How influential is social media on home renovations?

If you've ever found yourself scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest, consuming images of picture-perfect kitchens and cleverly repurposed furniture, you're certainly not alone. With 5K monthly Google searches for ‘renovation project’ and 1.5M posts under the TikTok hashtag ‘#homeimprovement’, the influence of social media on home renovation is evidently soaring, turning everyday Brits into DIY enthusiasts.

But just how much has social media reshaped the way we spruce up our homes? To find out, our latest study has uncovered the most popular social media-influenced DIY ideas, and which accounts are best to follow for inspiration.

To gain insights, we conducted a survey of 2,000 UK homeowners to discover which social media platforms they seek home renovation inspiration from, and which hacks they’d be most likely to try.

We consulted Saddat Abid, Senior Property Buyer and CEO at Property Saviour, to assess the actual value these popular hacks can add to your home when done well.

• How homeowners are finding inspiration online
• The top social media accounts paving the way for home DIY
• Top DIY trends: what’s hot right now
• How much value can these DIY hacks add to your home?
• What are prospective buyers actually looking for?
• Installing a DIY-friendly electric radiator
• What did the study reveal?
• Key takeaways

1. Instagram (24%)

2. Facebook (23%)

3. Pinterest (16%)

4. Tik Tok (8%)

5. YouTube (2%)

When it comes to finding that DIY spark, Instagram is the first port of call for many across the nation, with a quarter of Brits saying it's their top source of inspiration. This preference is reflected in the popularity of UK-based influencers like Kirsty Gore (@kjg_home) with 1.5M followers, and Helen Ford (@homewithhelendandco) with 955.5K followers.

Facebook is a close second at 23%, the most popular platform for those aged 45 or above.

While Pinterest, with its endless pin-worthy ideas, draws in 16% of homeowners. Pinterest influencers like Becky Goddard (@BeckyGoddardH) and (@Fifimcgeee), both from the UK, with 207K and 79K followers, certainly cater to this audience.

TikTok’s quick and snappy content appeals to 8%, with prominent DIY figures such as US-based East Coast DIY (@Eastcoastdiy) with 6.2M followers and Emily Rayna (@Emilyrayna) and her 5.8M-strong following, providing a whole host of home renovation ideas.

However, it appears that YouTube is taking a back seat, with only 2% of people using it for home improvement inspiration.

Interestingly, a quarter of those in the first-time buying stage (aged 25-34) use all the social media platforms, so they don’t miss out on any DIY home renovation tips whilst trying to save some money.

The most popular renovation hack is refurbishing old cabinets and drawers, with over half (57%) of homeowners willing to take on this project.

The most popular renovation hack is refurbishing old cabinets and drawers, with over half (57%) of homeowners willing to take on this project.

Other trending hacks involve using peel-and-stick tiles to update walls and floors (41%), one in ten (10%) have in fact already given this a go, the most of any of the social media hacks.

Other popular interior design videos you may have seen on Instagram or TikTok include installing floating shelves, building wardrobes or panelling.

The expansion of social media for homeowner DIY hacks is perfect for those looking for inspiration or if they need to find out how to do something they already have in mind.

If you’re feeling inspired, below are the top 15 social media-driven renovation ideas that Brits are likely to try out themselves:

1. Refurbishing old cabinets and drawers - 57%

2. Adding custom curtains to the window - 42%

3. Using peel and stick tiles - 41%

4. Building and installing floating shelves - 40%

5. DIY wall tiling - 39%

6. Revamping your bed’s headboard - 38%

7. Making furniture out of wooden pallets - 33%

8. Building your own wardrobes - 33%

9. Panelling - 30%

10. Installing artificial grass - 30%

11. Adding a summer house to the garden - 30%

12. Creating a DIY home bar - 28%

13. Creating your own wooden slatted wall panels - 27%

14. Vinyl Wrapping a kitchen worktop - 26%

15. Adding DIY friendly electric radiators - 21%

When looking into the survey data further, it turns out that millennials are leading the pack when it comes to daring home renovations – half of them are even willing to build their own wardrobes or install floating shelves!

To find out how much value these hacks can add to your home, we spoke to Saddat Abid, Senior Property Buyer and CEO at Property Saviour for this expert opinion.

The important thing you must remember is the hacks are not all created equal; some do add a little value, others in a very unequal manner.

For example, aesthetic upgrades like painting or adding accent walls definitely make a property more aesthetically beautiful, and that is what sells it fast, though that may not really increase the value by much. Larger renovations, like updating kitchens or bathrooms, may have an actual effect on the market value, particularly when they address major functional or really antiquated elements. 

Top Tip:

It's also about the quality of the work. In fact, poor workmanship reduces a property's value, so owners will do well to balance inspiration with professional guidance while renovating and taking inspiration from social media.

These are some general estimates from Saddat at Property Saviour, but make sure you consult a local appraiser for more precise figures:

• • New outdoor patio tiles: £3,000 - £4,000
  • New floor tiles: £3,000 - £4,000
  • New fireplace: £3,000 - £4,000
  • Kitchen cabinets and new drawers: £2,000 - £3,000
  • New wall tiles: £2,000 - £3,000
  • Custom curtains to the window: £1,000 - £2,000
  • Carpet over floorboards: £1,000
  • New headboard: £500 - £1,000
  • Floating shelves: £500 – £1,000

When looking at the renovation ideas that can add the most value, it appears that new outdoor patio tiles can add anything from £3,000 to £4,000, depending on the size of the area and the quality of the material used. Additionally, a new fireplace can bring a sense of cosy appeal and raise the value by £3,000 to £4,000, if it is a centred focal point in the living area.

Elsewhere, high-quality floor tiles, especially in places like kitchens or bathrooms, have the potential to increase the value of a property by £3,000 to £4,000.

These improvements could boost a homeowner's property value by up to £23,000.

All these home improvements are all over social media, but you’ll need to be extra careful if attempting it yourself. In some cases, it may be better to get a professional to do the work. If done well, all these improvements could boost a homeowner's property value by up to £23,000, although this may vary depending on individual circumstances.

When it comes to compatible models, these are great options for DIY installation:

• Our dry thermal and ceramic electric radiators can be easily wall-mounted or placed on feet, requiring only a nearby socket for power.
• Panel heaters are designed for supplemental warmth and are as simple as mounting on the wall and plugging in when you need a temperature boost.
• Lightweight and sleek, infrared panels can be easily wall-mounted just like hanging a picture frame. For ceiling mounting, you may need additional items like a suspension kit.
• Electric patio heaters offer versatile installation options, including wall, ceiling, or freestanding mounting. For optimal weather protection, we recommend hardwiring these units.

For further information on how to install an electric radiator in your household, check out our guide on DIY Installation.