How are home improvement trends different on the West Coast?

One of the best parts about the United States is that we’re a melting pot. While it’s a cliche, it’s also pretty true. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t differences when it comes to different regions. Every state and every area has it’s own flair -- something that makes them unique. Combine all that, and you have the melting pot.

I recently did some work on my house. It was beyond time for a new bathroom. I mean, seriously, why did I still have pink tile in there? I wanted something sleeker, more modern. And I wanted a tub that I would actually use. When I came across this survey on trends in recent home improvement projects, it got me thinking about my project.

What I liked most about this survey is that it had some many breakdowns by region. The U.S. may be the melting pot, I always think it’s fascinating to see differences or preferences by region that are backed up by numbers. In this case, it was a survey.

The first thing that stuck out to me was how I was not alone in my reasoning behind a new bathroom. In fact, almost half of us in the West do an improvement project because we just want a new look. That’s the highest rate in the country, according to the survey.

The survey asked people on what rooms they did work on and also what kind of work they did. Kitchen projects were the most common for everyone with bathrooms coming in at number two. Again, it’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in my decision to upgrade my master bath. As far as the work done in the rooms, most people said they do painting, flooring, and outdoor work. Not a big surprise there, especially with the painting. In the West, we apparently were also big on doing cabinets and lighting. I mean, what project is complete without new lights?

The last stat from the survey that really stuck out to me was the average cost by age. Millennials said they spent the most out of any age group. Maybe it’s because they want to have something right and have the disposable income to do it. Being sans-kids and having good jobs certainly helps with that. The 35 - 44 age range is actually the lowest out of anyone.

So, in all, I’m glad I’m not alone in my decision to remodel. It’s something that lots of people are redoing and will probably continue to do. On the West Coast, we’re particularly fond of doing an upgrade just because we want that new look. And that’s great. That’s part of what makes us unique and makes the United States a melting pot.