Posted In: HOME by
Simon Bollon,
September 18, 2025
By Simon Bollon, Managing Director
Remember the lockdown days of banana bread, makeshift home offices and the unprecedented surge in home improvements? During the pandemic, the Home & Garden sector saw a meteoric rise as people across the UK poured time, energy, and savings into making their homes a haven. But once Covid restrictions lifted alongside rising interest rates, cost-of-living pressures, and global uncertainty, that momentum understandably slowed.
Now, the question on our minds and those of brands in the sector is: are we on the cusp of another home improvement boom?
The short answer is NO but there are signs (ones we have all been waiting for) that an up-tick is coming….
We asked attendees at our recent Home & Garden conference how they felt and, 76% of business owners/leaders in the home sector felt positive about their business growth over the next 18 months. That’s a huge indicator that optimism is returning and that many are preparing for a rebound in consumer demand.
Interestingly, only 36% feel positive about the broader UK economy, suggesting that while macro confidence is shaky, the home sector is bucking the trend, or people have confidence in their own businesses and brands irrespective of how they feel about the broader economy.
This is echoed by our Home Masters club where a whopping 69% felt positive that their business would grow over the following 18 months – and that was back in April 2025.
Despite ongoing economic turbulence, UK savings volumes remain strong, and consumer wallets are “fatter” than expected. That’s no small thing: confidence is beginning to shift.
While consumers may still be cautious, they have the financial means and increasingly, the emotional drive to invest in their space again.
Cash is available
Source: Financial Conduct Authority May 2025
Did you know that over 40% of homes in the UK were built pre-1946? That’s a huge segment of housing stock ripe for renovation.
Source : Home Builders Federation
Couple that with rising rental periods and normalised home sale volumes, and you get a picture of a population staying put and looking inward.
Sale Volumes Are Normal
People are renting for longer
Search trends point to a resurgence in renovation interest. People are once again looking up how to refresh their homes—evidence that the passion for personal space is reigniting.
Source : Google Trends
Moreover, retailers like Dunelm have reported a 3.8% rise in sales, driven by value-focused products, while market peers (e.g. Topps Tiles, Wickes) predict better demand next year.
Source : Reuters
The chaos of the past few years—Brexit, inflation, energy prices—may finally be starting to settle. Growth is coming. While we’re not in a full-blown boom yet, the stage is being set.
People are once more dreaming in Farrow & Ball, planning pergolas, and debating sofa fabrics. The craving for comfort, aesthetic joy, and functionality never really left – it’s just been waiting for the right moment to resurface.
For brands in the home interiors and garden space, this is your moment to re-engage.
Build trust. Offer value. Inspire. Our bespoke research ‘Changing Rooms, Changing Minds’ talks more about this and shares some key actions for brands to do to get in front of consumers as they are being inspired.
The market might not roar back overnight, but the hum is getting louder and those ready to meet the moment will be the ones who flourish.
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