For insights on the biggest trends in renovation and home improvement, take a look at the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report 2023 READ THE 2023 REPORT

Over the past couple of years, more and more people have reevaluated their jobs and careers. Quiet quitting has gathered momentum and ‘The Great Resignation’ has seen record numbers of people switch careers. In fact, Google searches for ‘careers switch’ have risen by 38% in the last two years and in 2023, one in three people in the UK now say they’d be interested in changing their career.  

This year’s edition of the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report reveals one in five people in the UK are interested in changing jobs to work as a tradesperson and we can understand why! There are lots of benefits and opportunities available in the industry including high earnings, low stress and a strong work-life balance.  

The construction industry is currently experiencing a severe skills shortage though which has been brought about by Brexit, a lack of young people getting into trade careers and also wider economic and political issues. So demand for new tradespeople, from carpenters and electricians to painters and plasterers, has never been higher.  

At Rated People, we’re passionate about helping more people work in the industry, so here we explore why lots of people are now waking up to the advantages of a career in construction and where the biggest opportunities are in 2023 if you’re looking to make a change. With 60% of trade businesses looking to hire and expand their workforce in 2023, it’s a great time to get into the industry. 

You can skip ahead to different sections here: 

The Professions People Want To Switch To This Year

The Opportunities Of A Trade Career 

• Biggest Benefits of Working As A Tradesperson
• How Much Money You Can Earn As A Tradesperson 
• The Trades That Will Be Most In Demand in 2023 

Why Now Is A Great Time To Start Working As A Tradesperson 

• The Industry Has A Skills Shortage
• The Trades Most Affected By Workforce Shortages
• Rise In Trade Training Enrolments  

The Professions People Want To Switch To This Year 

We spoke to thousands of people across the UK and discovered 32% are interested in switching careers this year. Looking at which professions they would be most keen to switch to, trade professions, from bathroom fitters and gardeners to roofers and heating engineers, were the most popular choice, beating banking, computing and education.  

Top 10 careers people want to switch to in 2023

Biggest Benefits of Working As A Tradesperson 

We also spoke to hundreds of tradespeople up and down the country and discovered that one in three had switched from another career to work in the trades. Almost two in three went on to say they now make more money working as a tradesperson than they did in their previous job.  

But it’s not just about the money. Nine in 10 of the tradespeople we interviewed said they love their trade career, feel happy at work and feel motivated by their job. Almost two in three also went on to say they don’t feel stressed at work either. The many benefits result in almost 90% of tradespeople saying they think more young people should consider a career in the trades, so we dug a little deeper to reveal the biggest benefits. 

Top five reasons why tradespeople love their job

How Much Money You Can Earn As A Tradesperson 

We spoke to sole traders about how much they earn and the results illustrate how lucrative the industry is.  

On average, sole traders are making £43,561 a year, which is a considerable amount more than the national annual average of £27,756 (almost £16,000 more).  

One in four of the sole traders we spoke to said they make more than £50,000 a year and 10% make over £75,000.  

If this sounds attractive to you, starting to train up as a tradesperson – whether that’s on the job, through an apprenticeship or with formal training, could be a great way to get a better work-life balance and earn more money.  

The Trades That Will Be Most In Demand in 2023 

If you’re interested in switching careers to work in a trade and would like to know where the biggest opportunities are in the industry, we analysed our internal data to see which trades have seen the biggest rise in demand over the past two years.  

Locksmiths top the table, with an 87% increase in demand since 2020. Kitchen specialists, roofers, plumbers and painters/decorators also feature in the top 10.  

Top 10 trades that saw the biggest rise in demand in 2022 compared to 2020

The trades industry has seen huge growth over the past few years as more people look to improve their homes. The vast majority of tradespeople say demand is still strong and seven in 10 say they are ‘very busy’ in 2023. These are the trades that are the busiest this year. 

Top 10 trades that are ‘very busy’ in 2023

The Industry Has A Skills Shortage  

Although there are amazing opportunities, the industry is currently experiencing workforce shortages across all trades. In 2022, 57% of UK trade businesses said they experienced workforce shortages and in 2023 this increases further to nearly two thirds (63%).  

One of the key reasons behind the skills gap is Brexit, with many trade workers having to leave the country. Fewer young people are also getting into the industry, which is contributing to a lack of skilled workers in trade professions. Shockingly, our research reveals 48% of UK adults say they weren’t offered a trade career as a job option in careers advice at school and we want this to change.  

While the industry is appealing to many people who want to switch careers, we’re also on a mission to promote the industry to more young people. Working in construction offers high earning potential, great work-life balance and also a way to avoid the student debt that so many people get landed with when they go to university. 

The Trades Most Affected By Workforce Shortages  

Looking at the trades that are affected by shortages, we can reveal the sectors that are crying out for new talent the most.  

More than nine in 10 plasterer/renderer businesses say they couldn’t find enough workers in 2022 and at least half of all businesses in bathroom fitting, painting/ decorating, gardening, building and handyperson roles also experienced workforce shortages in 2022.

Top 10 trades that experienced workforce shortages the most in 2022

Rise In Trade Training Enrolments  

The Government is currently pushing to get more young people onto ‘T Levels’ and Access Training saw a 40% increase in Trade Training Enrolments in 2022, which could suggest the tide is starting to turn. The four most popular courses are: electrical, gas, plumbing, and carpentry.  

When it comes to the trade apprenticeships that people are most interested in, we analysed Google data to see which ones were being Googled the most.  

Tallying with Access Training’s popular training courses, people in the UK are most interested in apprenticeships to become an electrician. Plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying and joinery are also hugely popular, pulling in between 30,000 and 93,000 searches on Google a year.  

Top 10 most popular trade apprenticeships

For more insights about home improvements and renovations, download the full 2023 report here. 

The post Starting Afresh: Why So Many People Want To Switch Careers To A Trade Profession appeared first on Rated People Blog.

For insights on the biggest trends in renovation and home improvement, take a look at the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report 2023 READ THE 2023 REPORT

Following the home improvement boom of 2020-2022 where record numbers of homeowners improved their homes, the 2023 edition of our Home Improvement Trends Report shows increasing costs are forcing many homeowners to rein in budgets and plans for this year.   

Only 35% of UK homeowners say they will definitely be carrying out home improvement work to their homes in 2023 (down from 52% in 2022) and 71% of tradespeople think work will drop out this year because of the rising cost of living.  

Higher costs are having a huge impact on both homeowners and tradespeople and here we unpack what the effects of that could be – from the home improvement projects and essential home maintenance jobs that many people are having to put on hold to the ways tradespeople are attracting more business this year.  

You can skip ahead to different home improvement stats and insights here: 

The Rising Cost Of Home Improvements 

• How Much Prices For Home Improvements Will Increase This Year
• Which Trades Will Increase Prices The Most 

The Effect Of Rising Prices On Homeowners 

• How Homeowners Are Scaling Back Home Improvement Plans This Year
• The Essential Maintenance Jobs Homeowners Can’t Afford To Do This Year

How The Cost-Of-Living Crisis Is Impacting Tradespeople 

• The Rising Cost Of Materials
• The Trades That Will See The Biggest Drop In Demand in 2023
• How Tradespeople Are Attracting More Business In 2023

If you’re a homeowner and you’re keen to find more cost-effective ways to still improve your home this year, there are over 50,000 expert local tradespeople here on Rated People who can help – from builders and plumbers to kitchen specialists and handypeople.  

How Much Prices For Home Improvements Will Increase This Year 

Increasing operational costs and the rising cost of materials have increased substantially over the past two years, and this has meant tradespeople have needed to pass these costs on to keep up with inflation and stay in business. 

We spoke to hundreds of tradespeople across the UK to find out how much prices for home improvements and renovations are likely to rise. If you’re looking to have work done to your home this year, it’ll cost 17% more on average than in 2022.  

To help you understand which jobs have seen the biggest price rises, we worked with Price Builder to dive into how much prices for some of the most common home improvement jobs have risen. Loft conversions have seen the biggest increase – going up by 20% last year. Garden rooms saw an 11% hike in prices as did single storey extensions and slate and tiled roofing.  

Top 10 home improvements that have seen the biggest price rises over the past year

Which Trades Will Increase Prices The Most 

On average, 86% of all UK tradespeople are increasing their prices this year so it’s a good idea to get in there as early as possible with tradespeople to secure the best price. If you’re looking to hire a bathroom fitter, electrician, plumber, roofer or carpenter, it’ll be even more important as they’re the top five trades where price rises will be seen the most.  

More than 90% of UK bathroom fitters, electricians, plumbers and roofers will be hiking prices this year. The good news is that if you’re looking for a plasterer and renderer, they’re the trade where price rises won’t be seen quite as much, with only 79% looking to put up their prices. 

Top 12 Trades That Will Be Increasing Prices in 2023 (Ranked by % of each trade that said they would be increasing their prices in 2023)

How Homeowners Are Scaling Back Home Improvement Plans This Year 

For homeowners wanting to complete work on their homes in 2023, the rising cost of renovations is unsurprisingly having a negative impact on projects. Almost half (47%) say they’re worried they now won’t have enough money to complete the types of projects they want to do this year, and more than half (51%) will be scaling back plans and doing less home improvement work in 2023 because the cost of work has increased.  

So which projects are being put on hold this year? The main one is getting a new carpet, with one in five (19%) people who said they would be delaying work this year saying that’s the job they’re choosing not to do.  

16% are shelving painting and decorating plans and 14% say their new bathroom will have to wait. 

Top 10 home improvements that homeowners are putting off in 2023 because costs have increased

The Essential Maintenance Jobs Homeowners Can’t Afford To Do This Year 

Unfortunately, homeowners are also having to scale back budgets for essential home maintenance jobs like gas safety checks, electrical repairs and fixing mould and damp. In fact, 6 in 10 homeowners in the UK say they won’t be able to afford some home maintenance this year.  

Of the 36% of those who identified at least one essential home maintenance job that they won’t be able to do in 2023, one in five (21%) will be putting off fixing broken appliances. 20% say they’ll be unable to fix poorly insulated areas and just under one in five (19%) – which is the equivalent of around 1 million households! – won’t be able to repair or service their boiler, which could be fatal if a fault goes undiagnosed. 

Top 10 essential home maintenance jobs homeowners are putting off this year

The Rising Cost Of Materials  

So, what’s behind the price rises? Well, there’s a number of factors that have contributed to inflating the cost of materials and operational costs for tradespeople – from the war in Ukraine to Brexit.  

In 2022, 94% of UK tradespeople experienced rising costs, and in 2023, 92% of tradespeople say their costs are increasing further.  

We took a look at official Government price indices for building materials and compounds over the past two years to see which materials saw the biggest price fluctuations, and it’s steel and concrete that saw the biggest price rises. In 2022, the price of concrete reinforcing steel bars was 44% higher on average than in 2021.  

Fabricated structural steel saw a 34% increase and the cost of pre-cast concrete products was 26% higher in 2022 when compared to the year before.  

Top 10 construction materials that saw the biggest average year-on-year price rises

The Trades That Will See The Biggest Drop In Demand in 2023 

The big rise in demand in 2020, 2021 and 2022 was incredible for tradespeople. But now, with fewer homeowners able to have work done, 2023 is set to be a more challenging landscape for tradespeople to navigate. 

Almost three in four (71%) tradespeople expect they’ll have work drop out this year because of the rising cost of living and 77% think homeowner demand will reduce.   

As homeowners double down on value for money investments, gardeners and landscape gardeners, bathroom fitters and handypeople are the top three trades that expect to have work drop out in 2023.  

At the other end of the scale, only around half of plumbers (54%) expect to have work drop out because jobs will be more expensive for homeowners. Roofers and electricians also appear to be less affected. 

Top 12 trades that expect to have work drop out in 2023 because of rising prices

How Tradespeople Are Attracting More Business In 2023  

To counter the challenges that tradespeople are facing in 2023, almost one in three (29%) plan to invest in marketing and advertising to attract more business. They’re also looking to expand their businesses to offer more services, improve their website/ social channels, potentially reduce prices if they can, and expand into different locations. 

Top 10 ways tradespeople are attracting more business in 2023

For more insights about home improvements and renovations, download the full 2023 report here. 

The post The Home Improvement Squeeze: How The Rising Cost Of Living Is Affecting Home Improvements in 2023 appeared first on Rated People Blog.

At Rated People, we care about how home improvements are done, so we’re really happy to see that sustainability is becoming even more of a consideration among homeowners and tradespeople this year.

For insights on the biggest trends in renovation and home improvement, take a look at the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report 2023 READ THE 2023 REPORT

The 2023 edition of our Home Improvement Trends Report shows almost half of UK homeowners want to make their homes more environmentally friendly in 2023, and more than three quarters of UK tradespeople will be making changes to their businesses to improve their green credentials. Eco home improvements are now being recognised as a way to save money on bills, as well as be kinder to the planet – a win-win.

If you’re a homeowner – read on for tips and advice on how to make your home or your renovation project more eco friendly, and if you’re interested in making your home more energy efficient, there’s over 50,000 expert local tradespeople here on Rated People who can help – from heating engineers to thermal insulation specialists and builders.

If you’re a tradesperson – keep reading to find out which trades are the most committed to sustainability, as well as how tradespeople are going greener this year and which eco home improvements are seeing the biggest increase in homeowner demand.

How To Update Your Home In A Sustainable Way and Save Money

More and more homeowners are choosing to ‘part update’ a room, instead of carrying out a full refurbishment. A great example of this is replacing kitchen cupboard doors (or simply painting your existing doors) instead of ripping out the entire kitchen and installing a brand new one. Not only does this considerably reduce the cost, it’s also a brilliant way to reduce waste.

Part update projects can make it look like you’ve completely redesigned and updated the space, but for a fraction of the cost of a full refurbishment. In fact, homeowners can expect to save an average of £6,070 this year by opting for ‘part update’ projects, which means this style of renovation is great for your pocket as well as the planet.  

Keen to try it? Here are 15 ways to redesign your home without doing a full refurbishment.

1. Just upgrade bathroom hardware, for example installing black taps, a black shower and a black radiator, instead of a complete bathroom refurbishment

2. Paint kitchen cupboard doors and trim instead of complete kitchen refurbishment 

3. Paint wooden windows/ doors instead of replacing them

4. Replace kitchen cupboard doors to get a completely new look instead of complete kitchen refurbishment

5. Retile the bathroom instead of complete bathroom refurbishment

6. Paint the staircase instead of installing a new one

7. Replace kitchen worktops instead of complete kitchen refurbishment

8. Replace the bathroom suite instead of complete refurbishment

9. Retile the kitchen instead of a complete refurbishment

10. Paint uPVC windows/ doors instead of getting new windows

11. Paint bathroom tiles instead of replacing them

12. Fit new doors to storage cupboards or fitted wardrobe doors, instead of getting new storage

13. Paint kitchen tiles instead of replacing them

14. Sand floorboards instead of fitting a brand-new floor

15. Cover or wrap the existing kitchen worktop instead of getting a new one

How To Renovate More Sustainably

If you’ve bought somewhere that hasn’t been touched since the 70s, and there’s no choice but to rip everything out and start again, there are still tonnes of ways you can reduce waste and renovate in a more sustainable way.

In 2022, one in three homeowners who did home improvements found environmentally friendly ways to improve and adapt their homes. In 2023, this increases considerably, to almost half of homeowners actively finding ways to reduce the impact of their renovation projects on the planet.

If you’re embarking on an exciting renovation, here are eight ways to reduce waste and increase the sustainability of your project – many of which can also help to reduce cost too.

1. Recycle waste instead of taking everything to the tip

2. Sell or donate old fittings, materials and appliances to reduce waste

3. Source second-hand materials, appliances and fittings

4. Reuse any existing materials you can, for example bricks

5. Buy more quality and timeless fixtures and fittings so they’ll last longer and won’t need to be replaced as often

6. Use eco-friendly materials, for example eco paint

7. Use natural and renewable materials, for example bamboo

8. Rent tools rather than buying them

How To Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

With the cost of energy still higher than ever, more homeowners are installing eco home improvements, like solar panels and insulation, to reduce the cost of their energy bills.

We spoke to homeowners across the UK who are planning eco adaptations for their home this year, and ‘saving money on bills’ was the top reason behind their decision – a huge 50% of homeowners said this was their main motivator for installing eco home improvements.

If you’re keen to improve your home’s energy efficiency, here are the nine most popular energy-saving adaptations that homeowners are planning to install this year to save money on their bills.

1. Draught proofing

2. Solar panels

3. Loft/roof insulation

4. Triple glazing

5. Double glazing

6. Floor insulation

7. Boiler upgrade

8. Wall insulation

9. Wind turbine 

If you’re looking to install solar panels, take a look at our solar panel guide to find out where you can have them installed, how much they cost and how much money they can save you, as well as what grants are currently available to help reduce the cost of installation.

If it’s insulation you’re after, our guide to loft insulation reveals how much it’ll cost, which type of insulation is best and how long it will take to insulate your loft. For more information on how much cavity wall insulation costs as well as tips on how you can get it for free, head over to our cavity wall insulation guide.  

The Most Eco-Focused Trades

We spoke to hundreds of tradespeople across the UK and asked them about their plans for 2023 – more than three quarters said they will be making changes to their business and ways of working to be more environmentally friendly this year.

When it comes to the trades that are the most committed to sustainability, here are the top 12, so if you’re in here, we salute you!

Electricians are leading the charge, with 86% planning eco changes this year. Handypeople are second with 78% making eco upgrades to their businesses. Bathroom fitters (75%) take third, gardeners (71%) are in fourth place and builders (64%) take fifth position. 

The top trades that will make their businesses more environmentally friendly in 2023

How To Make Your Trades Business More Sustainable This Year

Well over half of UK tradespeople say they’re making eco changes to their businesses because they care about the planet. But interestingly, one in three UK homeowners also say they’d be more likely to choose a tradesperson if they were environmentally friendly, so promoting your sustainability credentials is also a great way to attract more business.

Here are eight ways to go greener this year.

1. Take more local jobs to reduce travel time (fuel)

2. Give more quotes remotely to cut down on driving time (fuel)

3. Improve recycling

4. Reduce waste

5. Use environmentally friendly materials/ products

6. Use British parts where possible/support other local businesses

7. Use second hand parts where possible

8. Get an electric vehicle

The Rise In Homeowner Demand For Eco Home Improvements

This year, almost twice as many homeowners want to have ‘eco home improvements’ installed than in 2022 and this increase in demand provides a valuable opportunity for tradespeople in the UK.

To understand which eco jobs are increasing in popularity the most, we analysed the volume of home improvement jobs posted through the Rated People platform by UK homeowners, and these are the top 10 eco adaptations that are seeing the biggest increase in demand.

At-home electric car charging points have seen the steepest rise, with demand going up by a staggering 2406% in the last two years. In second place are biomass boilers with an increase of 225%. Energy producing solar panels are in third position, with demand rising by 222%. Demand for thermal insulation has gone up by 143% and triple glazing has increased by 125%.

Top eco improvements that have increased in demand

The Biggest Opportunities in Sustainability For UK Tradespeople

As part of our research, we spoke to homeowners up and down the country who will be having eco improvements installed this year to discover which ones they are planning to have. For tradespeople looking to diversify their skills to capitalise on this increasing focus on sustainability, these are the top 20 most in-demand eco adaptations for 2023.

Four of the top five eco home improvements that homeowners want to install in 2023 are related to reducing energy usage – the top eco improvement planned is a smart meter. In second place is draught proofing, and in third position is installing extra insulation. Elsewhere in the top 20 eco home improvements for 2023 are: solar panels, electric car charging points, heat pumps and underfloor heating.

Top 20 eco home improvements homeowners are planning to install in 2023

1. Smart meter
2. Draught proofing
3. Extra insulation
4. Compost pile
5. Upgrade old appliances to more energy efficient ones
6. Double glazing
7. Paint with low VOC paint
8. Smart lighting
9. Smart thermostat
10. Low flow toilet
11. Solar panels
12. Biodiverse garden
13. Triple glazing
14. Electric car charging point
15. Underfloor heating
16. Heat pump
17. Wind turbine
18. Green roof
19. Solar water heating
20. Biomass boiler

For more insights about home improvements, renovations and opportunities for tradespeople, download the full 2023 report here.

The post Sustainable Renovations: This Year’s Biggest Eco Trends In Home Improvement and Interior Design appeared first on Rated People Blog.

With life seemingly back to ‘normal’ after the pandemic, the way we use our homes has changed once again. In 2023, our Home Improvement Trends Report shows we’re now more focused on optimising the design of our homes and repurposing space, rather than just maximising square footage.  

For insights on the biggest trends in renovation and home improvement, take a look at the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report 2023 READ THE 2023 REPORT

So, if you’re a homeowner and you’re looking for some design inspiration, read on to discover this year’s biggest home improvement trends –  from the 23 biggest interior design trends that are IN and OUT to the home improvements that now attract the most buyers.  

If you’re a tradesperson, head down to learn about where the biggest opportunities are for your trades business this year – from the jobs that homeowners want to spend the most money on to those that have seen the biggest increase in demand.   

Homeowner Trends

If you’re interested in renovating or redesigning your home, and would like to speak to expert local tradespeople – from kitchen fitters, and builders, to electricians and plumbers, there’s over 50,000 professional tradespeople on Rated People across the whole of the UK who can help with your home improvement projects.   

Top 23 Interior Design Trends That Are IN (and 23 That Are OUT) for 2023 

The Home Improvements That Now Attract The Most Buyers 

The Most Popular Paint Colours for 2023 

Tradespeople Trends

If you’re a tradesperson, these sections reveal insights on homeowner demand and how to capitalise on changing homeowner trends.  

The Home Improvement Jobs That Homeowners Want To Spend The Most Money On in 2023 

The Home Improvement Jobs With The Biggest Increases In Demand

The Most In-Demand Home Improvement Jobs for 2023

Top 23 Interior Design Trends That Are IN (and 23 That Are OUT) for 2023 

To uncover 2023’s biggest trends, we analysed Google search volume data over the last year for hundreds of design features – from paint colours to kitchen cabinets, and compared it to 2022 to see which are going up, and which are now on their way out.  

Top 23 Interior Design Trends That Are IN for 2023 

This year, green, from sage green to forest green, will be everywhere. Other earthy hues like terracotta, beige and taupe will also be key colours for interiors, and we’ll see natural materials dominating home design as ‘Natural materials interior’ is the trend that’s increasing in popularity the most in 2023. Searches on Google have risen by a huge 450%!  

Creative paint techniques will also be popular this year, with colour drenching (where you paint everything in a room the same colour as the walls – skirting boards, picture rails, doors, radiators and window frames) and painted arches both hugely increasing in popularity.  

To find out more about colour drenching and for tips on how to do it, head over to our guide on how to do colour drenching.

When it comes to kitchens – lavender, neutral, blue, forest green and beige will be key colours for cabinets. Elsewhere in the ranking are design features like mushroom wallpaper, curved walls, mindful interior design, marble interiors and brilliant examples of space repurposing, like boot rooms and home massage rooms.  

The 23 interior design and home improvement trends increasing in popularity the most in 2023 

Top 23 Interior Design Trends That Are OUT for 2023 

Our research also reveals which trends are now on their way out – so if you’ve got some of these, and you’re thinking of redesigning your space, they could be some of the first things to consider changing. 

Hanging chairs have seen the biggest decrease in popularity, with 52% less searches made on Google in the last 12 months compared to the year before. Grey décor and grey kitchens have also had their heyday. 

After years of dominance, open plan is now making way for broken plan as more of us start to value separate spaces. Dried flowers, Berber rugs, rattan furniture, velvet sofas and Macramé (a creative form of knotting used to create things like wall hangings) also feature in the trends that are decreasing in popularity.  

The 23 interior design and home improvement trends decreasing in popularity the most in 2023 

The Home Improvements That Now Attract The Most Buyers 

There’s so much advice out there about how to increase the value of your home if you’re looking to sell, from tips on decluttering to dressing your home for sale. But, what are the actual home improvements that would make people more likely to put in an offer? 

The pandemic influenced what buyers were looking for, but now that’s ‘mostly’ behind us, homebuyer priorities are also shifting. With energy prices higher than ever, it’s perhaps no surprise that solar panels and extra insulation are among the most coveted add-ons that buyers would appreciate.  

The number one improvement that would attract the most buyers in 2023 however is now a downstairs toilet, so if you have space, and you’ve been thinking about it, now could be a great time to get one installed.  

Utility rooms, walk-in wardrobes, outdoor entertaining areas, broken plan spaces and kitchen pantries also appear in the top 20. So, with the property market now cooler than it has been over the past two years, these are the things you could consider adding to your home if you want to attract more buyers.  

To find out how to install beautiful walk-in wardrobes, take a look at our guide on how to create the perfect walk-in wardrobe. 

Top 20 Most Attractive Home Improvements For Homebuyers 

The Most Popular Paint Colours for 2023 

We teamed up with COAT to reveal which paint colours will be the most popular this year. By analysing sales data across their colour range, we can reveal that among the top 15 colours to see the biggest increase in demand, are shades of green, beige and taupe – proving beige is anything but bland. 

Darlington (a deep green with yellow and grey undertones) is the paint colour that’s had the biggest rise in demand – shooting up by more than 1000% in the run up to 2023. Other greens in the ranking are Nomad (a dark olive green) and Detox (a cool blue green).  

Well Grounded (a biscuit beige) has seen popularity increase by almost 200%. Duvet Day (a modern beige) and Kind Regards (a light green greige) also make the top 15. Elsewhere, colours like Mindful (an off white taupe) and Good Intentions (a pale taupe) reflect that increasing popularity of neutral tones and natural materials.  

So, if you’re looking to revamp some of your rooms and redecorate this year – either as DIY, or with the help of a trusted tradesperson, these are the top 15 colours to consider. 

The top 15 paint colours increasing in demand the most for 2023 

The Home Improvement Jobs That Homeowners Want To Spend The Most Money On in 2023 

To understand the home improvement jobs that homeowners want to prioritise in 2023, we looked into the jobs that they’re budgeting the most for this year. After a big rush to increase space in our homes to allow for home working, home schooling, and socialising at home, repurposing space will now be a big trend and a key area of opportunity for tradespeople in 2023. 

As you’d expect, the usual staples like new kitchens and bathrooms make the list. But interestingly, homeowners are now also keen to create things like saunas, dog shower rooms, home massage rooms, walk-in wardrobes, playrooms and games rooms. In fact, homeowners are looking to spend more on installing dog showers this year than things like a new kitchen, creating a downstairs toilet and installing patio doors!   

If you’re a homeowner and you’d like some dog shower inspiration, see our guide on what you need to know to install a dog shower.

For tradespeople who are thinking of expanding their skillset or advertising different jobs in their portfolio this year, these are the things that are high on homeowners’ wish lists this year.  

Top 20 home improvement jobs that homeowners want to spend the most money on in 2023 

The Home Improvement Jobs With The Biggest Increases In Demand  

To discover which jobs are increasing in popularity, and therefore provide great opportunities for tradespeople, we analysed the volume of different jobs posted by UK homeowners through Rated People in 2022 compared to 2021. 

UK homeowners appear to be becoming more safety and security conscious, as seven of the top 20 jobs that experienced the biggest rise in demand are related to safety, security and accessibility. Cladding, electrical inspection condition reports, smoke alarm installation, disabled access and mobility service, fire alarm installation, carbon monoxide alarms installation, and security fencing have all seen demand spike ahead of 2023.   

The undeniable need to live more sustainably is also influencing the home improvement jobs that saw demand increase the most. Electric car charging point installation rose by 169% and solar panels saw demand increase by 64% as more homeowners want to find ways to reduce their energy bills.  

Top 20 home improvements that saw demand increase the most in 2022 

The Most In-Demand Home Improvement Jobs for 2023 

This year, it’s especially good news for painters, carpet fitters, gardeners, bathroom fitters and plasterers, because those trades feature in the top five jobs planned by the most UK homeowners in 2023.  

Building storage will also be an area of opportunity this year – the research shows it’s just as much of a priority as a new kitchen for homeowners in 2023. Tiling, new driveways, loft conversions and new windows will also see big demand from homeowners this year.    

Top 20 most popular home improvement jobs planned for 2023 

For more insights about home improvements, renovations and opportunities for tradespeople, download the full 2023 report here. 

The post 2023’s Biggest Home Improvement Trends For Homeowners and Tradespeople appeared first on Rated People Blog.

For insights on the biggest trends in renovation and home improvement, take a look at the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report 2023 READ THE 2023 REPORT

Welcome to this year’s report – the fourth annual edition, and we hope this is the biggest and best one yet.

This year’s edition of the Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report leverages our proprietary data and nationwide research and it’s full of insights for homeowners, homebuyers and tradespeople.  

With tips on how to renovate more cost effectively and sustainably, and insights into where the biggest opportunities are for tradespeople, the 2023 report will be a valuable tool for anyone who wants to get the most out of their home improvement jobs this year.  

To create this year’s report, we analysed more than 1 million home improvement jobs posted through Rated People. We also spoke to thousands of tradespeople, homeowners and homebuyers across the UK – and these are the top five biggest home improvement trends for 2023. 

2023’s Biggest Home Improvement Trends

Trend #1 – The ‘Race For Space’ Is Over  

This year, alongside the usual staples like painting and decorating, new kitchens and bathrooms, homeowners want to create better storage, walk-in wardrobes, saunas, home bars, games rooms and playrooms. The pandemic meant people needed to adapt their homes for new ways of living – from working at home to home-schooling – but this year, it’ll all be about injecting fun back into the home.     

Key interior design trends for 2023 will be earthy colour palettes, curved lines, biophilic design and natural materials. Green, beige and taupe will be key colour trends and broken plan has now firmly taken over open plan.  

Trend #2 – The Home Improvement Squeeze 

Compared to 2020, demand for home improvement and tradespeople in 2022 was still up by 23%. But, with the increasing cost of energy and the rising cost of living, demand reduced by 15% in 2022 compared to 2021.  

This year, as people across the UK are understandably looking to rein in spending, fewer homeowners are planning home improvements – 35% say they will definitely be improving their homes, which is down from 52% in 2022, and 26% say they’re unsure.  

The cost of materials and operational costs for tradespeople have risen considerably over the past two years and this will continue to push up prices for home improvement jobs in 2023. Nine in 10 tradespeople expect their costs to increase further this year, and as a result 86% of tradespeople will need to increase their prices for homeowners by an average of 17%.  

Because of this, almost half of UK homeowners (who are planning work), are worried they won’t have enough money to complete the projects they wanted to do in 2023 and almost three in four UK tradespeople expect to have work drop out because of the rising cost of living. 

The cost-of-living crisis is also impacting essential and emergency home maintenance jobs. Close to two in three UK homeowners will put off essential home maintenance jobs this year. Of the 36% of homeowners who identified at least one essential home maintenance job that they won’t be able to do in 2023, one in five, which is the equivalent of around 1 million households, won’t be able to repair or service their boiler, which could be fatal if a fault goes unchecked. And shockingly, one in 11 homeowners say they would have to go without food if they experienced a home maintenance emergency that couldn’t be put off. 

Trend #3 – Homeowners Are Renovating To Beat The Property Market  

With high property prices and interest rates, many people are now choosing to either renovate their existing home, or buy a property in need of work to create the home of their dreams for less money. Close to half of homeowners (who will be doing home improvement work this year) say they’ll be taking on a full renovation project and a further 23% say they’re considering it.   

Almost two in three tradespeople expect to work on renovation projects in 2023, and well over half think demand for renovations will increase this year. The cost of home improvement work is impacting the types of jobs that will be most in demand. In 2021, it would have cost around £24,000 on average to complete a renovation of a three-bed semi in the UK. In 2023, the same work will cost just over £34,500, which means renovations have increased by more than £10,000 for homeowners, or 46%, in just two years.  

Trend #4 – Homeowners Turn To Eco Home Improvements To Save Money On Energy Bills 

With rising energy prices, almost three in four UK homeowners say they’ll be using their heating less in 2023, and demand for eco home improvements is at a record high as more homeowners try to cut the cost of their energy bills. Demand for solar panels has increased by 222% in just two years, and thermal insulation has increased by 143%. 

Nine in 10 UK homeowners want to adapt their homes to make them more energy efficient and environmentally friendly in 2023 and half of UK homeowners say saving money on their bills is their biggest motivator for installing eco home improvements. 

Eight in 10 tradespeople are also planning to be more eco-friendly in 2023 and it’s electricians, handypeople and bathroom fitters that are leading the charge, with at least 75% of the tradespeople in those trades looking for ways to work more sustainably this year.  

More homeowners are also looking for sustainable ways to renovate and adapt their homes to minimise their impact on the planet and save money in the process. ‘Part updates’, like replacing kitchen doors instead of ripping the whole kitchen out are becoming increasingly popular, and 70% of tradespeople think demand for part updates will increase in 2023.  

Trend #5 – A Trade Profession Is Now The Top Choice For People Looking To Switch Careers  

Searches on Google for ‘career switch’ have increased by 38% in the last two years, and more and more people are now starting to see the lucrative opportunities available in the trades industry. One in four people in the UK would now be interested in working as a tradesperson, and more people who want to switch careers in 2023 are looking to work as a tradesperson over any other line of work.  

With workforce shortages being felt across the industry, the opportunities within the trades are vast. One in three tradespeople currently working say they switched careers to work in their trade, and close to two in three say they now make more money as a tradesperson than they did in their previous career.  

Almost nine in 10 tradespeople think more young people should also consider a trade career – but just under half of UK adults say they weren’t offered a trade career in their career advice when they were in school. Positively though, it appears things could be starting to change for the younger generation as there was a 40% rise in trade training and enrolments in 2022. 

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