#houzzdata

[houzzblog]

Maximizing Space in Small Homes

Given the popularity of photos and stories related to small spaces on Houzz, we surveyed our community* to find out how people living in small homes use creative decor and storage options to make their homes feel more spacious.

Considering that the two most popular characteristics of small home interiors are lots of natural light (57%) and easy access to the outdoors (54%), it seems homeowners incorporate external factors into their design decisions to give their homes a bright and airy atmosphere. Of those who upgraded their homes in the past two years, nearly one-third renovated outdoor spaces (30%) and more than a quarter created an open floor plan (26%) to extend their living areas.

The survey found that homeowners also choose room-defining area rugs (48%), limit the number of furniture pieces in each room (36%) and add mirrors (35%) to optimize their space. Many homeowners reduce clutter in their small homes by putting their stuff in exterior storage areas, like garages (44%), basements (34%) and yards or other outdoor spaces (31%).

While certain tasks, like storing things or hosting visitors, may be more challenging in small homes (as reported by 60% and 55% of homeowners), the above solutions show that there are many ways to live comfortably in a small space. In fact, nearly two in five homeowners report that their home is just the right size for their needs (39%). Furthermore, more than half say that relaxing and keeping spaces clean are especially easy in their small home (58% and 42%, respectively).

Additional findings are below and you can browse a collection of small space decor solutions from the Houzz Shop here.

*Houzz survey of more than 200 members of the U.S. Houzz community who stated that their home is smaller than the average size of homes in their area and is 1,000 sq. ft. or less, was fielded in October 2017.

[houzzblog]

A Style Makeover for Master Bathrooms

Master bathrooms are getting a style makeover, according to the 2017 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study,* which found that 90% of renovating homeowners change the style of their master bathroom during upgrades. Of those making a change to the overall style, contemporary (25%), transitional (17%) and modern (15%) lead in popularity. Design decisions vary by generation, with Millennial (25-34) homeowners opting most often for modern style master bathrooms, while contemporary is most popular among Gen-Xers (35-54) and Baby Boomers (55+).

White continues to gain popularity in renovated master bathrooms, with even more countertops and walls appearing in white this year (40% and 19%, respectively) compared with 2016 findings. Additionally, bathroom features are increasingly contrasted against gray walls and cabinet surfaces (35% and 14%, respectively, compared with 30% and 9% in 2016, respectively).

Millennials are significantly more likely to choose white countertops (52%) and cabinets (50%) and gray walls (48%) and flooring (43%) for their master bath than Baby Boomers. When it comes to wood cabinets, Baby Boomers tend to pick medium tones, while dark wood is preferred by Gen-Xers.

Among the 81% of renovating homeowners tackling master showers, ceramic and porcelain tile or natural stone tile and slabs are the top surface materials chosen, with marble being the universally preferred choice for natural stone, especially for Gen-Xers. Other materials see generational biases. For example, travertine is more likely to be installed by Baby Boomers, while slate is preferred by Millennial homeowners.

Ceramic or porcelain tile (63%) and natural stone tile or slab (32%) continue to top the flooring list, likely integrating the look of the shower with the rest of the bathroom surfaces. In contrast, these higher end finishes are less likely to appear on walls outside of the shower area, with just 27% choosing ceramic or porcelain tile and 15% opting for natural stone.

For more insights from the 2017 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, check out the full report here.

*Houzz survey of more than 1,200 U.S. homeowners using Houzz who are in the midst of, are planning, or recently completed a master bathroom project, was fielded between June 6 and August 7, 2017.

[houzzblog]

Data Watch: July Home Sales

This week, the National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales saw a four month decline in July to their slowest pace in over two years.

Despite an apparent slump in the existing home sales data, the outlook for the home improvement market remains strong for the rest of the year. At the start of Q3, remodelers on Houzz reported an average project backlog of 10 weeks, twice higher than the same time a year ago. Similarly, remodelers' expectations for new inquiries and new projects in Q3 remained high. Key forces continue to spur renovation market activity including, Baby Boomers’ investing in universal design features for homes where they will retire, aging housing stock that requires maintenance, and finally, limited housing inventory which drives prices up and gives homeowners confidence in their investment back into the home. It would take significant disruptions to one or more of these factors to see the home improvement market fall off its current growth trajectory.

[houzzblog]

Houzz Survey: Putting Relationships to the Test with Home Projects

With the holiday of love upon us, we surveyed our community* to find out what it’s like to remodel, redecorate or build a home with your significant other. The 2018 Houzz Remodeling & Relationships Survey found that more than half of respondents claim it was a collaborative and fulfilling experience (59% and 53%, respectively). But for some, love and home projects are like oil and vinegar, with one third finding the process frustrating (33%). Seven percent even considered separation or divorce during the project. That may sound shocking, but we’re happy to report that it’s quite an improvement from the 12 percent we found in our 2015 survey!

One in five respondents took issue with their significant other’s decorative items (18%). The most offensive items were posters and other artwork (52%), sports memorabilia (24%), childhood toys and mementos (24%) and homemade art (18%).

Nearly a third of respondents found the biggest challenge to be agreeing on products, materials and finishes (30%), followed by communication (29%), sticking to the budget (25%) and agreeing on style and/or design (25%).

So how can you overcome these challenges? The biggest piece of advice from those who’ve been through a home project with a significant other is to compromise (34%). Other solutions include gathering pictures and ideas from Houzz (31%) and getting advice from home professionals (29%).

Despite the challenges, a resounding 96% of respondents say the result was worth the effort. Seven in 10 report feeling more comfortable (70%) and 57 percent are happier at home following the project. Sixty-four percent say they spend more time together in their homes, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

* Houzz survey of more than 1,300 people who have remodeled, redecorated or built a home with their partner or spouse, was fielded in January 2018.

[houzzblog]

New Homes Mean Personalized Kitchens

A new home presents an opportunity to make it your own. According to the 2018 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study*, more than a quarter of homeowners remodelled their kitchen to personalize a recent purchase (28%). An even greater share of homeowners in urban centers agree (34%), compared to those in rural and suburban areas (28% and 27%, respectively). That said, kitchen projects are also triggered by homeowners who can no longer stand their old kitchen (41%) and those who wanted to do it all along and finally have the means (36%). We took a look at what is most important to kitchen remodelers.

As homeowners look to personalize their kitchens, storage and style are at the forefront of their functional and design priorities. Urban upgraders enjoy entertaining and find it to be a huge functional priority, compared to their rural counterparts (63% and 59%, respectively). Suburban homeowners prioritize things that add resale value to the home, more than urban upgraders do (29% and 20%, respectively).

Countertops are a key kitchen feature for remodeling homeowners. They are not only the most often upgraded (by 94% of renovating homeowners), but also the item homeowners choose to splurge on most (42%).

Homeowners are gravitating towards engineered quartz for their countertops. For the first time in three years, it is the most popular countertop material (43%), unseating granite (34%) and far surpassing butcher block or wood slab (13 percent). Engineered quartz is most common among suburban homeowners, followed by those in urban dwellings (45%) and rural areas (34%).

White is becoming increasingly popular for countertops, gaining six percentage points over the previous year (27% vs. 21% in the 2017 study) to tie for the most popular choice with multicolored countertops (27 percent). White is also chosen most often for cabinets (43%) and backsplash tile (36%), but it is only the second most popular color for walls (24%), behind gray (27%).

For additional findings on how homeowners are personalizing their kitchens, you can read the full 2018 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study at this link.

*Houzz survey of more than 1,700 U.S. homeowners using Houzz who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a kitchen project, was fielded between September and October 2017.

[houzzblog]

Houzz Barometer Tracks Hurricane Impact on Home Renovation Businesses

This quarter, the Houzz Renovation Barometer, which tracks confidence in the home renovation market among industry professionals, gathered information specific to business conditions in the Houston metropolitan area and Southwestern Florida following the severe impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma in these areas.*

The hurricanes had an immediate effect on renovation-related businesses, with 28% in the Houston metro area and 41% in Southwestern Florida reporting that they suspended operations within the first two weeks of the hurricanes making landfall. Among those companies, 91% impacted by Hurricane Harvey and 65% affected by Hurricane Irma kept their doors closed for a week or longer. Despite closures, 92% and 78% of affected companies in Texas and Florida, respectively, expect to fully recover financially over the next 12 months.

Business owners faced challenges reopening their doors as the hurricanes exacerbated shortages of subcontractors (as reported by 38% of respondents in both Southwestern Florida and the Houston metro area), scarcity of products and materials (20% and 15%, respectively) and damage to local infrastructure (20% and 15%, respectively). Managing cost-concerned customers and consumer expectations also became challenges for businesses impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (46% and 23%, respectively, and 31% and 23%, respectively). As a result, project backlogs** increased by nearly two weeks, on average, from 2.9 weeks to 4.4 weeks in the Houston metro area and from 4.8 weeks to 6.5 weeks in the Tampa metro area.

Despite hurricane-related business complications, backlogs in the Houston and Tampa metro areas are among the shortest of the top 20 metro areas. Consistent with Q2 2017 findings, the metro area experiencing the longest wait times is Boston (13.2 weeks), followed closely by Seattle (12.8 weeks). The St. Louis and Phoenix metro areas have the shortest average backlogs (3.5 and 3.6 weeks, respectively).

Overall, the Houzz Renovation Barometer showed continued quarter-over-quarter business confidence in the U.S. across all sectors in Q3 2017, including architects, designers, general contractors (GCs)/remodelers, design-builders, building/renovation specialists and landscape/outdoor specialists. For more information about the Q3 2017 Houzz Renovation Barometer, read the full report here.

* Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017 and Hurricane Irma struck the Florida coast on September 10, 2017. Findings about the impact of Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, were not included due to very small sample sizes.

**Project backlogs depict the number of weeks before an average firm can start work on a new mid-sized home renovation or design project given its current project commitments.

[houzzblog]

Landscape Projects Go the Whole Nine Yards

It’s time for a major makeover, according to nine in ten homeowners taking on a landscaping project (88%), as revealed in our 2016 Landscaping Trends Study. The study, of nearly 1,000 U.S. homeowners who are planning, in the midst of, or recently completed an outdoor project, found that while backyards are the primary focus of outdoor projects (75%), many are also tackling their front and side yards (54% and 40%, respectively). It’s not surprising that people are committing to major improvements in their yards, given that nearly half spend six or more hours in their outdoor spaces weekly (48%)!

When it comes to design, complementing one’s home style (46%), outdoor living (45%) and a space that’s stylish and beautiful (43%) are top priorities. To achieve this, three-quarters of homeowners purchase comfort-enhancing products including outdoor furniture (52%), fire pits (36%) and benches (32%), during their projects. Outdoor wall lights, pots/planters, rugs, fire pits and benches were the top five selling outdoor categories on the Houzz Shop in the first 3 months of 2016, with over 140,000 products available for sale in these categories alone. The key to outdoor function is a yard that’s easy to maintain (80%), followed by one that’s easy for the entire family to work, play and/or be in (49%).

The study revealed that pets aren’t just king of the castle, but king of the yard as well. In households where pets are allowed in the yard, 42% make pet-related updates from space to run and play to toxin-free plants. Of those with children or grandchildren under the age of 18, 33% are adding child-related features. Space to run and play tops the list here as well, followed by edible plants.

After the final stones are laid and plants are planted, the majority of outdoor upgraders enjoy their space more than ever. Post-project, homeowners are more likely to rest/relax (75%), garden (64%), entertain (55%) and dine (53%) in their yards.

[houzzblog]

Houzzers Tackling Drought, Flooding in Outdoor Upgrades

Midcentury Landscape

Water issues? Not in my backyard, according to the respondents of our U.S. Landscaping and Gardening Trends survey. Of the 1,600 Houzzers who are either planning, in the midst of, or recently completed an outdoor project, more than half are updating their yards to address drought (35%) or flooding (19%). Unsurprisingly, these issues are especially prevalent for those of us in California, where 70% of Houzzers updating their outdoor spaces are tackling drought, and in Texas, where 47% are battling flooding.

A third of us updating our existing lawns are reducing them (36%), and 16% are removing them altogether. This number jumps to 46% in California, where Houzzers are also twice as likely to substitute their existing lawn for a synthetic one. Additionally, nearly one in five Houzzers nationwide is installing a rainwater harvesting system as part of their outdoor upgrades (17%). Two in five of us updating our greenery are selecting drought-resistant (42%) or native plants (41%).

Beyond addressing water woes, Houzzers are keen on creating outdoor spaces that are low on maintenance and high on party potential. Seventy-one percent of us upgrading our outdoor spaces most value an easy to maintain space when it comes to functionality. Areas that are easy to entertain in (60%) and easy for the entire family to enjoy (48%) are prioritized next.

These values make sense, considering how much time we spend outside. Over half of us upgrading our outdoor spaces spend six or more hours there per week (51%). Relaxing (65%), gardening (48%), and entertaining (47%) are the top three uses of outdoor areas.

For more insights from the report, see the full 2015 Houzz Landscaping & Garden Trends Study.

[houzzblog]

Houzz Survey Reveals What Moms Really Want This Mother’s Day

Traditional Landscape

We went straight to the source to find out the activities and gifts that will make moms happiest this Mother’s Day. Here’s what more than 750 moms celebrating this year had to say in our recent survey:

Gifts To Make Mom Grin: More than a quarter of moms (27%) dream of something for the home or garden this Mother’s Day, versus something just for themselves (25%) or something for the entire family to enjoy (20%). Twenty percent of moms don’t want a gift at all! Of those who want something for the home this year, more than one-third (34%) would specifically like an outdoor plant.

If given a free home upgrade for Mother’s Day, more than one-third of moms (36%) would choose a remodeling project, over upgrading their landscaping (17%) or redecorating (16%). Nearly half (48%) of moms craving a remodel would tackle their kitchens.

Mom-Approved Activities: If you’re on the fence about whether to celebrate out or at home, you’re not alone -- just over half (53%) of moms would prefer to enjoy the holiday at the house. When asked about their ideal activity, a special meal (breakfast in bed or a meal with the family) was by far the top choice for these moms (49%) while only 11% would opt for a day without chores.

For the moms whose perfect Mother’s Day means leaving the house, 38% said they'd also like a meal with their family, while 31% prefer an outdoor activity, such as hiking or a sport. Surprisingly, spa treatments came in at a distant third, at 14%.

Three-in-five moms want to spend the day with their partner and kids alone (59%), compared to 12% who also want friends to join, and 14% who would rather have solo time with the kids, minus their partner. Only 6% of moms want to celebrate with the gift of “me” time.

The biggest takeaway? No matter what you do this Mother’s Day, just make sure to carve out some quality time for your mom.

[houzzblog]

Spooky Home Survey

Traditional Exterior

Just in time for Halloween, we asked Houzzers what creeps them out the most about their homes and apparently our homes can be pretty scary! A whopping two-thirds (77%) admit to getting spooked while home alone and nearly a quarter admit that an adult in their home sleeps with a nightlight.

So what scares us? Howling wind tops the list of noises that give people the heebie-jeebies (28%), followed by closely creaking floorboards (26%). Break-ins are our greatest fear, even more so for those of us in urban (54%) and suburban (53%) areas versus those of us in rural neighborhoods (46%). Fires (35%) and spiders (24%) also top the list of fears. Of all the spaces in the home, the backyard at night is considered the spookiest (39%), while many Houzzers are also haunted by the garage (24%), basement (23%) and attic (19%).

The whole survey wasn’t meant to fright, as we also asked Houzzers to tell us how they decorate for Halloween. Nearly three quarters decorate for the holiday, with those of us in suburban areas more likely to decorate (82%) than our urban (69%) and rural (67%) counterparts. Favorite decorations are pumpkins (76%), lighting (61%), candles (60%), carved pumpkins (57%), spiders (54%) and cobwebs (43%).

You can read more about what Houzzers told us here.

*The Houzz spooky home survey was conducted in October, 2014 and had more than 800 respondents.

[houzzblog]

The New “Super Kitchen” Calls for Pro Help, Houzz Survey Finds

Transitional Kitchen

Do you entertain in your kitchen? Use it as a home office? Or watch TV while cooking? Our 2016 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study revealed the rise of the "super kitchen," a multi-functional space that is used as much for living as other traditional living spaces of the home. To create a custom kitchen that works with their lifestyle, more homeowners on Houzz are turning to professional help for their kitchen projects. Out of the 2,400 U.S. survey respondents who are either planning, in the midst of, or recently completed a kitchen project, nine out of ten enlisted the help of a professional -- 87%, up from 80% in 2014. Kitchen renovators are turning to general contractors in particular (54%), followed by kitchen designers (27%) and interior designers/decorators (14%).

Given the sizeable scope of many kitchen upgrades, it makes sense that a larger share of homeowners is looking for pros to help turn their vision into reality. For instance, nearly half of Houzzers are changing the layout of their kitchen during the project (48%), and 37% are increasing the size of the room. Most Houzzers choose a U-shape for their new layout (35%), followed by an L-shape (28%).

Major new built-ins and specialty features abound in updated kitchens, also likely contributing to the increased need for professional help. New built-in features include everything from cabinet pantries (43%) and islands (37%) to coffee/tea (10%), beverage (8%) and baking stations (7%). When it comes to major features, 93% of Houzzers are upgrading their countertops, 89% are tackling their plumbing fixtures and sinks, and 88% are updating their backsplash.

For more insights from the 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, check out the full report here.

[houzzblog]

New Bedroom, New Style

Contemporary Bedroom

It’s out with the old and in with the new style when it comes to master bedroom upgrades, according to the 2015 U.S. Houzz Bedroom Trends Study. Before our master bedroom renovating and decorating projects, most had a traditional style or no particular style at all (64%). Post-updates, most of us opt for transitional, contemporary or modern styles (45%).

Bigger is better when it comes to our updated master bedrooms and their closets. Of those of us  renovating our master bedrooms, one in five is expanding its size (21%), and more than half of our closet upgrades involve an increase in square footage (59%). One-third of updated master bedroom closets are growing by 50% or more!

When it comes to decorating, the majority of us are using small décor accessories to update our rooms (76%), yet half of us are also replacing furniture (49%), and a third of us are updating our beds (37%). One in five new beds is a platform (23%), with standard and sleigh beds following as the next most popular styles (15% and 13% respectively). Examples of platform beds available for purchase on Houzz can be found here.

To further customize our beds, many of us are accessorizing them with accent pillows -- many, many accent pillows. Forty percent of our beds will have five or more decorative pillows once our master bedroom updates are complete!

Check out the full 2015 U.S. Houzz Bedroom Trends Study for more details from the report. And if you have products you'd like to see featured on Houzz, contact shopfeatures@houzz.com.

[houzzblog]

A Peek into UK and Irish Kitchens

To kick off 2015, we surveyed Houzzers in the UK and Ireland about their kitchen remodeling plans. We found that British and Irish Houzzers are updating their kitchens on average every 13 years. By comparison, Houzzers in the U.S. wait an average of 16 years before updating their kitchens. U.S. homeowners are also four times more likely to wait over 30 years to make renovations.

What motivates kitchen updates? A new home purchase tops the list (38%), followed by a dislike for the old kitchen (30%). It’s not surprising that personalizing spaces is key as homeowners in the UK and Ireland spend nearly three hours a day, on average, in their kitchens.

When making updates, they’re substantial, with nearly two thirds of homeowners in the UK and Ireland increasing the square footage of their space. Open-plan kitchens are in vogue and will make appearances in over half of new kitchens.

As for ‘must-have’ elements, 42% of Brits admitted that a kitchen or dining table was essential for gathering around for family meals, cups of tea and relaxed chatting. This was closely followed by a TV, breakfast nook, music system and - most surprisingly - a wood burner. There won’t be any need to leave the kitchen at this rate!

[houzzblog]

Serial Decorator? You’re Not Alone

A recent survey of Houzzers on decorating habits found that most homes are a work in progress, with just 2% of us feeling we have achieved the vision for our homes. On average, we feel we’re just 54% of the way there. It makes sense, then, that we’re constantly decorating: 66% of Houzzers said they have recently decorated the same room they’re currently tackling. In fact, 21% are redecorating just two years later, and 45% after five years.

How do we make decor choices? Personal taste (84%) and comfort (75%) are the biggest drivers of decorating decisions. Only 15% of people say incorporating the latest trends is a priority, though trendiness was surprisingly cited by a greater percentage of men. Whether by choice or by necessity, men are more likely to be influenced by their significant other’s taste than women (43% versus 20% respectively).

If you’re under 35, you’re likely making some bold decor choices, whether through wall paper or patterns.You can read more about this and other findings...like how 16% of us are sneaking TV’s into our dining rooms!

[houzzblog]

Project Backlogs Decline in Q3, Houzz Study Finds

While project backlogs remain higher than the same period last year, home renovation and design businesses in the construction sector and architectural design services sector experienced a decline in project backlog, according to the Q3 2018 Houzz Backlog Indicator.* The Houzz Backlog Indicator tracks the average number of weeks before a business can start work on a new midsize project and is a component of the U.S. Houzz Renovation Barometer.

Construction Sector The Backlog Indicator revealed that companies in the construction sector experienced project backlogs of 6.5 weeks nationally (down 3.4 weeks from Q2). Backlog declined among all three reporting business groups but most significantly for specialty trade contractors to three weeks (down 5.2 weeks from Q2). Build-only remodeler backlog declined to 9.8 weeks (down 0.9 weeks from Q2) and design and build remodeler backlog declined to 11.4 weeks (down 1.5 weeks from Q2). That said, overall backlog for the construction sector is nearly two weeks higher than the same period last year (4.6 weeks in Q3 2017).

Architectural and Design Services Sector In contrast to the quarterly decline experienced by the construction sector, the architectural and design services sector held steady quarter-over quarter at 5.6 weeks nationally. Among the three reporting business groups, architects’ backlog declined by one week to 4.5 weeks, landscape architects’ backlog increased to 6.6 weeks (up 1.5 weeks from Q2), and interior designers’ backlog remained somewhat steady at 7.4 weeks (up 0.4 weeks from Q2). Compared to last year, backlog for the architectural and design services sector as a whole is 1.6 weeks higher (versus four weeks in Q3 2017).

In addition to increasing year-over-year backlog, expectations for project inquiries and new projects in Q3 are high. The overall outlook for the home improvement market remains strong through the end of the year and beyond, according to our principal economist, Nino Sitchinava. For more of Nino’s insight on the market, check out her latest blog post here.

*The Q3 2018 Houzz Backlog Indicator is one of the components of the Houzz Renovation Barometer. The Barometer keeps a pulse on home renovation market conditions via indices that track expected, current, and recent business activity in two related industry sectors, the construction sector and the architectural and design services sector. Indices are constructed individually for three subsectors in the construction sector (build only remodelers, design and build remodelers, and specialty trade contractors) and for three subsectors in the architectural and design services sector (architects, landscape architects, and interior designers), as well as for nine regions that follow U.S. Census Bureau Divisions. The Backlog Indicator is conducted quarterly and presents analysis of responses to an online survey sent out to a national U.S. panel of businesses with an online profile on Houzz. N=2,476.

[houzzblog]

Landscaping Projects Make Backyards the Life of the Party

It’s time to take the party outside, according to the Houzz 2018 Landscaping Survey,* which found that over half of homeowners spend more time entertaining outside after completing landscaping projects (51%). More than a quarter of homeowners also report that their usable outdoor area is significantly larger than that of their home (27%). So transforming the yard into added living space creates an entertaining haven for the next garden party or backyard barbecue.

The study found that homeowners invest in a variety of elements during landscaping projects that make their outdoor areas more livable, including ample seating for family and guests with lounge furniture (43%), dining furniture (34%) and benches (27%). The addition of fire pits (38%), ceiling fans (15%) and patio heaters (14%), allow people to entertain outdoors year-round, and new string lights (35%) and rugs (14%) suggest a focus on exterior ambiance.

Technology also plays a role in making the yard entertainment-ready. Of the nearly one in five homeowners who added or upgraded entertainment systems during their landscaping projects (18%), three in five opted for a new television (59%), followed by wired and solar speakers (48% and 42%, respectively). One in 10 homeowners also added wired and solar charging stations (14% and 11%, respectively).

Curb Appeal Part of the Plan

While the majority of outdoor projects take place in the backyard (70%), nearly two in five landscaping homeowners update their front yard (39%) and more than a quarter work on side yards (30%). Homeowners adding or updating elements in the front of their home report that the most important features contributing to curb appeal are beds and borders (41%), shrubs (34%) and perennials (25%). Considering these priorities, it’s no surprise that they are also the most popular features installed in front of homes (60%, 54% and 56%, respectively).

The leading reason for homeowners to begin a landscaping project is to improve elements of the outdoor space that have deteriorated or broken down (29%). Following a year of unexpected weather patterns, one in ten homeowners report that their outdoor projects address damage from harsh weather or natural disasters (9%), including hurricanes (35%), rainstorms (26%) and drought (24%). Costs for landscaping projects vary widely, with more than half of homeowners who completed their outdoor renovation spending more than $10,000 (56%) and nearly one-third of homeowners spending less than $5,000 (32%).

Regardless of motivations or budget, the majority of homeowners who completed a landscaping project report that they spend more time outside (67%). Some of the other ways that homeowners enjoy their newly upgraded outdoor space include relaxing (62%) and gardening (44%).

The graphic below illustrates additional findings from the Houzz Landscaping Survey. You can also browse a collection of outdoor essentials from the Houzz Shop here.

*Houzz survey of more than 750 U.S. homeowners using Houzz who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a landscaping project, was fielded between February and March 2018.