Despite increased cost of living pressures, UK home improvements aren’t slowing down. In fact, our latest research reveals that UK homeowners spent an average of £3,047 on home and garden updates in 2025 – investing significantly more into their living spaces than on holidays abroad or their cars.

The survey of 1,000 homeowners, conducted by Cencuswide, found that 2026 home and garden spending is set to climb again, driven by younger homeowners, higher earners, and a renewed focus on outdoor living. Our report unpacks how much Britain is spending, what they’re prioritising, and the key trends shaping home improvement in 2026.

Our Research – The 25/26 Garden & Home Spending Report

With house prices fluctuating, the cost of living crisis, and many families spending more time at home, homeowners are choosing to spend more on the spaces they spend the most time in, rather than luxuries like new cars or holidays. We wanted to explore this spending shift, by looking at:

• How much homeowners spent in 2025 (and what it went on)
• Their planned budgets for 2026
• What big splugers Brits are prioritising – homes or holidays?
• What they’re investing in – from garden must-haves to large furniture expenses
• When home improvement activity peaks throughout the year
• What Brits are sacrificing to afford upgrades
• How people are funding improvements, including the rise of credit

Key Findings

Brits spent more on their homes than holidays in 2025

UK homeowners spent 25% more on home & garden improvements than they did on holidays abroad in 2025 – with Brits spending £609 more on holidays than their home. Here’s the breakdown:

• £3,047 on home & garden updates
• £2,438 on holidays abroad
• £1,633 on cars and vehicles
• £1,069 on UK breaks

This means, that despite the cost of living squeeze, Brits continued to prioritise investing in their homes over expensive luxuries like weekends away, travel abroad, and new cars. 

Home improvement spending will rise to £3,071 in 2026

A modest £24 rise overall, but this is fuelled almost entirely by outdoor improvements, which are set to jump by £67 year-on-year. High earners, unsurprisingly, are planning to spend the most, £1,139 more, on their homes & gardens in the coming year.  

Spending plans differ sharply by earnings:

• Lower earners: decreasing spend by £144
• Average earners: decreasing by £194
• High earners: increasing by £232
• Top earners: increasing by £1,139

Younger homeowners are also responsible for the boom in home and garden spending. 25–34 year olds spent a whopping £5,045 in 2025 on their home, which is almost three times more than over 55s. The same trend continues into 2026, with young homeowners spending £5,111 in 2026 and over 55s spending just £1,671 – a difference of £3,440!

Home Spending by Age (2025 vs 2026):

Age Group	2025 Spend	2026 Planned Spend	Outdoor Spend 2025	Outdoor Spend 2026
25–34	£5,045	£5,111	£1,361	£1,352
35–54	£3,200	£3,250	£650	£660
55+	£1,783	£1,671	£404	£431

Garden spending is set to surge

Garden spending proved to be the biggest priority for Brits in 2026, with spending on outdoor upgrades rising to £865 in 2026 – the biggest category increase out of all areas of the home.

Here’s where Brits are investing in for their garden in 2026 (percentage who listed it in their top 3 garden investments): 

1. Trees, plants & hedges (27%)
2. Garden lighting/landscaping (26%)
3. Fencing & security (23%)
4. Decking/patio (19%)
5. Greenhouses & veg gardens (18%)
6. Garden rooms (16%)
7. Hot tubs/plunge pools (8%)

Among 25–34 year olds, luxury outdoor features like hot tubs or outdoor kitchens are particularly popular, with 44% including luxury gardens in their top three priorities, reflecting a generation willing to invest in high-end outdoor living. Those receiving higher incomes are also likely to put these items on their wishlists – 1 in 9 people earning £50,271+ say it’s in their top 3 most sought after items!

Home Improvements Remain a Financial Priority For Most

Even though pockets have been squeezed more than ever in 2025, Brits are still prioritising home improvement projects above all else. But, the money has to come from somewhere! Many homeowners are making cutbacks on other luxuries to fund home and garden projects – in 2025:

• 26% postponed or scaled back a holiday to fund home improvements
• This rises to 43% of 25–34 year olds
• 21% of Brits skipped big events like weddings to redirect money to their home
• 25% cut Christmas spending to pay for improvements

The same goes even for Brits earning over £50,271! 36% of high earners postponed their holiday to fund home projects, and 34% even reduced Christmas budgets to help. This is a strong indicator that home improvements remain a financial priority – regardless of whether budgets are tight or salaries high.

How Brits Are Funding Home Upgrades in a Cost of Living Crisis

While most homeowners still rely on savings to pay for these home and garden improvements, credit card use and finance plans are steadily rising: particularly among younger buyers and even high earners who are keen to upgrade without draining their cash reserves.

Here’s how Brits are funding home projects:

• Savings and cash = 77%
• Credit card = 32%
• Finance or payment plans = 14%
• Klarna or similar buy now pay later schemes = 6%
• Borrowing from friends or family = 5%

Higher-income households are actually more likely to use credit than other groups for home spending, providing convenience, flexibility and cash-flow management. Perhaps suggesting that they are more comfortable and have better access to be able to leverage credit. 

1 in 3 Young People Will Use Finance Options & Credit Plans To Fund Home Improvements

25-34 year olds are the most likely to turn to credit or payment plans to fund their projects. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a concern, credit should always be used with caution. 

How young people are funding home improvements:

• Three quarters use savings and cash (75%)
• Almost half use credit cards (45%)
• A third use finance and payment plans (33%)
• 1 in 10 25-34 year old homeowners will borrow from friends and family (10%)
• 1 in 11 25-34 year olds use Klarna to pay for home and garden improvements (9%)

For this age group, credit and payment plans can be a practical tool, helping them spread the cost of improvements over time. However, while they offer flexibility, there is a risk of accumulating interest and debt if repayment plans are not carefully managed .

It’s worth considering the role that social media may be playing here too, with young homeowners increasingly exposed to curated images of stylish homes and luxurious outdoor spaces, this could be a key factor driving high home and garden spending and credit use for younger homeowners. For some, the pressure to “keep up with the Joneses” may cause issues further down the line.

Home & Garden Priorities for 2026

Homeowners are continuing to invest heavily in their living spaces, with spending focused on both practical upgrades and lifestyle-enhancing features. 2026 is set to be a big year for home spending, with a whopping £47 billion across the UK. But what are people buying?

Popular Home Improvements

The kitchen is still the heart of British homes, topping the list of rooms that homeowners plan to invest money into in 2026. This was followed close behind by living rooms and gardens. 

Areas of the home that homeowners plan to invest in during 2026:

1. Kitchen
2. Living room
3. Garden and outdoor areas
4. Bathroom
5. Bedroom
6. Whole home refresh
7. Building updates (e.g. roofing, doors, brickwork)
8. Hallway or landing space
9. Driveway/garage
10. Home office

• Whilst younger homeowners (under 34s) are prioritising the living room, 35-44 year olds are prioritising the kitchen. 
• 45-54 year olds are prioritising both kitchen and living room equally, however, for over 55s, the garden and outdoor areas will take priority.

Popular Garden Trends

Homeowners are increasingly designing gardens that reflect their lifestyle, not just the property itself. The majority (37%) of Brits are prioritising a garden that provides practical spaces for a growing family, like play areas, entertaining spaces, and easy-to-maintain decking. 

1. Family-friendly gardens – 37%
2. Modern minimalist – 24%
3. Cottagecore – 19%
4. Eco/wild gardens – 19%
5. Low-maintenance/artificial – 18%
6. Luxury outdoor living – 16%
7. Mediterranean – 15%
8. Japandi/Zen – 8%

Whether it’s sustainability, low-maintenance living, or high-end outdoor wellness, homeowners are increasingly designing gardens that suit their lifestyle – not just their property.

Seasonal Trends: When Brits Are Spending on Home & Garden Improvements

Home and garden retailers may face a quiet winter, as Brits are least likely to undertake home updates during the colder months. However, spring and early summer bring a clear boost in home and garden projects. 

For retailers and service providers, this means the winter months may require a focus on marketing or off-season promotions, while spring and early summer offer prime opportunities to capture homeowners looking to refresh their spaces.

The most popular months for improvements are:

1. April
2. May
3. June
4. March
5. July

There are also noticeable differences by age: homeowners aged 35 and over are most likely to invest in home improvements in April, while those aged 34 and under tend to prioritise June for their projects.

Transform Your Outdoor Space With Platinum Spas

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