Tag: home improvements

Why home improvement shows are so popular

Why home improvement shows are so popular

Home improvement TV shows are a staple of multiple cable channels. These shows use industry experts to show how anyone can make their home fashionable and functional. If you dissect these shows, you can see how these shows gain and maintain an audience.

Illustration of a decorator with paintbrush and roller in front of a red brick wall

Personalities

Every successful home improvement show features one or multiple personalities who make people want to tune in. These individuals must use their charisma to draw viewers in and help them understand how to complete a specific project. Modern, energetic hosts have helped to evolve the genre from the technical jargon-heavy style of the past to the brighter style of today.

Many of these personalities achieve a level of fame that eclipses the overall show. An example of this is Chip and Joanna Gaines. The pair starred in the popular HGTV series “Fixer Upper” and have parleyed their fame into multiple companies and endorsement deals. After the pair moved on from “Fixer Upper” they were highly in demand by other networks and advanced their careers even further.

In addition to having charisma, these personalities must also be experts in their specific areas of home improvement. Viewers may come for the TV personality’s charisma, but their expertise will keep them watching.

If viewers tune into a show that claims that it will help them choose and install dark wood kitchen cabinets, they want a knowledgeable and experienced cabinet expert to present it to them. Similarly, they want actual interior designers to explain their thought process, and real estate agents to explain what sells and what doesn’t.

Illustration of a person giving a presentation

Viewers want to hear a story

One of the most timeless truths in entertainment is that people are attracted to a story with a beginning, middle and an end. You may not be aware of it, but each of these modern home improvement shows tells you a story while they instruct you in DIY projects.

Typical home improvement shows follow a broad formula:

  • Problem – The living room floor is structurally unsound
  • Formulation and execution of a plan – The experts examine the floor and make a plan to fix it. They purchase the supplies and execute the plan
  • The finished product – They present the finished project and wrap up the segment/show

Years of consuming entertainment have psychologically conditioned viewers to expect this type of formula in any entertainment medium. Sticking to this outline gives viewers a sense of comfort and will keep them coming back.

Illustration of a person thinking about home ideascredit

Viewers like to imagine what they can do to their home

Most people are not 100% happy with their homes. No matter how much energy and love they have put into it, there are always some things that they would change. Home improvement shows stimulate their imagination and gives them a chance to explore the possibilities within their own space.

They may watch the show and decide to hire a landscaper to finally redo the garden they’ve been putting off for years. They could also be inspired by a kitchen renovation to completely gut their own and start from scratch. Or to contact a Flat Roofing Specialist to install a new roof. These shows teach people that the possibilities are endless when it comes to the improvements they can make on their own homes.

Illustration of a man's head with an idea lightbulb

Some viewers want to learn

Home improvement shows have been around for decades but, the current crop of shows is very different from those that aired in the 1970s. Past eras of home improvement shows placed a large emphasis on the correct procedures without worrying about making the show flashy to appeal to viewers.

However, many people use modern home improvement shows as a jumping-off point for their own personal projects. They learn the buzz words and trends, then research deeper to understand how to carry out the project.

Home improvement shows attract viewers because they feature big personalities, a cohesive story, and informational content but, there are also intangible reasons for their success that are hard to describe. According to CNN, the Review Home Warranties website is offering money to find out exactly what attracts viewers. The website offered $1,000 to someone who’ll watch a variety of home improvement shows and write down their detailed opinion.

The popularity of home improvement shows has endured for decades and, there’s no sign that the public taste will turn against them any time soon. People just love to watch them. The reasons for their success are many, but at their core, they appeal to every person’s desire to improve their living space and their lives.

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Essential tips for stress-free home improvements

Essential tips for stress-free home improvements | H is for Home

Home improvements are notoriously stressful. Although renovating a home can be an enjoyable process, it’s rarely an easy or straightforward one. Embarking on any home improvement project can be stressful, thanks to the disruption of your usual routine. What’s more, most renovations involve high costs and complex planning processes. Unfortunately, you can’t eliminate the expense, noise or mess but what you can do is reduce the stress that home improvements cause. Here are six ways how.

Bathroom renovation

Make all decisions first

Before work can commence, you must know what home improvements you want carrying out. Once a contractor starts work on your property works can progress quite quickly, so make sure that any decisions are made beforehand. Having a few goals in mind will help you determine which home improvements are best. If you’re selling your house, then you need to add value.

Three builders on building site

Find a reliable contractor

Even when aiming to cut costs, you shouldn’t pass up professional help. Small DIY projects can easily be carried out by a novice, but larger plans like conversions always require an expert. Instead of booking the first contractor you find, you should research several options. Make sure that whatever contractor you choose has the necessary qualifications and insurance to do the work.

Scaffolding up outside a house with green cherry picker up to roof

Check you have permission

Most home improvement tasks won’t require planning permission, but there are several that do. If your property is home to a protected species like bats or newts, obtaining this permission could be tricky. That’s why you should contact ecologist consultants, like Arbtech. With their help, you’ll find it much easier to secure planning consent, even if protected species are present.

Man using a circular saw

Speak to any neighbours

Everyone knows that renovations are a noisy and messy business. Unfortunately, this disruption can affect more than just those in your home. Depending on the home improvements, your work could cause trouble for the neighbours too. That’s why you should keep them informed. Although you don’t have to go into specifics, you should let neighbours know when work will begin and end.

Painting ladder in a room with blue walls

Move your family out

The easiest solution to home improvement stress is avoidance. Moving your family away from the situation can protect them from the disruption of it. This is especially important for families with children and pets as renovations could put them in harm’s way. Some people go on vacation during renovations, but you could just as easily stay at a friend’s or family’s house or hotel nearby.

Two builders using jackhammers

Plan for the unexpected

Careful planning won’t guarantee a successful renovation. There’s always a chance that something could go wrong, after all. Because of this, you must plan for the unexpected. Home improvement trouble often results in additional costs, so make sure you build an emergency fund. Having these contingency savings will keep you from having to borrow if things go wrong.

Home improvements are exciting but can create a stressful environment for your family. Thankfully, it’s possible to reduce this stress. Although you can’t get rid of the loud noise, high costs or uncontrollable messes, with the advice above, you can stop them from ruining the renovation process.

Style exploration

Once you’ve done all the remodelling and renovation, now it’s time to play around with your style. There are a ton of styles to choose from, but many of the more popular options are going to be minimalist, modern, traditional and eclectic; to name a few. If you click here you’ll get a quick guide on how to improve your décor. Rather than heading to interior design websites, punch in a random style search into Pinterest or Instagram. You’ll find the latest trends and tips on how to blend styles if you want more than one.

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5 affordable ways to improve your home

5 affordable ways to improve your home | H is for Home

You may be thinking of making a few home improvements or home renovations, but are worried about the costs that come with it. Many people assume that in order to make changes in their home, they must spend a lot of money, but there are many affordable changes you can make without breaking the bank!

If you want to give your living space a new lease of life, here are five easy ways you could revolutionise where you live and give it a brand new look.

Yellow front door and green front door

Paint your front door

This is a great way to change how your home looks from the outside and give your house a fresh new look. Painting your front door will only cost you a tin of paint and an afternoon of your time, but it will make your home look more modern and looked after.

If you aren’t sure which colour to go for and are doing home improvements to prepare your home to put it up for sale, then check out some of the online research that states your front door colour can have a significant impact on your chances of a quick sale.

White Venetian blind behind a table & chairs

Get some new blinds

If you want to spruce up the look of your home but want to keep a more classical feel to the décor, then you should consider adding some blinds to the rooms in your house. You can buy faux wood Venetian blinds from the reputable custom-made blinds manufacturer DotcomBlinds who also include a fitting kit to help ensure you can install them. This company can provide you with Venetian blinds in different wood colours to fit your windows, no matter what size they are.

Person changing a bulb in a black pendant light

Replace the light fittings

Your light fittings are often something you don’t change from the day you move in, so this can be a great way to revamp your living space. Light fittings are affordable, and they can easily transform the décor of a room.

Replacing your old light fittings with something new and modern can be an easy way to make it look like you have made more home improvements than what you actually have.

Black, yellow and grey cushions on a grey sofa

Upgrade the accessories

Most of the rooms in your home are likely to have accessories in them, to provide your house with that finished and lived-in appearance. Whether it’s the colour scheme of towels in the bathroom or the scatter cushions you have in your living room, by changing these you can easily upgrade the look of a room without your bank account taking a hit.

Collection of tubs containing different coloured wall paints

Touch up the paintwork

After some time, the paint work in your home can start to look worn and in need of a touch up. You should start off by cleaning up the paintwork in all the rooms in the house and then add a fresh and natural colour.

While you may associate home improvements with month-long projects and a lot of money, you can make small changes to your home that cost very little, but make all the difference in the overall appearance of your house.

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