Home Renovation Spending Strong: Focus on Maintenance & Smaller Projects

In 2025, 76% of homeowners cited maintaining or repairing their existing homes as the top reason for improvement activity, marking a significant departure from aspirational remodels, according to Hardware Retailing. Homeowners prioritize essential upkeep, a cautious sentiment where preserving current assets outweighs discretionary aesthetic upgrades. Facing economic uncertainties, many now view home improvement as a defensive investment, not a lavish overhaul.

Home improvement spending remains at near record levels, but homeowners increasingly prioritize maintenance and smaller projects over large-scale renovations. This tension reveals a market where overall financial commitment persists, yet its allocation has changed, focusing on immediate needs over future aspirations. The sustained near-record spending, reported by Hardware Retailing, is a deceptive indicator; it masks a core shift from aspirational upgrades to defensive value preservation, driven by 73% of homeowners who feel it's a bad time to buy a new house.

Companies adapt to a market focused on essential upkeep and value preservation, suggesting a long-term trend towards strategic, cost-conscious home investment. This shift demands service providers and retailers offer modular solutions and expert guidance tailored to hybrid project models. Emerging trends in home renovation services for 2026 point to a market less interested in aesthetic overhauls and more in practical, long-term value.

The New Renovation Reality: Smaller Projects, Sustained Spending

Near Record Levels — Home improvement repairs and renovations continue to drive home improvement spending, which remains at near record levels, according to Hardware Retailing.
80% — Around 80% of homeowners are planning future maintenance projects for 2026, while larger-scale remodels are taking a backseat, according to Hardware Retailing.

Despite high overall spending, the market clearly shows a preference for maintaining existing assets over undertaking expansive new projects. This marks a strategic pivot where homeowners prioritize the longevity and functionality of their current properties over discretionary aesthetic enhancements. Sustained spending, therefore, reflects a higher volume of smaller, essential repairs and maintenance tasks, not fewer, larger renovations.

Project Approach	2024 Completion Rate	2025 Completion Rate	Change
Pure DIY	57%	52%	-5%
Hybrid (DIY + Contractor)	20%	24%	+4%

The decrease in pure DIY completions from 57% in 2024 to 52% in 2025, coupled with an increase in hybrid projects to 24% from 20% in the same period, reveals a notable shift in homeowner behavior. Homeowners are becoming more selective, strategically combining DIY efforts with professional assistance to manage project complexity and optimize costs. This implies that even with a strong desire to save money, homeowners find limits to what they can do themselves, pushing them towards a collaborative approach for essential work. Hardware retailers and contractors must adapt their strategies to cater to the growing "hybrid homeowner" segment, as evidenced by the 24% increase in combined DIY and contractor usage, offering modular services and expert guidance for essential repairs rather than solely pushing large-scale renovation products.

Home Renovation Spending Stays Strong Despite Inflation and Smaller Projects

The New Renovation Reality: Smaller Projects, Sustained Spending

Tags

The Rise of the Hybrid Homeowner

Why Homeowners Are Staying Put and Reinvesting

The Cost Crunch: Inflation's Impact on Renovations

The Future of Home Improvement: Value Over Volume

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