UK DIY News
DIY Projects Soar As People Unable To Travel Abroad
2020 has been quite a year with people unable to travel to different countries amid the Coronavirus pandemic. This subsequently saw a rise in people conducting DIY projects at home according to recent research conducted by The Makeover Centre using Google Search data. Research shows that searches for home improvement rose by over a third throughout the beginning of the UK lockdown in comparison to searches for last-minute deals which declined by almost a half.
Throughout the pandemic, British people were converting their garages, attics and spare rooms into areas where they could work from home due to the Government restrictions. As local pubs and restaurants shut their doors for the foreseeable future, one of the biggest rises in Google searches was “pub shed” which quadrupled to 4,400 searches as people decided to social distance in their garden with their family and housemates.
During the lockdown period, the UK experienced some of the hottest weather on record which encouraged Brits to take advantage of the nice weather and improve their garden. This ranged from chopping down trees and bushes to create space for the increasingly popular vegetable patch. The number of searches for ‘DIY garden ideas’ increased by 29% since last year
With the introduction of the furlough scheme and entertainment and leisure activities shutting down, people were looking for ways to improve their home during the never-ending days of isolation with home improvement searches up from 9,900 to 12,100.
Along with the country being put in isolation, other countries started to close their borders so it’s not really a surprise that the search for holiday late deals decreased by 54% throughout the lockdown period. Towards the end of the lockdown period and when the world started to open up in July, searches for DIY continued along with the nice weather. It seems that people decided to stay in the UK and finish the jobs that they had started.
What Types of Home Improvement Can You Do?
With the looming threat of a second lockdown, British people are preparing to continue their DIY projects. Depending on your budget there are multiple activities that you can do.
- Luxury Vinyl Tiles: a realistic photography print combined with a clear vinyl later which gives the impression of wood or tiles.
- Laminate Flooring: adds a natural element to any room. Available in a wide range of designs with some ranges being water-resistant.
- Wood Flooring: A perfect choice for the lounge, kitchen or hallway. Created using solid wood for a naturistic feel.
Redesigning a kitchen was one of the ways many people chose to improve their home during a pandemic. One of the easiest ways to improve your kitchen is to replace your taps and sinks and install a newer, modern version. Replacing your worktop to a more hygienic and stylish option is also another way to improve your kitchen.
One of the final ways that you can use the pandemic to improve your home is to replace the tiles on your bathroom wall. A great alternative is Showerwall panels which can be placed in shower cubicles, around baths, behind baseins and cover an entire room. These can be installed using simple tools and is one of the easiest ways to customise your bathroom. All Showerwall panels come with a 15-year warranty so you can be sure that you’re buying the perfect product.
These are just some of the ways that people used the UK’s lockdown to improve their homes. Despite the world slowly opening up, it’s still discouraged by the UK’s Government to travel so why not take this extra time to improve your home. To read the full data, visit The Makeover Centre.
Source : The Makeover Centre
Insight DIY always publishes the latest news stories before anyone else and we find it to be an invaluable source of customer and market information.