2026 Houzz Renovation Plans Report
The 2026 Houzz Renovation Plans Report offers a clear picture of how US homeowners are thinking about home improvement in the year ahead. Based on a nationwide survey, the report highlights renovation intent, budget expectations and the challenges homeowners anticipate as they move forward.
Homeowners move forward with confidence
Renovation momentum remains strong heading into 2026. More than 9 in 10 US homeowners (91%) say they plan to move forward with their renovation projects this year. Among those planning to remodel, 67% report they will maintain or even expand the scope of their projects.¹ Confidence is especially high among households earning $150,000–$200,000 annually, with 64% describing themselves as very confident about renovating in 2026.²
Most homeowners will maintain or expand project scope
More than half of homeowners surveyed (54%) plan to keep their renovation scope unchanged, while none expect to scale back. An additional 13% plan to expand their projects. While about one-third remain undecided, two-thirds of homeowners (67%) report being certain about their project scope.³
Renovation budgets skew mid-to-high
Homeowners are planning meaningful investments in their homes. Three-quarters of respondents (75%) expect to spend more than $10,000 on renovations in 2026. Nearly one-third anticipate budgets between $10,000 and $29,999, while 29% plan to invest $50,000 or more.⁴
Renovating for the long term
Many homeowners are renovating with a long-term outlook. Nearly half (45%) of those planning renovations do not intend to move after their projects are complete. Another 19% expect to stay in their homes for 6–10 years, while just 4% anticipate moving within the next year.⁵
Top reasons homeowners choose to renovate instead of buying a new home
- Want to stay in their current home (79%)
- Want to stay in their neighborhood (40%)
- Want to incorporate custom features (29%)
- Better return on investment (28%)
- More affordable than buying new (26%)⁶
Homeowners rely on professionals for renovations
Working with professionals is the norm. More than 9 in 10 homeowners (93%) plan to hire a pro for their 2026 renovation projects. General contractors lead the list, followed by a wide range of skilled trades and design professionals:
- General contractor (37%)
- Electrician (31%)
- Carpet and flooring specialist (30%)
- Plumber (26%)
- Tile, stone or countertop professional (24%)
- Painter (24%)
- Cabinets and cabinetry pro (23%)
- Carpenter (21%)
- Kitchen or bath designer (19%)
- Windows and doors expert (15%)
- Interior designer (13%)
- Custom builder (13%)
- Design-build firm (13%)
- Architect (10%)
- Window coverings pro (10%)⁷
Homeowners expect challenges
While confidence is high, homeowners remain realistic. Nearly all respondents (93%) anticipate challenges during their renovation projects, including rising material costs, higher labor costs, difficulty finding available professionals, sourcing the right products, disruptions to daily life and making design or product decisions.⁸
Rising costs top every concern list
Across all budget levels, from projects under $5,000 to those exceeding $50,000, rising costs are the number one concern for homeowners planning renovations in 2026.⁹
From small updates to major renovations, Get Dwell brings more than 20 years of experience remodeling the finest homes in the Chicago area, guiding each project from initial planning through completion. Schedule time to talk with a Get Dwell project manager today.
¹–⁹ Source: https://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/2026_US_Houzz_Renovation_Plans_Report.pdf