Research conducted by the home improvement company Great Day Improvements reveals that younger homeowners are the largest demographic making home renovations, with 72% of respondents completing a project in the past year. Personalization and aesthetics were the leading priorities among this age group, while older homeowners favored comfort and functional upgrades (namely bathroom upgrades), highlighting the shifting priorities among homeowners as they age.

The budgets that homeowners are able to spend on these upgrades also fluctuate based on age group. Homeowners within the ages 30-44 show a larger range of intended spending, which can include small updates to more significant $20,000–$35,000 projects. Those aged 45-60 are more likely to spend higher amounts on major renovations, with 15% planning to spend $50,000 or more, the highest of any group. Homeowners aged 60 and older more frequently stay within the under-$10,000 range and primarily focus on comfort and maintenance-based enhancements.

Other key takeaways from the 2026 Home Renovation Report

In tracking renovation trends, painting continues to be the most popular upgrade, being the top choice among respondents who have completed projects (43%) and are planning projects (36%). Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) have completed projects in the past year, with outdoor living (39%), bathroom remodels (38%), and landscaping (34%) being the top choices outside of painting.

Another growing trend is the blending of outdoor and indoor spaces with the addition of features such as porch coverings, deck coverings, and sunrooms. These types of upgrades were some of the most commonly completed projects of the past year (39%). Additionally, 31% of respondents reported plans for outdoor living projects heading into the new year.

When examining key motivators for completing home renovations, resale value was found to be a less significant motivator, at only 8%, compared to aesthetics (19%) and comfort/livability (18%). This is in line with the growing desire from homeowners to craft a home that reflects their personalities, with only 55% feeling that their homes do, and 40% saying they somewhat do.

Leading complications

Looking at barriers to action among homeowners, high costs lead the charge, with 54% of respondents noting this as the top hurdle they face when planning renovations. Budget considerations, lack of time, and an inability to find trusted professionals were also significant factors. In fact, 3 out of 10 homeowners put renovation plans on pause due to the struggle that comes with finding trusted professionals, pointing to a larger industry issue regarding transparency and credibility among home improvement companies and their potential customers.

There are also personal factors at play, as while many homeowners are excited (43%) at the prospect of renovation, others feel stress (36%) and anxiety (28%) at the notion.

Regional and nationwide trends

Looking at the most common renovations of each major U.S. region gives us a stronger sense of what localized trends are most popular. In the Pacific region, energy upgrades were the leading focus at 18%, followed by window/siding replacements (12%). Mountain States saw interior projects as the most popular renovations at 21%. In the Midwest, the leading projects were the kitchens and bathrooms, being chosen by 21% of respondents. Respondents in the Middle Atlantic most commonly chose interior remodels (17%), followed by energy efficiency upgrades. The South Atlantic saw 18% of respondents choose kitchen and bathroom remodels, followed by outdoor projects (15%), with an emphasis on patios, decks, and landscaping.

Focusing on growing trends nationwide, kitchen and bath upgrades continue to be on the rise as homeowners work to turn these spaces into luxurious gathering spaces and functional sanctuaries, respectively. The rise of outdoor remodels, meanwhile, reflects the growing whole-home living trend as homeowners try to bring a sense of biophilic living to their space. Sustainability concerns also continue to drive energy-efficient upgrades, which remain a constant throughout the nation despite being a larger concern in certain regions.

The full report can be found here.