A new survey of 2,000 Gen Z and millennial homeowners and renters found that completing home do‑it‑yourself projects produces measurable lifts in confidence, happiness and satisfaction that last roughly six to seven weeks.
The online poll, conducted by Talker Research for toolmaker Dremel between Aug. 7 and Aug. 13, 2025, found that 86% of respondents said finishing a home‑related DIY project makes them feel accomplished, and 83% agreed there is nothing more satisfying than completing a project on their own. Respondents reported the positive effects of a completed project lasted about seven weeks for confidence and roughly six weeks for feelings of accomplishment.
While many respondents said small wins such as painting a wall or mounting a TV were accessible entry points, larger or more technical jobs remained intimidating. The survey identified installing flooring or carpeting and caulking or sealing a tub as the most daunting tasks (41% each), followed by repairing drywall (38%). On average, people had completed eight DIY projects in their current homes, with homeowners averaging 10 completed tasks compared with five for renters.
Memories of first projects skewed simple: 21% recalled painting as their first DIY, 13% mounted a television, and 10% hung a picture frame. The report also found that social interactions and visibility shape ambition: 63% said seeing a friend succeed at a tricky household job gave them the confidence to try it themselves, while 55% had saved social posts for projects they would like to attempt someday.
Barriers to getting started centered on fear of mistakes and lack of tools. The survey found 27% worried about messing up and 27% said they did not have the necessary tools. One in six respondents said they do not own a standard tool kit, citing cost (18%), having lent tools to someone else (16%) or relying on others for tool needs (13%). Eric Siegel, group segment owner of DIY at Dremel, said the company aims to lower those barriers by promoting multi‑functional tools that can simplify projects for both seasoned makers and first‑time DIYers.
Confidence was also affected by exposures online: 28% said projects shown on social media by interior design professionals made them feel the task was outside their skill set, and 27% cited ideas generated by artificial intelligence as intimidating. Even so, respondents encounter DIY inspiration roughly once a week and on average have two unfinished projects at home.
Painting a room was the most commonly unfinished task (23%), followed by building furniture (19%) and installing flooring or carpeting (17%). Many respondents reported having put off tasks such as mounting a TV or fixing fixtures for about four months; larger projects like flooring, starting a garden or reupholstering furniture had occupied respondents’ minds for about six months.
Respondents remained ambitious: the average person said they hoped to complete three DIY projects by the end of the year, and one in five aimed for at least five projects. Examples of recent DIY “wins” cited in the survey included installing kitchen cabinets, building a raised garden bed, constructing a simple bookshelf, turning a cabinet door into a hidden organizer, and creating an outdoor fire pit and pizza oven from concrete stones.
Homeowners were more likely than renters to own basic tools—84% of homeowners said they own a standard tool kit and 72% own a set of tools—though Dremel noted renters can still benefit from DIY activities by focusing on smaller, reversible projects.
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 homeowners and renters evenly split between Gen Z and millennials; the study was commissioned by Dremel and administered online from Aug. 7 to Aug. 13, 2025.
