A dream project can quickly turn into a pressure cooker when love and logistics collide.
The 2025 UK Houzz Renovations and Relationships Report reveals that 16% of couples thought about separating or divorcing during a renovation.
Renovating a home adds layers of stress over money, style and decisions that can test even the strongest partnerships, but the report also found there are plenty of positives to a home project as well.
The hidden strain of renovation
Behind the dust and design decisions lies a strain few couples anticipate.
Disagreements over budget, materials and design often spiral into bigger conflicts about values, communication styles and priorities.
The report found that:
- 16% of couples overall considered separating or divorcing during a renovation.
- 20% of couples in relationships of five years or less thought about splitting, compared with only 7% of couples together for 30 years or more.
- The biggest areas of disagreement were over paint colours (51%), flooring (47%), and furniture (38%).
“A home renovation is one of the most demanding journeys a couple embarks on together, with numerous decisions, budget considerations and trade-offs along the way,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz’s staff economist.
Why the journey is still worth it
Despite the tensions, the majority of couples who make it through a renovation report feeling happier, more organised and more comfortable in their home.
Nearly nine in ten agreed the finished result made the challenges worthwhile, showing that shared goals can strengthen bonds.
Renovations, while stressful, can also be an opportunity for couples to learn how to compromise and collaborate more effectively.
Experts suggest that visualisation tools, mood boards and planning their home renovations properly reduce friction by keeping everyone on the same page.
More than half of couples relied on compromise and nearly half used digital tools to help picture the end result before decisions were finalised.
Professionals who provide transparent pricing, realistic timelines and collaborative design options can play a vital role in keeping both the project and the relationship on track.
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