Home Upgrades That Bring Maximum Joy to Homeowners
In 2025, homeowners are flipping the traditional renovation narrative: instead of targeting projects with the highest resale value, they're now focusing on undertaking home improvements that bring them joy here and now. A massive survey by Thumbtack of over 1,000 U.S. homeowners reveals this unprecedented trend.
Apparently, the biggest bang for their buck in 2025 is found in creating a space that fills their hearts with happiness, with 84% of homeowners prioritizing projects centered on joy over dollars. Even among those planning to sell, a whopping 68% still choose to invest in projects that don’t guarantee a high return on investment.
So, what's driving this change? Evidently, about 32% of homeowners plan to stay put for quite some time, while 25% echo the sentiment that they spend much of their time indoors, making it important to create a haven they love.
Among the top 10 happiness-inducing projects, as per Thumbtack, are the following:
- A fresh lick of paint on the interior walls
- Replacing dusty windows
- Laying down new, stylish floors
- Upgrading the lighting fixtures
- Walk-in closets for ample storage
- Cozy sunrooms for sunlight and fresh air
- Dedicated spaces for hobbies
- Swimming pools or hot tubs for relaxation
- Built-in bookcases for cherished books and displays
- Home gyms for daily workout routines
It's essential to note that the demand for pools, hobby rooms, hot tub installations, walk-in closets, and built-in bookcases has risen significantly. Pool and hot tub demand has increased by 135% since 2020, while requests for walk-in closets have surged over 125% in the last five years, and built-in bookcases have seen a boost of 89%.
[1] Thumbtack's Home Renovation Trends 2025 Report: https://www.thumbtack.com/resources/home-renovation-trends-2025-report/[2] Homeowner Survey 2025: Prioritizing Joy Over Return on Investment: https://www.thumbtack.com/survey-results/homeowners-prioritizing-joy-over-return-on-investment-2025/
- Martha Stewart shared insights about the 2025 home renovation trends, emphasizing the shift towards prioritizing joy over investment returns.
- The Home Garden News reported on Thumbtack's Homeowner Survey 2025, which found that interior paint, new windows, and stylish floors are among the happiness-inducing projects most homeowners are planning.
- In the Home-and-Garden news, it was stated that homeowners are investing in walk-in closets, built-in bookcases, pools, and home gyms, with a marked increase in demand for these features since 2020.
- Homeowners are rethinking home improvement projects, as seen in the Thumbtack's Home Renovation Trends 2025 Report, with 84% prioritizing joy-centered projects over those with high resale value.
- According to home-improvement experts, the trend of prioritizing lifestyle enhancements over investment returns is impacting the priorities of homeowners across the United States, as reflected in the Homeowner Survey 2025 by Thumbtack.
- For anyone considering renovations in 2025, the Thumbtack's Home Owner Survey 2025: Prioritizing Joy Over Return on Investment offers valuable insights into the changing landscape of home improvement decisions and priorities.