The Grand Design Effect inspires DIY projects for 38% of homeowners

What is the Grand Designs Effect?

The Grand Designs Effect is when homeowners become inspired by home renovation programmes and opt to replicate the home improvements they see on screen.

In fact, homeowners have been so inspired by these TV programmes that 38% have taken on a home maintenance project themselves.

The research commissioned by home assistance provider, HomeServe, also finds that the younger generation (18–34-year-olds) are the most inspired when it comes to copying what they see on the screen, with this age group the most likely to undertake home maintenance tasks (64% v 38% of all age groups)*.

Top home improvements inspired by reality TV

Across all age groups, some of the most likely tasks UK homeowners are likely to undertake include painting and decorating and outdoor construction.

Respondents also admitted to attempting more technical tasks, Including electrical work (25%), plumbing work (20%) and home insulation or weatherproofing (17%) but research shows that only half (47%) of homeowners completed their home improvements successfully.

Most common DIY disasters

The research revealed that DIY projects don’t always go as planned. The most popular issues included:

A poor finish (15%)

An incomplete project (11%)

Increased project costs (8%)

24% of people admitted their project was more complex than they originally thought, while 15% had to redo parts of the job to bring it to completion.

Experts are warning that attempting home maintenance without being fully prepared or skilled can incur a financial impact. The research found attempting home maintenance, whilst not being fully prepared, has led to a fifth of Brits (20%) having to fork out the sum of £329 on average to remedy the problem.

These costly mistakes could be the reason that half of homeowners (50%) say they’d like more information on how to upskill before attempting future projects.

Chris Houghton, HomeServe Engineer comments:

“It’s no surprise that home renovation programmes are so popular, given that we spend so much time in our own home and wanting it to look its best.

“We want to encourage the nation to tackle common fixes around the home efficiently and safely as well as upgrading their homes, but often TV shows make the job look easier than it is and can lead to costly errors. Our online Knowledge Hub aims to combat this by offering a series of simple step-by-step guides on home maintenance tasks. Having said that, it’s always important to consult a professional if in doubt, to avoid causing additional damage or incur a cost.”

For more information and for simple home maintenance advice visit our Knowledge Hub.

*According to nationally representative research conducted by Opinium, 64% of those aged 18-34 have attempted home maintenance after watching a DIY programme, compared to 38% of all age groups. Research conducted amongst 2,000 UK homeowners (18+) in July 2024.