Houzz Survey Examines How Couples Navigate Home Renovations Together

While many couples describe renovating together as “collaborative” (59%) or “fulfilling” (50%), a recent survey from Houzz Inc. found that home renovation projects can also present challenges for relationships. The 2025 U.S. Houzz Remodeling and Relationships Report revealed that 4% of couples considered separating or divorcing during a home renovation. That number rose to 12% among couples in relationships of five years or less, compared with 2% among couples together for 30 years or more.

Despite those difficulties, 96% of survey respondents said the completed renovation made the process worthwhile. Many reported improved feelings in their updated space, including greater comfort (60%), happiness (52%), calmness (39%), and organization (38%).

Key sources of conflict during renovations included staying on budget (31%), selecting products or finishes (28%), and agreeing on design or project scope (20% each). Disagreements about paint colors (36%), furniture (33%), and flooring (29%) were common. Relationship duration also influenced the likelihood of disagreement: couples together less than 10 years were more likely to disagree over furniture (41%), while those together for 30 years or more cited more issues with paint and flooring (35% each). Couples in the 21- to 30-year range reported the highest rate of disagreement over flooring (44%).

Many couples addressed these challenges by compromising (56%) or using visualization tools (44%) to support decision-making. Couples early in their relationships were most likely to compromise (64%). Longer-term couples were twice as likely to have one partner defer to the other (10%) compared with those together less than 10 years (5%).

“A home renovation is clearly 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 staff economist. “The findings highlight how communication, compromise and visualization technologies help mitigate disagreements and support productive collaboration throughout the renovation process among couples and the pros they hire.”

Survey respondents working with design and construction professionals also expressed a need for improved project visibility and coordination. The most cited needs included transparent pricing (45%), clear communication (42%), and more accurate timelines (39%).

Tools like Houzz Pro’s Client Dashboard, Estimates, Selections, and Schedule are designed to meet these needs. Professionals use these features to support communication and client satisfaction. Designer Anastasia Harrison of AHD & Co. shared her experience: “We used Houzz Pro during a recent project to explore design ideas together with our clients, get feedback and secure approvals. The couple often remarked on how seamless and organized the process felt and how confident they were in every decision they made. They truly enjoyed the project.”

Danielle Barzilay Dahan of RnD Builders, Inc. also highlighted the impact of digital tools: “We use Houzz Pro software to manage projects, communicate with clients and help homeowners visualize the final outcome through Mood Boards and 3D visual tools to keep clients informed and engaged at every step.”

The 2025 U.S. Houzz Remodeling & Relationships Survey was distributed to registered Houzz users and conducted in January 2025. The sample size was 541 respondents.

The full report is available here.

About Houzz

Houzz, the leading platform for construction and design, empowers industry professionals and homeowners with the tools they need to make every project a success. The company’s cloud-based, AI-powered project management and design software, Houzz Pro (houzz.com/pro), helps pros win projects, collaborate with clients and teams, and run their businesses efficiently and profitably. Houzz Pro also provides pros and their clients with 24/7 access to project information, 3D visualizations and financial tools. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and buy products. The Houzz platform is used by more than 3 million construction and design industry professionals and over 70 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts around the world. Houzz and Houzz Pro are available on the web and as top-rated mobile apps. For more information, visit houzz.com.