Over the last few years, we’ve seen a rise in DIY, with more people taking basic home maintenance and DIY jobs into their own hands.

A combination of factors such as the rising cost of living, more people working from home and lengthy wait times for tradespeople have all contributed to the trend, with 2025 set to be another big year for DIY. 

At the end of last year, a poll, commissioned by homebuilder Redrow, found DIY to be people’s most popular resolution, with 39% of people saying that home improvements topped their to-do lists for 2025. 

This is echoed by findings shared by Häfele in its latest Homes for Living report, which found that 29% of homeowners wanted to update their interior decorating. This report also found that the UK regions most likely to make home improvements within the next year are Wales (58%) and Yorkshire and Humber (48%).

What are the most common household DIY tasks?

Plenty of maintenance and home improvement projects can be tackled on a DIY basis with some fairly entry-level skills and knowledge, common sense and enthusiasm, and of course the correct tools and materials. 

Some of the most common DIY jobs might include: 

General home maintenance

Interior decorating 

  • Painting walls and furnishings
  • Replacing socket covers and light switches
  • Putting up shelves
  • Hanging picture frames
  • Wallpapering

Basic plumbing

What are the benefits of DIY?

There are several obvious benefits that come with household DIY. For most people, the money that it can save will understandably be pretty high on that list. Likewise, time is another big one, and not being tied to the often busy schedules of tradespeople can be a major advantage for those hoping to get work completed quickly. 

The rewarding sense of satisfaction and pride that comes with completing a task yourself will be another encouraging benefit for many. Lots of people who dip their toes into DIY for the first time end up realising just how much they enjoy it, and as your confidence grows, you’ll often find yourself ready and willing to take on more complex projects in the future.

When should I call a professional? 

There are instances, of course, where you should rely on the services of a qualified tradesperson. 

Any work that involves moving or tampering with any kind of electrical source should always be left to a professional electrician. Likewise, anything that might affect gas pipes and appliances, by law, must only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. 

While basic plumbing can be something to tackle yourself, emergency cases — such as a burst pipe — and more complex jobs are also best left to a professional. 

How can I gain DIY knowledge? 

If you’re looking to hone your DIY skills there are various ways to get started. Online tutorials are always a great way to build your initial knowledge, particularly when it comes to the simpler jobs around the house. 

If you’ve got any friends or family that work or have worked, in the trades, or who are keen DIYers themselves, you can always pick their brains about the tasks that you can and can’t take on yourself. 

For anyone wanting to develop a more in-depth skill set, training by way of an introductory trade course can be a worthwhile investment. While there is a cost involved with this option, it’s impossible to replicate the value of learning from a time-served expert. 

If you are interested in learning these lifelong skills, Able Skills offers a range of introductory trade courses, all of which are designed and taught by genuine, qualified experts in each field. You can find out more about all of these courses online here.