Today, B&Q has released it’s report ‘The Way We Live Now – 2024’, revealing the year’s top insights into how the relationship with our homes is changing. From challenging DIY stereotypes to the rise of the Social Media Home Improver, and the impact of the high demand for tradespeople, the study of over 2000 people highlights how the nation’s approach and attitudes towards home improvement continue to adapt and evolve.
Challenging DIY stereotypes
B&Q’s report, ‘The Way We Live Now – 2024’ has revealed increasingly challenged stereotypes between previously gendered perceptions in DIY, with the younger generation leading the charge. Three in four (74%) Gen Z women revealed they enjoy doing home improvement and the majority (80%) feel empowered when learning new DIY skills. Gen Z women are also now almost as confident as Gen Z men in doing DIY tasks (69% vs 73%). What’s more, almost two in three (64%) of Gen Z women say they could personally make a piece of furniture whilst nearly seven in 10 (68%) believe they could install a shelf or bookcase.
More women are joining men in undertaking heavier DIY tasks, with women now being just as likely as men to have used a nail gun and a floor sander and over nine in 10 (93%) of women having made their own home improvements in the last year.
Meanwhile, men are also challenging stereotypes, as men show they are equally as house proud. A third of both men and women say it’s important that their home décor is on trend, and one in five of all cushions bought last year were by men with no involvement from others.
