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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4 tips to improve your home entertainment set-up

4 tips to improve your home entertainment set-up

Your home entertainment set-up keeps you from getting bored, especially on cold, wet or dark days. It helps you keep up with the latest TV, watch movies and listen to your favourite music too. Whether you have a very modest set-up or you’re obsessed with AV tech, you can always do a few things to improve your home entertainment and make it better for you and your family. With just a couple of easy changes or upgrades, you can make your home entertainment set-up more secure, more convenient and more fun. Try these changes for some excellent improvements to your tech.

Smart TV icon

Make it smart

If you don’t already have a smart TV, you should think about getting one. A smart TV allows you to connect to the internet and benefit from all kinds of things, from streaming to games and online services. A smart TV definitely doesn’t have to be expensive, with a range of price points available. Of course, paying more could get you a better quality picture, better sound, and even a more reliable connection. Cheaper smart TVs might not last as long or have as many features. But you can still get a lot out of them, even if you don’t buy the most expensive TV on the market.

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Keep it secure

If you’re making your home entertainment smarter, you should also think about keeping it secure. Anything that requires an internet connection could be vulnerable to being exploited in some way. Whether you’re using an Amazon Fire TV stick or streaming from your favourite streaming site, a VPN can be helpful to protect your private data. At Troypoint.com, you can find out about the benefits of using a VPN when you’re watching TV and movies. It could be useful when you’re streaming music too, as well as for other online activities.

Home entertainment icon

Rearrange the layout

Changing the positioning of your home entertainment set-up can make it better too. This can include moving around not just your tech but also seating and other things. If you put your television at the right height, it will be more comfortable for you to watch it. By putting your speakers in the right position, you can get the best sound when you’re watching TV. You can experiment with where you put everything, but it’s also a good idea to find some guidelines online that suggest the best layouts for your set-up.

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Perfect the sound

While the picture is important on your TV, you can’t neglect the sound. Everyone wants to have a crisp sound when they’re enjoying a movie or a show. Plus, if you have excellent audio, it can be good for listening to music too. You might want to upgrade to some quality speakers or even consider installing surround sound to get great quality audio at home. Make sure that you put your speakers in the right place too.

With an improved home entertainment set-up, you can prevent yourself and your family from getting bored at home and enjoy all the movies, TV and music you want.

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Price Points: Hidden TV solutions

Hidden TV solutions | H is for Home

We’ve been having a conversation on Instagram about ways to hide all manner of ugly audio-visual and internet gubbins. We hide our router in a vintage wicker basket. However, what do you do with something as large as a television?

Here are three hidden TV solutions that you can consider if, like us, you don’t think that 21st century tech sits terribly well with your décor.

If you’re fairly comfortable doing a bit of DIY, how about attaching your television to a motorised system – such as option – that lifts (or lowers) your set. It can glide up out of a floor-standing console or down from a wall-mounted cupboard.

Option #2 can be installed above your wall-mounted TV – the maker can custom-make the roller to fit the size of your television and with any photograph or graphic you request. Have a look at some quality furniture anchors here.

Option is a state-of-the-art television that, when not being watched, is a… work of art! You can choose your preferred artwork… or have a carousel of changing images. In addition, there are a number of different bezel frame designs available to fit in with your interior decoration scheme.

If you need further assistance from a professional to install your TV mount on your wall, contact a local engineer like Aerialforce to help you!

  1. Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32″-70″ high TVs: £230.09, ManoMano
  2. Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution: £605.91, Etsy
  3. The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby: £1499.99, Currys

shop hidden TV solutions

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
£1499.99
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
£605.91
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
£230.09
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
£1499.99
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
£605.91
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
£230.09
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
£1499.99
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
£605.91
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
£230.09
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
£1499.99
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
£605.91
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
£230.09
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
The Frame QE65LS03 65″ Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV with Bixby
£1499.99
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
Motorised electric roll-up home theatre wall solution
£605.91
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
Motorised remote-controlled adjustable TV mount & lift for 32”-70″ high TVs
£230.09

Price Points: Media streaming sticks

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Media streaming sticks - Roku, Chromecast and Amazon Fire

Staying in is the new… staying in, or are we just getting old?

We like nothing better than spending evenings in our upstairs den, with the wood-burner lit, watching films & television – with a glass of wine, perhaps.

We’re HUGE fans of European dramas such as Borgen, The Bridge, The Killing, Spiral and Gomorrah. We’re also occasionally known to gorge on box sets like House of Cards, West Wing, The Wire, The Sopranos…

Currently, we’re only able to watch Netflix-only series (House of Cards, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul et al) on the laptop; not an ideal scenario. A media streaming stick is the ideal solution. You just plug it into the back of the television (so long as it has an HDMI slot), connect it to the Wi-Fi and off you go!

We’ve done a bit of research into what’s best for our requirements and these are the best options. We’ve read a few reviews and done a service comparison between all three products and, even though it’s the dearest and has the fewest number of channels (who needs that many, anyway?), we’re going to plump for the Roku.

    1. Roku: £39.99, Currys
    2. Chromecast: £25, Tesco
    3. Amazon Fire: £34.99
FeatureRokuChromecastAmazon Fire
remote control
number of channels 1,700+ 200,000+ 10,000+
Spotify
Netflix
 iPlayer
All 4 ✓
Now TV
YouTube
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies & TV
Sky Store