What Do UK Homeowners Get Up To In Their Gardens?
The results of our annual landscape survey are in and you might be surprised...
Victoria Harrison
11 June 2018
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Are you about to start a garden makeover? Take a look at the results of the Houzz UK 2018 Landscaping Survey* first for a sneak peek into the outdoor living habits of UK homeowners and see how your plans match up. Outdoor TV anyone?
We’re taking our furniture outside
Tables, benches, grills, heaters, lighting… The survey revealed that UK homeowners are taking everything outside, bar the kitchen sink, and transforming our outdoor areas into practical living spaces.
The results show that 43% invested in dining furniture, while 38% cooked up a storm on their outdoor grills. Benches also feature high on essential outdoor items (34%), as well as lounge furniture (30%).
Tables, benches, grills, heaters, lighting… The survey revealed that UK homeowners are taking everything outside, bar the kitchen sink, and transforming our outdoor areas into practical living spaces.
The results show that 43% invested in dining furniture, while 38% cooked up a storm on their outdoor grills. Benches also feature high on essential outdoor items (34%), as well as lounge furniture (30%).
We don’t fix it unless it’s broken
The leading reason for homeowners to begin a landscaping project is to improve elements of their outdoor space that have deteriorated or broken down (30%).
But regardless of motivations or budget, the majority of homeowners who completed a landscaping project report that they spend more time outside (81%) as a result.
We also like to sit back and enjoy our hard work, with the two main outdoor activities being relaxing (74%) and eating (63%).
The leading reason for homeowners to begin a landscaping project is to improve elements of their outdoor space that have deteriorated or broken down (30%).
But regardless of motivations or budget, the majority of homeowners who completed a landscaping project report that they spend more time outside (81%) as a result.
We also like to sit back and enjoy our hard work, with the two main outdoor activities being relaxing (74%) and eating (63%).
We’re savvy with our spending
While a fifth of homeowners who completed an outdoor renovation reported spending more than £10,000 (20%), a much larger percentage said they upgraded their outdoor space for less than £5,000 (64%), making us a nation of savvy spenders.
While a fifth of homeowners who completed an outdoor renovation reported spending more than £10,000 (20%), a much larger percentage said they upgraded their outdoor space for less than £5,000 (64%), making us a nation of savvy spenders.
We’re installing light and heat outdoors
To create night-time ambience in our gardens (and to allow the party to go on for longer), homeowners are also investing in string lights (34%), fire pits (25%) and patio heaters (14%) to illuminate those summer evenings and crank up the heat on chillier nights.
To create night-time ambience in our gardens (and to allow the party to go on for longer), homeowners are also investing in string lights (34%), fire pits (25%) and patio heaters (14%) to illuminate those summer evenings and crank up the heat on chillier nights.
Join the club with these fun festoon lights and shop for more outdoor lighting ideas here
We love to entertain
UK homeowners love to take the party outside, with three in five of homeowners reporting that they spend more time entertaining outside after completing landscaping projects (61%).
Some of us definitely have the space for it, too, with one in seven homeowners reporting that their usable outdoor area is significantly larger than that of their home (14%).
UK homeowners love to take the party outside, with three in five of homeowners reporting that they spend more time entertaining outside after completing landscaping projects (61%).
Some of us definitely have the space for it, too, with one in seven homeowners reporting that their usable outdoor area is significantly larger than that of their home (14%).
We’re taking tech outside
Surprisingly, technology also plays a role in making the garden entertainment-ready. Of the one in 10 homeowners who added or upgraded entertainment systems during their landscaping projects (10%), over four out of five added speakers (85%), with half of homeowners choosing solar or wireless speakers (50%) and more than a third opting for wired speakers (35%).
One in 10 homeowners also added projectors (18%), wired and solar charging stations (16% each) and, surprisingly, TVs (15%).
Surprisingly, technology also plays a role in making the garden entertainment-ready. Of the one in 10 homeowners who added or upgraded entertainment systems during their landscaping projects (10%), over four out of five added speakers (85%), with half of homeowners choosing solar or wireless speakers (50%) and more than a third opting for wired speakers (35%).
One in 10 homeowners also added projectors (18%), wired and solar charging stations (16% each) and, surprisingly, TVs (15%).
We like to keep up appearances
While the majority of outdoor projects take place in the back garden (86%), nearly a quarter of landscaping homeowners reported updating their front garden (22%), and more than one in 10 worked on side returns (14%).
Homeowners adding or updating the front of their home report that the most important features contributing to kerb appeal are flowers and plants, with beds and borders featuring high on the priority list (39%).
We also like our front gardens to be relatively low-maintenance, and invest in sturdy shrubs (24%) and repeat-flowering perennials (18%) to add fuss-free foliage and colour.
While the majority of outdoor projects take place in the back garden (86%), nearly a quarter of landscaping homeowners reported updating their front garden (22%), and more than one in 10 worked on side returns (14%).
Homeowners adding or updating the front of their home report that the most important features contributing to kerb appeal are flowers and plants, with beds and borders featuring high on the priority list (39%).
We also like our front gardens to be relatively low-maintenance, and invest in sturdy shrubs (24%) and repeat-flowering perennials (18%) to add fuss-free foliage and colour.
* The Houzz survey of 2,000 UK homeowners using Houzz who are in the midst of, are planning or have recently completed a landscaping project was fielded between April and May 2018.
Feeling inspired to update your garden? You can browse a collection of outdoor essentials from the Houzz Shop here. Or search for a landscape designer in your area to help you here.
Feeling inspired to update your garden? You can browse a collection of outdoor essentials from the Houzz Shop here. Or search for a landscape designer in your area to help you here.
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Agree Liz.
An aside re cockerels. Some years ago my brother-in-law was moving house and asked if we would like to take over his hens. A day after their arrival I discovered we had a cockerel- a rather bolshy character we named Roger. I asked my neighbour if she found Roger's early morning performance annoying and jokingly said if so we could re home him or maybe eat him. Fortunately she said she liked Roger's serenade and added that should we find the calls of her donkey annoying she would be unable to reciprocate my offer to roast the offender.
Hahaha!