Chances are, we'll be seeing many more cool finds. According to Houzz's annual Houzz & Home study, U.S. home renovation activity and spending have reached the highest rates since 2018.

More than half of homeowners (55%) renovated in 2021, up from 53% in 2020 and 54% in both 2019 and 2018.

Following 15% growth in median renovation spend in 2020, homeowners reported an additional 20% jump in 2021 median spend, which now stands at $18,000.

Recent homebuyers, who account for 10% of renovating homeowners, spent nearly double the median ($30,000) in 2021, surpassing the median spend for short-term and long-term homeowners ($19,000 and $15,000, respectively).

Recent homebuyers who had higher-budget projects (the top 10% of spend) invested $175,000, compared with $100,000 for short-term homeowners and $90,000 for long-term homeowners.

Experts say this higher spend potentially can be attributed to the number of projects recent homebuyers undertake at a single time—an average of three to four rooms as well as home systems such as electrical and plumbing.

In 2021, the median spend icreased for all interior room renovations.

The kitchen, which remains the most popular option to be upgraded and is the room with the highest spend, saw an bump in investment of 25% ($15,000 in 2021 versus $12,000 in 2020).

Interior rooms with the most dramatic spend increase are guest bathrooms (38%), laundry rooms (33%), living rooms (33%), and guest bedrooms (28%)

The percentage of homeowners relying on cash from savings to fund their renovation projects declined by 7 points in 2021 (to 76%), after remaining stable over the three years prior (83% each year).

Simultaneously, the percentage of homeowners financing renovation projects with credit cards increased by 6 points (to 35%).

It also looks like renovating homeowners want their investments to be safe. They spent 25% more on home security systems in 2021 than in 2020.

Interestingly, outdoor security systems are now three times more popular than they were in 2015 and the second most frequently installed outdoor upgrade (17% ), behind lighting (22%).

Outdoor security system upgrades are most popular among short-term homeowners (21%), followed by recent homebuyers (20%) and long-term homeowners (14%).

People who are renovating continue to hire professionals at a high rate—nearly 9 in 10 homeowners relied on pros for their remodels or upgrades in 2021.

Recent homebuyers (those who tackled a lot more projects than the ones who'd been in their home a while), were particularly keen to get help (93%) but hiring was widespread among short- and long-term homeowners as well (88% each).

Among the 38% of homeowners who hired construction professionals, general contractors (72%) comprise the largest group, followed by builders (30%), kitchen or bath remodelers (18%), and design-build firms (8%).

The three most popular specialty service pros hired by the 49% of renovating homeowners who brought in this kind of help are electricians (38%), air conditioning and heating specialists (37%), and plumbers (35%).

I wonder if they kept any treasures for themselves...