The lockdown renovation boom

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a significant rise in the number of people looking to refurbish and renovate their homes, both through bringing in tradespeople or through DIY. 

With millions of people spending more time at home than ever before, homeowners decided the time was right to do create a better living environment for themselves – including by making sure their staircases are up to scratch.

Statistics showed that in the year before lockdown, more than two thirds of people who delayed a home renovation project did so because they didn’t have time. With a lot more time on their hands and being encouraged to stay at home, those people took their chance.

Instead of spending money on holidays, restaurant trips, days out and even weddings, they’ve invested in bringing their much-loved homes up to scratch and taken the time do the jobs they’d been putting off for a while.

The numbers

In the first six months after lockdowns first hit the UK, the average homeowner spent just over £4,000 each on doing up their homes, according to research from money.co.uk.

More than a quarter of renovators said they wanted to make changes in their home to add value but around 40% said they did the work to avoid embarrassment over video calls as increasing numbers of people take a glimpse into our lives through our phones and computer screens.

Image sharing social media platform Pinterest saw their searches change during lockdown, with more people looking to plan their next project. In the UK, Pinterest’s 15million users were searching 55% more on the platform in the first few months of national restrictions being imposed.

And with tradespeople being allowed to work in people’s homes during the pandemic – as long as guidelines are followed – it meant that many homes could be given the refurbishment they needed.

In fact, statistics from Powered Now showed that 15% of tradespeople said they were busier than ever in the summer of 2020.

At the start of the first lockdown, renovations were so popular that some paint companies had to start rationing how much paint people could buy while there was also a nationwide shortage of plaster.

Time to update your staircase?

While many people are renovating home office spaces, bathrooms and outdoor areas, don’t forget about your staircase – it’s the most used area of your home, so needs to be treated as a priority.

Use the time to assess the state of it and give it some TLC where needed. Use our handy guide to knowing when your staircase might need to be replaced or renovated. Or perhaps think about transforming the space underneath your stairs.

With lockdowns continuing into 2021, the renovation boom shows no sign of cooling. Check out our staircase galleries for inspiration and see how we can help.