A staggering three-quarters of Britons (72%) are planning a flurry of home improvements in 2026, making it the 'year of DIY', a new survey claims. Two-thirds (63%) agree January 1 is the perfect time to start planning home improvements, as there are sales on (47%), you can tackle all the things you spotted over the festive period (33%) and jump on new trends (14%).

According to the study of 2,000 UK adults' plans and commissioned by Wickes, the most-wanted updates for 2026 are a stylish new bathroom (31%), revamping the kitchen(23%), a garden transformation (17%), and an outdoor living & entertaining space (13%). A fifth (17%) want to enhance their storage, 12% want to give their spare room a makeover and 19% want to give their kitchen a brighter paint job.

Other popular projects include retiling the bathroom (11%), installing a kitchen island with social seating - 12%, installing new windows and doors (6%) and a loft extension (6%).

But it's not just about looks, functionality seems to be a big driver too for Brits, over a third (36%) want to make better use of the space, make their homes more energy-efficient (15%) and install smart home tech like thermostats, lighting and security (12%).

Nine in ten (92%) say they're looking for quick, affordable ways to make their homes feel "new again" without a full renovation, maybe due to the fact that 35% admit they are not very good at DIY.

77% admit their home is in desperate need of modernisation with kitchens (50%), living rooms (41%), bathrooms (41%) and bedrooms (33%) the most in need.

In fact, 34% say they would rather give their home a facelift than have an all expenses paid holiday somewhere exotic, while 30% would rather overhaul their property than invest in a personal trainer for themselves.

When it comes to why we want to revamp our homes, 34% are bored with the current look and feel, while a quarter (23%) want to create a better space for working from home.

Paul Bangs, category director for kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and tiles at Wickes, which commissioned the study to mark the launch of its Kitchen and Bathroom sale, said: "Our research shows that Brits are ready to make big changes in 2026, whether it's a full renovation or a simple refresh.

"From bold colour updates to modernising kitchens and bathrooms, people want their homes to feel brighter, more functional and more reflective of their personal style.

"The Kitchen and Bathroom Sale is the perfect opportunity to tackle these projects at the best possible price, giving homeowners the tools and inspiration to create spaces they'll love for years to come."

This desire for change is reflected in colour choices too with 72% thinking that the trend of using grey, cream and off-white is now out-of-date.

Two thirds (64%) go a step further have vowed to "ditch the beige" and add more colour to their interiors, with teal (28%), olive green (27%), duck egg blue (19%), sage (19%), sunshine yellow (17%) and terracotta (17%) the go-to hues.

Our newfound love of colour is so strong that 83% believe that a brightly coloured home would make them feel happier and more upbeat.

To help homeowners bring their vision to life, Wickes has launched its new Paint to Order kitchen range which lets customers choose from a wide palette of on-trend colours.

Each kitchen unit is specially painted to order, with a durable finish, while an innovative digital tool allows users to explore combinations, experiment with mix-and-match options, or get curated inspiration for their perfect scheme.

TOP 20 HOME IMPROVEMENTS BRITS ARE PLANNING FOR 2026:

A new bathroom - 31%

A kitchen revamp - 23%

Paint the kitchen - 19%

A garden make-over - 17%

Make more storage space - 17%

Build an open-plan 'kitchen-diner-living' hub - 16%

Create an outdoor entertaining space - 13%

Install a kitchen island with social seating - 12%

A spare room makeover - 12%

Install smart home tech - 12%

Retile the bathroom - 11%

Create a home office - 7%

Install new windows and doors - 6%

Build a home library - 6%

A loft or garage extension - 6%

Build a home cinema - 5%

Creating a home gym - 5%

Build an outdoor kitchen - 4%

A bathtub in my bedroom - 3%

Cocktail bar / beer tap - 3%

For the full range of Wickes kitchens and bathrooms, check out the brochure online, or head to your local store. For a free design appointment, simply fill out the form online and Wickes will sort the rest.