Top home tensions revealed
Can restoring your home restore your relationship too?
Transforming your house into a home can be an exciting job - but home renovations aren't always smooth sailing. Every member of the household might have a different vision of their dream home, so compromising on changes to the home is key.
We asked over 2,000 homeowners to tell us their biggest bugbears, and how you could switch up your renovation plans to create a more harmonious home.
From lack of space to outdated style - here are the nation's top home bugbears
We spend a great deal of time in our homes, so it's natural we spot things we'd like to tweak. Plus, our needs alter over time as families grow and situations change. This leads to many homeowners reflecting on their current living situation and asking themselves what they could do to make their home more practical, functional and aesthetic.
Parents have their own set of stresses too, with 25% saying the state of their house causes them stress. Constant clutter is mostly to blame (41%), though an unstylish kitchen (29%) and a lack of space to work from home (17%) are among the top reasons why parents struggle to relax in the home.
Limited storage space - 32%
That's right, over a third of people say their biggest home bugbear is lack of storage, leading to clutter building up and an overall sense of disorganisation.
Out of date kitchen - 27%
We know from previous research that 51% of homeowners want to update their kitchen, with many feeling that a modern, more functional space would suit their families better.
Small bedroom - 19%
For many people, a bedroom doubles up as an additional space such as a dressing room or an office. That means a small bedroom can often feel restrictive.
Minimal room for hobbies - 17%
Who doesn't dream of a home gym, a separate playroom or even a cinema room? For 17% of people, lack of space to enjoy their hobbies is the biggest issue.
No ensuite or second bedroom - 16%
Sharing a bathroom during those busy weekday mornings can cause family friction, so it's no surprise more than one in ten homeowners have their eye on an ensuite.
Lack of open-plan space - 12%
Open-plan designs offer a feeling of spaciousness. 12% of those with closed plan spaces, such as kitchens or living rooms, are dreaming of something different.
Patching up home improvement pet peeves
If you're looking for top tips to help you overcome these common home headaches, you've come to the right place! Our experts here at Novuna Personal Finance share how you can rebuild the peace by making some simple changes.
For more hints and tips, head over to our blog on planning a harmonious home improvement project.
Nailing down the cause of home improvement issues
If you're bickering about lack of space or outdated décor, you might think undertaking home improvement projects will solve the problem. But renovating your home can be stressful. In fact, almost one in five couples split up or almost split up because of tensions caused by doing up their home and one in 10 say they would put off home renovations if it would cause an argument with their partner.
Renovation rumbles: the top reasons for home improvement disagreements
We know renovations aren't cheap, so it's no surprise 28% of people say the cost of home improvement projects disrupts the peace at home.
While you could save big by doing it yourself, there are some jobs that simply require the professional touch - yet 10% of people still argue about whether to instruct a contractor.
Our guide on which DIY jobs you should always leave to the experts could help to settle the debate.
But before you can even start to get stuck in, you need to decide exactly what you want to change around the home. Unfortunately, for 19% of homeowners, the biggest challenge is working out project priorities. Finding a compromise is easier said than done, but kicking things off with a good old fashioned pros and cons list is always a good place to start.
How to create a more peaceful renovation plan
Our research tells us that nearly a quarter (23%) of homeowners simply abandoned their renovation plans as they couldn't resolve their disagreements. To help you get your project on the road to completion, here are some top ways to resolve those renovation rifts...
1. Set a budget... and stick to it
23% of those surveyed said compromising on cost is key to resolving tensions.
That just goes to show how important it is to talk about money. Work out your budget from the get-go, so you know exactly how much cash you want to dedicate to the project. This will help you to make informed choices throughout, ensuring you don't go over your allocated budget.
2. Work out a compromise
26% of people say compromising on an element of the renovation helped to resolve arguments.
Working out what home improvements to make can be a challenge. Write out a list of 'wants' versus 'needs' to help you make a decision. You may find that changes that have a practical and functional impact take priority over purely aesthetic improvements.
3. Push on with your project
While you might feel like giving up in the midst of an argument, completing your renovation could be better for everyone in the long-term. In fact, 14% of homeowners stated that one of the main benefits of renovation was less arguments in the home. Pause home improvement spats by rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in.
A happy home for your happy ever after
All households will have the occasional disagreement - but our research shows that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.
81% of those who have done renovations believe it was worth it, with 73% agreeing that making home improvements has made a positive difference to the way they feel about their home.
You may well find that the answer to home hinderances is changing the elements of your home that really niggle you.
Whether you take on a large-scale renovation project or simply refresh your main living spaces with a lick of paint and new furniture, take matters into your own hands to create the home of your dreams.
Get your renovation plans off the ground
Smooth over those household tensions by making a start on your next home improvement project. With a personal loan, you could borrow up to £35,000 with competitive rates from as low as 6.9% (£7,500-£25,000).
About our home improvement loansAbout our study - The research was conducted for Novuna Personal Finance by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,041 homeowners (18+). The data was collected between 13.08.24 – 16.08.24.