Home renovation spend has grown 36%  in the last year to an average of £15,000, according to the 2021 Houzz & Home survey, with kitchens the most popular projects.

The survey of more than 3,000 UK respondents found higher budget projects (with the top 10% of project spend) reached £100,000 or more in 2020.

Kitchen projects were the most popular investment among renovating homeowners and jumped 15% percent to £11,500 in 2020, compared with £10,000 in 2019.

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Two-thirds of homeowners made major changes to their kitchens, such as changing the layout of the kitchen and upgrading plumbing, electrical or heating (64% and 63%, respectively).

Two in five homeowners reframed, moved or added walls, and increased the size of the kitchen during renovations (44% and 42%, respectively).

While more than half of homeowners replaced all appliances in their newly renovated kitchens (51%).

Other improvements made to the kitchen include new wall colour or texture, worktops, lighting, cabinets and flooring.

With homeowners home-bound due to the pandemic, the share who reported they had wanted to pursue a home renovation and finally had the time increased by 5% in 2020 (38% versus 33% in 2018), and remains the top renovation trigger.

Wanting to do it all along and finally having the financial means also rose (as reported by 37% of homeowners compared with 35% in 2018).

One in five homeowners claimed to have renovated instead of moving to find a home that fits their needs because it was the more affordable option (20%).

Renovating to adapt to recent changes in lifestyle increased by 4% in 2020 from 2018 (24% versus 20% in 2018).

The average renovation spend among Millennials (ages 25-39) jumped 70% in 2020 compared with 2019 (£17,000 versus £10,000), surpassing older generations who historically reflected higher spend. Gen Xers (ages 40-54) and Baby Boomers (ages 55-74) followed in average renovation spend (£15,000 and £14,000, respectively).

That said, the top 10% project spend for Gen Xers surpassed Millennials (£120,000 versus £106,400).

Senior economist at Houzz Marine Sargsyan commented: “While the pandemic caused initial concern for the residential renovation industry, many homeowners finally had the time and financial means to move forward with long awaited projects in the past year.

“This pent up demand, along with long-standing market fundamentals empower homeowners to continue investing in their current homes.”

The study also found that the busy renovation market will continue through 2021, with 51% of homeowners planning to renovate this year, up 5% since 2019 (46%).