The Top 10 Home Improvement Ideas of 2024

Another year is on the horizon, and with that comes new resolutions, new routines, and exciting new home projects. As homeowners across the country gear up to ring in the new year, Angi’s State of Home Spending report sheds light on the most popular home improvement ideas. It turns out that home maintenance is at the top of people's minds as they write up their 2024 to-do lists. Homeowners today truly value quality time in their homes, so it's no wonder most plan to spend time and money to keep their households up and running smoothly and efficiently. But there are so many varied home tasks on the docket as the new year rolls around. Here's how your neighbors plan to spend their home budget in 2024.

What Projects Are Homeowners Planning in 2024?

In 2023, many homeowners topped their list of home improvement projects with regular maintenance, and in 2024, we’re expecting much of the same. Homeowners want to keep their houses in tip-top shape with projects such as lawn care, house cleaning, and other routine tasks, so spending time and money on routine maintenance makes sense.  

While maintenance tops the plans for 2024 projects, interior paint jobs and new appliance installation follow closely behind. Let’s break down the top 10 home improvement ideas on the horizon in 2024.

1. Embrace the Ordinary: Maintenance Leads the Way

As we mentioned above, maintenance tasks topped the list, as almost 32% of people polled for the State of Home Spending report said they planned to prioritize routine home maintenance in 2024. Popular maintenance projects will include lawn mowing, house cleaning, and landscaping. 

The cost for routine maintenance varies widely based on the type of work. Many home maintenance tasks, such as repairing drywall and cleaning or replacing window screens, are DIY-friendly and cost little more than your time and energy. But more time-consuming and tricky maintenance projects, like cleaning out gutters, can cost between $120 and $235 if you hire a professional gutter cleaner near you. Lawn work is also a job many homeowners leave to a local professional, with local landscapers charging between $100 and $500 for routine monthly maintenance.

According to the State of Home Spending report, homeowners spent nearly an average of $2,460 in 2023 on home maintenance projects. That amount covered between six and seven maintenance jobs, boiling down to an average of three landscaping jobs, two cleaning jobs, and two other maintenance projects throughout the year. 

2. Interior Painting

Interior painting came in as the second-most popular home project planned for 2024. About 25% of homeowners plan to paint at least one space in their homes. While interior painting is a feasible DIY project for handy homeowners, there’s no shame in calling a local interior painter to take on the job. The cost to paint the interior of a house ranges from $970 to $3,050, but if you only want to refresh an average-sized room, you can pay a pro $1,100 on average. Or you can DIY and just pay for the tools and supplies.

3. Update Appliances

While ringing in the new year, many homeowners, a whopping 21%, state that updating their appliances is at the top of their to-do list. Since shipping delays aren’t as prevalent as in past years, it makes sense to update those appliances that are reaching the end of their life span now while supplies are in stock. 

Homeowners may choose to start small, like upgrading their microwave. The cost of a microwave is between $50 and $2,000 on average, depending on the model. Or, you can replace your dishwasher for $970 on average if yours is on its last legs. And if your refrigerator is not working correctly, you can update it for $600 to $2,300 on average, or you can spend up to $3,000 for a top-of-the-line model.

4. Bathroom Remodel

Bathroom remodels come in as the fourth-most-popular home improvement project for 2024, with just over 21% of homeowners planning a restroom renovation. There’s a wide range of budget options for this type of project, as you can opt for a simple vanity upgrade to a full-on bathroom overhaul. 

On average, bathroom remodels cost between $6,630 and $17,500, depending on the size of your bathroom, its layout, and whether you choose high-end materials. If you go all out and gut your bathroom from top to bottom, you could spend as much as $30,000. That price point will get you new floors, an upgraded shower and bath, high-end fixtures, and more.

Most bathroom upgrades are not a good fit for DIY projects, so it’s best to call a professional bathroom remodeler near you if you plan to tackle this project in the new year.

5. Home Exterior Painting

Photo: NinaMalyna/Adobe Stock

Next year, about 21% of surveyed homeowners said they plan to refresh their home’s exterior by painting or staining it. This type of home improvement project is a mid-level DIY job, perfect for handy homeowners comfortable working on a ladder. Keep in mind that paint jobs often require that you prime and prep your siding first and make repairs to any damage you may find. And it can also be quite time-consuming to paint a house as a DIY project. 

If you’d prefer to leave this home update to a pro, you can hire a local exterior painter to handle it for you. On average, professional exterior house painting costs about $3,150, but it can add massive curb appeal to your home. Not to mention, a new coat of paint or stain can also help your siding last longer.

6. New Flooring

About 20% of homeowners will upgrade their floors in 2024. New flooring installation costs about $3,150 for a 500-square-foot room. Not only do new floors offer a significant improvement to the look and comfort of any room, but they can also increase the value of your home if you’ve got listing plans on the horizon. 

The type of flooring materials you choose will greatly impact what you pay for this home project. The most inexpensive option is vinyl, clocking in at between $3 and $7 per square foot, while hardwood is by far the most costly, at between $6 and $25 per square foot.

It may be tempting to save some money by DIYing a new flooring installation, but it’s best to call a local floor installation pro for this type of work. DIY mistakes are easy to make and can end up costing you more in the long run. Most charge between $0.60 and $4 per square foot in labor fees.

7. Kitchen Remodel

If you’re looking to give the heart of your home a revamp in 2024, you’re not alone. Roughly 19% of homeowners plan to take on a kitchen remodel project next year. This renovation project is one of the pricier ones on the list, with the typical cost for a kitchen remodel running between $14,620 and $41,400. 

Some small-scale kitchen remodel ideas include refinishing cabinets, updating an appliance or two, or installing new flooring or countertops. Another popular kitchen upgrade is to install a new kitchen sink and faucet. A larger-scale kitchen remodel typically includes a complete overhaul of the kitchen’s design, adding or moving plumbing, electrical, and gas lines, adding high-end smart appliances, and installing a new island or countertops. 

Since a kitchen remodel has such a broad scope, you should call a nearby kitchen remodeling company to help plan and execute your vision.

8. Smart Home Devices

As smart technology evolves to help your household run smoothly with the touch of a button—or a simple voice command—it’s no wonder that almost 19% of homeowners plan to install new smart devices in 2024. 

From robot vacuum cleaners to smartphone-controlled lights and appliances, the odds are there’s a clever gadget for any household need. And there are ways to blend smart home technology into decor for a chic and subtle look. For instance, you can tuck away your tech in decorative boxes or bookcases or set up a sleek charging station in your most-used rooms. 

Installing a home automation system costs between $185 and $1,665 on average, with most projects running around $920. Many devices are simple to set up on your own, but for more complex device installations, you can hire a local handyperson to help out. If you're opting for a smart security system, it's best to call in a home security company near you to make sure everything is set up correctly.

9. Landscaping

Let’s not forget the importance of a well-manicured yard. Roughly 18% of homeowners will embark on landscaping journeys in 2024, according to the survey. 

Landscaping costs between $1,270 and $6,020, with most homeowners spending about $3,500. You can hire a landscape architect or designer for complex projects like designing gardens, patios, and walkways. You should also hire professionals if you plan to do any outdoor electrical or plumbing work, tree removal, or digging with heavy machinery. 

Some budget-friendly DIY landscaping jobs include adding plants to your existing landscape, trimming shrubs, and mulching flower beds. 

While you may be raring to get to work on your landscape vision at the start of the new year, it’s best to wait until April or May to do yard work. The spring months offer the ideal opportunity for plants to grow during the summer and fall.

10. Add or Replace Windows

Next year, 17% of homeowners plan to add new windows or replace outdated ones. Upgrading your windows has a plethora of benefits, including increased insulation that can really cheer up your heating and cooling bills. New windows can also brighten up a room, increase a home’s curb appeal, and add value to your home. 

There are several types of windows to choose from, satisfying any style and budget. The price you’ll pay ultimately depends on the number of windows you want to upgrade, their size, the choice of single-, double-, or triple-pane glass, and the frame material. 

The cost of window replacement can run as low as $100 for a single window or as high as $780 for a large triple-pane window with high-end frame materials. Most homeowners will spend about $285 per window, on average. A local window installer near you can provide an accurate quote on your window upgrade project.

What’s Driving Homeowners to Tackle These Projects? 

Previously, the biggest driver for home improvement work was financial, according to the 2023 State of Home Spending report. In the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, homeowners were interested in projects that increase home value. But now more than ever, homeowners say they want to boost their at-home quality of life.

According to the 2023 State of Home Spending report, just over 35% of homeowners pointed to maintaining the condition of their homes as the top reason for completing work. Additionally, around 23% of homeowners stated that their leading motivating factor for spending was to make their homes fit their lifestyle needs better. Conversely, just under 5% of homeowners surveyed indicated their reason for completing work was in preparation for buying or selling their home.