were 14,730 MCS-certified solar panel installations and a remarkable 147% increase in certified heat pump installations between 2022 and 2023.

Approximately 7.5% of Welsh households now have solar panels, according to The Eco Experts. This means that Wales is a leader in the uptake of renewables per household in the UK.

This points to a significant opportunity for trades specialising in renewable energy solutions, insulation, and general energy efficiency upgrades, particularly given the Welsh Government schemes like the Warm Homes Nest scheme, which has provided over 60,000 households with free home energy improvements that can help homeowners lower their energy bills and improve their health and wellbeing.

Ranking high on the SupaLite Home Improvements Survey, with 48% of homeowners planning home improvements, Yorkshire and Humber shows a strong appetite for enhancing living spaces. According to Property Industry Eye, analysis from Savills noted that the biggest increase in home improvement consents in the year to September 2021, after the North East, was in Yorkshire and Humber, with a 45% increase compared to the previous year.

This surge suggests a regional focus on extensions, loft conversions and reconfiguring layouts to maximise existing property footprints. This is mostly driven by factors such as increased remote working and a desire for more adaptable homes. Trades involved in structural work, carpentry, and interior remodelling will find ample opportunities here.

Outlook & Opportunities

The home improvement market in the UK continues to remain a very vibrant, diverse, and growing sector, and it presents some significant opportunities for trades and construction professionals.

The booming interest in greener upgrades such as insulation and solar panel installations indicates a surge in energy-efficient retrofits.

This is a key area where skilled tradespeople can find substantial demand. Furthermore, the data suggests that focusing trade efforts in Wales, the South East, and Yorkshire and Humber could be particularly rewarding, as these regions show strong current spending or future intent for home improvements.

Despite the popularity of DIY, contract-based work still accounts for the majority of home improvement expenditure, with roughly £40 billion outsourced annually, according to Barbour ABI’s Home Improvement Index 2024. This is compared to the DIY sector’s £8.82 billion market, as reported in Hillary’s UK Home Renovation Trends and Statistics Report of 2025.

This shows that, while DIY stores play a role, the expertise and labour of skilled tradespeople remain indispensable.

Professionals who can balance both aspects of the market – potentially by offering services that complement DIY efforts or by specialising in larger, more complex projects – are well-positioned for success.