The Most Popular Home Improvements Planned For 2021

The momentum that drove home improvement trends throughout 2020 doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. A recent study by Rated People revealed that 51 per cent of us are set to enhance our homes in 2021.

Our top priority according to survey respondents is to refresh our existing spaces with fresh paint (44 per cent) and new carpets (27 per cent,) whilst many of us want to increase space within our homes by adding bespoke storage and adapting rooms to become more multi-functional. Just under 10 per cent of respondents wish to bring their social lives and daily activities indoors by adding a gym, office, or home bar.

Here are some of the top home improvements for 2021, and how you can achieve them in your own home.

1. Fresh paint on the walls

top home improvements in 2021 paint

The top pick for home improvements in 2021 is a fresh coat of paint. Arguably the easiest of DIY tasks, and one that can have an immeasurable impact on the look and feel of your space.

B&Q reported this year that sales of blue and green paint increased by 36 per cent and 32 per cent respectively as we sought to add some positivity to our homes.

‘Greens and blues are very calming colours as they literally soothe us and (very marginally) lower our blood pressure,’ says Interior Design Psychology Expert, Niki Schafer.

‘Blue is also said to be productive and is a good addition to home offices and gyms. Green patterns, foliage in particular, can have an even more powerful effect on our mood bringing a double dose of positivity by introducing the soothing theme of nature into our minds.’

Alternatively, a simple paste the wall wallpaper can be used to introduce botanical elements without the hassle of traditional wallpapering.

2. Installing new carpet

Home comforts have been key for the past 18 months and spending so much time indoors has revealed design elements within our homes that don’t fulfil our need for comfort. Carpets are one way to add warmth, tactility and a cosiness underfoot that wood flooring can’t match. And while wood flooring is not going anywhere (13 per cent of us are planning new wood flooring in 2021 in fact,) carpets meet a need for creating a plush home sanctuary.

Natural

top home improvements in 2021 carpets

Floor specialists, Tapi Carpets & Floors, recently revealed that nearly two thirds (61 per cent) of British homes have beige scale carpets. Brand and Communications Director, Johanna Constantinou, said: ‘Lockdowns have forced many people into the great outdoors, to reconnect with nature and bring the outside in. This is reflected in the home with a rise in warm, earthy tones and a surge in beige-based interiors.’

Patterned

top home improvements in 2021 carpets

The same study revealed that just under a third of Brits have rediscovered a love of patterned, textured or striped carpets – with popularity surging in the under 30s. Those hesitant to introduce a lot of pattern into their homes could experiment with stair carpets or runners, to create an interesting feature without the commitment of carpeting a whole room. Explore 14 stair carpet ideas.

Rich jewel tones

top home improvements 2021 jewel carpets

Regal brights inspired by precious gems like ruby, citrine and emerald add opulence and depth to a room. Jewel tones are particularly interesting in the way they respond to natural light, with bright sunlight bringing out subtle shine or metallic undertones, and darker evenings enhancing their richness.

3. Creating a home office

55 per cent of the UK worked from home in 2020, but many of our home office set-ups failed to inspire productivity. According to Rated People, almost half of us were without a proper desk. 2021 is the year we create a dedicated office space in our homes, as 38 per cent of us embrace a new, flexible approach to work.

4. Refurbishing the kitchen

home improvement trends 2021 new kitchen

Our kitchens worked hard for us in 2020, as we collectively took to baking a lot of banana bread and exploring our culinary skills in the absence of restaurants. They also became multi-functional spaces, with 7 per cent of home workers setting up their offices on the kitchen table. Using our kitchens more often, or in totally new ways, can expose a lack of practical space and functionality or an interrupted flow through the room – 17 per cent of homeowners are prioritising a kitchen refurbishment in 2021.

Interestingly, Rated People’s study revealed that the choice of colour in our kitchens can influence potential homebuyers if we choose to sell. Of the 2,000 homebuyers surveyed, 27 per cent said that a white kitchen would make them more likely to purchase a property, whilst 22 per cent could be swayed by a light grey kitchen.

Get the look:

top home improvements in 2021 new kitchens

5. Adding a home bar

Admittedly one of our favourite home improvements on this list, with 6% of respondents choosing, above all else, to bring the bar to them. Perhaps Brits are showing a certain amount of prescience in the light of the recently extended lockdown measures, or perhaps it’s a lot more fun without the queues.

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