More homeowners plan renovations as focus shifts from self to home

Forget losing weight or cutting bad habits — one in five homeowners have New Year’s resolutions for their homes instead of themselves.

The poll of 2,000 U.S. homeowners found 43% have made renovations to their home within the past year, and an additional 32% already have plans in the works for renovations in 2026.

Two-thirds of those with plans (65%) believe 2026 will be the biggest year ever for renovations.

Commissioned by TAMKO (https://www.tamko.com) and conducted by Talker Research, the survey revealed 23% plan on re-roofing their homes in the next year. Many homeowners also plan on renovating interiors (59%), landscaping (43%), exterior painting (33%) or building a deck or patio (28%).

Three in 10 homeowners said they were motivated to renovate because they wanted to improve their home’s curb appeal. Another 30% simply feel their home is outdated.

Respondents were also asked just how close they felt they were to starting their next renovation, and found that 8% have already contacted contractors, 11% have bought supplies and 10% percent have their renovations fully mapped out and are starting soon.

However, many are still in the “inspo” stage: 23% are still thinking about what exactly to do, while12% have a “wishlist” of things they want to get it done.

“I think resolutions are more fun when it’s not based on improving ourselves, but instead improving something we can show pride in, like our homes,” said Chris Freeborg, VP and Chief Marketing, Communications & Product Development Officer at TAMKO. “How your home looks and how well it stands the test of time is something homeowners cherish. In 2026, I think a lot of people are going to see the year as an opportunity to make their homes feel like their own personal paradises.”

The results showed that friendly neighborhood rivalries still exist, with over a quarter (27%) saying they’ve taken renovation inspiration from what their neighbors are doing.

And it goes both ways, as 23% have noticed their neighbors have made changes to their homes based on what they’ve done themselves.

Three-quarters (77%) say curb appeal is important to them, and landscaping was found to be the most significant booster to curb appeal (51%). In addition, other big curb appeal boosters include exterior painting (37%) deck and patios (25%) and re-roofing (21%).

The survey also delved into just how long it takes to actually feel “at-home” in your new living space, and found a surprising 39% of homeowners felt this way upon setting foot inside for the first time

Another 39% said it took them up to a couple of weeks to start feeling fully acclimated to their home.

Over half (52%) started renovations shortly after moving into their current home, yet 68% of them agreed that even with the work they’ve put in, they don’t feel like their home is fully “finished.”

Three in four have an idea of what their finished, dream home will look like, and it appears the new year will allow homeowners to get that much closer to making their dream home a reality.

“Curb appeal plays a major role in achieving that ‘dream home’ feel,” continued Chris. “Getting those functional renovations — like re-shingling roofs — helps homes take on a new identity and personality, all the while reestablishing protection against the elements.”