Home improvement is a general term used to describe a variety of projects that upgrade the interior or exterior of your home. This includes things such as plumbing, electrical work, masonry and concrete work, landscaping, garages and garden maintenance and additions.

Home improvements are primarily motivated by factors such as increasing the value of your property, making your home safer or easier to maintain and improving its aesthetics. Regardless of the reason, it’s always important to consider your priorities and budget before starting any home renovation project.

In 2021, homeowners spent $624 billion on home repair and improvement projects. This was a double of the amount spent a decade ago, according to the 2021 American Housing Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.

One of the biggest spending categories in 2021 was on landscaping. This was up more than threefold from the same time last year, mainly because of increased homeowner demand for backyard upgrades such as building decks and putting up fences. Other notable increases included the number of people hiring landscapers and deck construction, both of which were up by over twofold.