23/01/2025

The ‘viral’ home renovation TikTok trends most likely to impact your insurance

Home insurance

With rising costs placing pressure on UK homeowners, many are taking matters into their own hands and turning to TikTok for DIY home improvement inspiration. Popular hashtags such as #DIYProject have sparked significant interest, with over 1.9 million posts showcasing budget-friendly renovation tips and innovative solutions.

As the platform continues to serve as a hub for creative ideas, we examined some of the most popular DIY home renovation videos on TikTok and their potential impact on home insurance.

As a specialist home insurance broker, we can vouch that while many of these viral home renovation projects may seem enticing, they may invalidate your home insurance, making it important to understand how to avoid costly mistakes when attempting TikTok-inspired DIY projects.

An exterior shot of a home extension renovation project in the UK.

The trends likely to impact your home insurance

Adding an arch to your walls

Arches are a major trend in interior design for 2025, whether in hallways, doors or windows.

This stylish feature has also gained popularity in the TikTok DIY world, with one viral video showing a DIY arched doorway generating a staggering 51.6 million views and 4.9 million likes.

While arches can add significant aesthetic appeal, they may also introduce potential risks to your home insurance cover. If the wall being altered is load-bearing, creating an arch could compromise the structural integrity of your home, leading to potential expensive consequences. For example, if your DIY project causes or exacerbates structural issues, insurers may refuse to pay for repairs or related claims.

Bathroom makeover

Complete bathroom renovations have also been really popular on TikTok with DIYers attempting a full makeover.

A video with over 18.1 million views and 1.8 million likes highlights a user who mistakenly thought she could give her bathroom a “quick facelift”. While DIY upgrades may seem like an easy way to save money, it’s crucial to notify your insurer of major renovations in high-cost areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

These upgrades can increase your home’s value, and you need to ensure you have proper coverage. Failing to inform your insurance company about these types of changes could invalidate your home insurance policy, leaving you unprotected against risks such as fire, theft or water damage.

Arched storage spaces

Another popular DIY renovation hack on TikTok involves creating arched niches in your walls to create more storage space, with one video attracting 35.8 million views and 3.6 million likes.

While these features are undeniably striking and practical, it’s important to remember that DIY work can void your insurance if it’s not done properly. Most policies won’t cover damage caused by self-inflicted construction errors or accidents that occur during a non-professional renovation. This type of work could also accidentally damage electrical wiring or plumbing within the wall and you may face costly repairs that your insurer is unlikely to cover.

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Building a garden room

DIY garden room builds have taken off on TikTok, with many attempting to construct their own outdoor retreat. Amongst the popular home renovation videos is one where a TikTok user resorted to building their own garden room, which generated 4.8 million views and over 357,000 likes.

If the garden room is poorly constructed or fails to meet building regulations, your insurer may refuse claims related to structural damage or faults. Check whether your project requires building regulations or planning permission and ensure the structure is built to the appropriate standards.

Another thing to consider is that adding a garden room can also increase the value of your property, so make sure you notify your insurer of the addition. If your home is undervalued on your policy, you risk being underinsured, which could result in reduced payouts for claims.

 

Adding an extension

Experts predict bespoke home extensions will become more popular in 2025, with DIY projects trending on TikTok. One user recorded his experience of DIY-ing an extension and it generated 7.2 million views and 280K likes.

While there are plenty of online guides on how to build an extension yourself, it’s easy to overlook how it might impact your insurance. Failing to notify your insurer about the work could invalidate your policy, leaving you uninsured during the construction process.

Risks such as collapsing walls, electrical fires, and water leaks are more common during renovations, not to mention the potential exposure of your home and its contents to the wind and rain when walls are knocked down.

Significant alterations, like adding rooms, building outdoor structures, or modifying electrical systems, often require local permits. If an issue arises and you don’t have the necessary approvals, insurers may refuse to cover any related claims.

 

 

Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director at Norton Insurance Brokers comments: “DIY projects are a great way to put your own stamp on your home, but many don’t realise that some projects can unintentionally impact their home insurance cover.

“Home insurance policies rely on knowing exactly what’s been done to your home. If changes aren’t disclosed, or if the work doesn’t meet regulations, you could find yourself without cover when you need it most. Before starting any project, it’s always worth checking your policy and getting advice if you’re unsure. A quick call to your insurer can save a lot of trouble later on.”

 

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