What Everyone’s Googling About Their Homes Right Now

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. Stuck staring at that hideous wallpaper border in the bathroom at 2am, phone in hand, desperately searching for answers. The internet’s become our first port of call for home improvement advice, and the questions people are asking tell us everything about what’s happening in British homes in 2026. Here’s what’s actually trending.

How Do I Get Rid of This Awful Wallpaper?

This question dominates DIY forums everywhere. There’s nothing quite like moving into a new place only to discover the previous owners had questionable taste in wall coverings from about three decades ago.

The good news is that removing wallpaper isn’t as terrible as it used to be. Modern removable stuff peels off easily, but if you’re dealing with the older varieties, you’ll need either a steamer or a mixture of hot water and fabric softener. Score the wallpaper first, apply your solution, wait about 15 minutes, and then scrape away.

If you’re planning any major work that might involve moving house temporarily, you might want to check out our previous guide on removals to make everything run smoothly.

Can I Make My Kitchen Bigger Without Knocking Walls Down?

This is huge right now. Not everyone’s got the budget or stomach for a full structural renovation, so people want clever ways to make small kitchens feel more spacious.

Light colours are your friend. White oak and walnut finishes are everywhere at the moment because they add warmth without making spaces feel dark and cramped. Clever storage makes a massive difference too. Those pull out pantries and appliance garages that used to cost a fortune? They’re becoming standard because they keep worktops clear.

Open shelving’s had its day. 2026 is all about hiding everything away. People want calm, organised kitchens where the clutter’s out of sight.

Smart Home Tech That Actually Makes Sense

Forget all the flashy futuristic nonsense. What people really want are simple upgrades that make daily life easier without turning their homes into something from a sci-fi film.

Hidden charging stations are brilliant. Lighting that adjusts itself throughout the day without you touching a switch. Thermostats that learn when you’re home and when you’re not. That’s the stuff people actually care about.

The best tech is invisible. Charging drawers tucked into kitchen islands instead of cables everywhere. Security that blends in rather than screaming “look at me”. If you’re constantly fiddling with it or explaining how it works to guests, it’s probably not worth having.

Turning Your Bathroom Into Something Nicer

This keeps coming up in searches, and it makes complete sense. After years of being stuck indoors, people want their bathrooms to feel like actual retreats rather than just places you pop in and out of quickly.

Heated floors are worth every penny if you can stretch to them. Rainfall showers and freestanding tubs look gorgeous, but even without the big ticket items, you can make a real difference. Better lighting transforms a space. Natural materials like stone and wood add warmth. Storage that actually works means you’re not tripping over bottles and towels.

What’s interesting is how people are mixing the luxury bits with the practical stuff. Yes to the fancy shower, but also yes to water saving fixtures. You can have both.

Should I Just Paint Over the Wallpaper?

Short answer: probably not. Paint seals wallpaper in place forever, and it tends to look lumpy unless everything underneath is absolutely perfect.

That said, if you’ve got one layer of completely smooth wallpaper that’s stuck down with no bubbles, you might get away with it. Prime it first with decent primer. But honestly, in most cases, especially with multiple layers or textured stuff, you’re better off biting the bullet and removing it. Future you will thank present you.

How Can I Stop Haemorrhaging Money on Energy Bills?

This is the surprise hit of home improvement searches. With energy prices still painful, people have stopped thinking purely about how things look and started caring about what actually saves them money.

Better windows, insulation in the loft and walls, upgrading to energy efficient appliances. These aren’t sexy topics, but they’re what actually matters when you’re opening your energy bill each month and wincing.

The Reality Check

What’s telling about all these searches is how practical they are. Nobody’s looking for fancy show homes or wild concept designs. They want to know how to fix actual problems in the houses they’ve already got.

The pattern’s clear: function beats flash every time. Tech that hides itself. Spaces that feel calm instead of chaotic. Whether you’re doing up an entire house or just sorting out one annoying room, the trick is making changes that actually improve your day to day life.

And if the internet can help you remove that ghastly wallpaper without wrecking your walls in the process? That’s worth its weight in gold.