Home renovations can bring couples closer together—or push them to the breaking point. A new survey by Houzz reveals that while most couples find the renovation process collaborative and fulfilling, a significant minority seriously questioned their relationships during the stress of construction.

The findings shed light on how relationship dynamics play out when partners tackle one of homeownership's most challenging endeavors together.

The 2025 U.S. Houzz Remodeling and Relationships Report* found that 4% of couples considered separating or divorcing during a home renovation. That number climbs to 12% for couples in relationships of 5 years or less, compared with just 2% among couples together for 30 years or more. Despite challenges, nearly all couples agreed the finished project made the journey worthwhile (96%). Many reported feeling more comfortable (60%), happier (52%), calm and stress-free (39%) and more organized (38%) in their newly renovated home. 

Flooring materials are a major source of disagreement for couples during renovations, with 29% citing flooring selections as a frequent point of conflict during their projects. Other common sources of conflict include difficulty staying on budget (31%), deciding on products, materials or finishes (28%), and agreeing on the project’s scope or design (20% each). Selections for paint colors (36%) and  furniture (33%) were also cited as sticking points and tended to be influenced by relationship duration. Those together less than 10 years were more likely to struggle with furniture choices (41%), while couples of 30 years or more disagreed most often on paint colors and flooring (35% each). Couples with established relationships of 21 to 30 years had the highest rate of flooring disagreements (44%).

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Couples navigated these challenges by compromising (56%) and using tools to help them visualize the finished result (44%). Couples early in their relationship were most likely to compromise (64%). In contrast, long-term couples were twice as likely to have one partner defer to the other (10% vs. 5% for relationships less than 10 years).

“A home renovation is 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.”

When it comes to working with hired design and construction professionals, many respondents report a desire for improved visibility and coordination during a project. The most common requests include transparent pricing (45%), clear communication (42%) and more accurate timelines (39%). 

Tools like Houzz Pro’s Client Dashboard, Estimates, Selections and Schedule help address these desires, enabling construction and design professionals to keep clients informed, involved and confident throughout the process. Designer Anastasia Harrison of AHD & Co. shared an example: “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 sees software as a way to deliver a great client experience, “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 sent to registered Houzz users and fielded in January 2025. n=541.