The BHG 2024 DIY Trend Report Unpacks the "Fear
of Messing Up," Generational Attitudes Toward DIY Projects, and the
Enduring Popularity of the Neutral Aesthetic
NEW
YORK and DES MOINES,
Iowa, May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Better
Homes & Gardens announces the first-ever BHG 2024 DIY Trend
Report, which reveals the motives, emotions and hurdles that
home DIYers face today. According to the report, American
homeowners and renters say that fear is the number one obstacle
DIYers face today, with over 70% of respondents admitting they have
avoided DIY projects due to "FOMU" – the fear of messing up.
Contrary to the much-maligned "sad beige" aesthetic, the study also
uncovers a surprising trend: 65% of respondents actually favor the
timeless appeal of neutral colors over bold and bright options.
FOMU: The study found that one of the biggest factors
holding DIYers back is the fear of messing up,
or "FOMU," avoiding a DIY project out of fear of making a costly or
dangerous mistake.
- 70% of respondents have called a professional to handle
a home improvement project due to FOMU.
- Top causes of FOMU are #1 not trusting themselves to do it
correctly, #2 being afraid of making costly mistakes, and #3
worrying about potentially dangerous consequences.
MPRS: Another obstacle that home DIYers face is what's
called mid-project regret syndrome, or "MPRS," which
is the feeling when you lose momentum in the middle of a DIY
project.
- 89% of survey respondents have experienced MPRS, with
the rates even higher for Gen Z (95%) and Millennials
(94%).
- 74% reported they currently have abandoned projects in
their homes.
- Top causes of MPRS are #1 projects taking longer than expected,
#2 feeling exhausted, and #3 unexpected costs cropping up.
COLOR TRENDS: In terms of interior design, the
"millennial gray" and "sad beige" aesthetics get a lot of hate, but
it turns out that neutrals are still on trend.
- 65% prefer a neutral colored, minimalist home over a
colorful, maximalist home.
- One in four respondents avoid bright colors altogether
at home.
- #1 role of color in the home is to create a "relaxing
and peaceful environment."
DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS: The study revealed how different
generations and genders think about DIY projects and the
motivations and challenges they experience.
- For Gen Z, lack of budget is the worst part of doing a
DIY project, followed by feeling like they don't have the right
skills.
- 85% of Boomers feel relieved when handing a project over
to a professional.
- Gen Z's #1 reason for attempting home DIY projects is that DIY
is a creative outlet for them.
- Men are significantly more likely than women to complete a DIY
project with the motivation of "to make other people I live with
happy," meanwhile women are significantly more likely to be
motivated by "making their home a wonderful place to
live."
For more information on the study, as well as tips and advice
for taking on your own DIY home improvement projects visit
bhg.com/DIYReport.
METHODOLOGY:
BHG conducted a multi-phase
research study to understand the latest DIY trends. This study
surveyed 1,000 Americans who are at least partially responsible for
home improvement decisions and have completed a home project in the
last 12 months across a wide range of demographics including age,
race, income and geographic location to better understand their
attitudes & behavior in the DIY space.
ABOUT BETTER HOMES & GARDENS:
One of the longest
continuously published magazines in America, Better Homes &
Gardens celebrates over 100 years as the leading authority on home,
garden, and lifestyle topics. Across platforms, BHG is the go-to
resource for fresh takes on home-related pursuits, with an emphasis
on joy, not perfection. We inspire people to bring their dreams to
life at home every day with a robust, multi-platform presence
across print, digital, and social as well as highly successful
licensing partnerships and a podcast.
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SOURCE Dotdash Meredith