You probably don’t think much about what kinds of home-related content you watch, scroll through, or read. You just look at what you want, when you want.
But home-related content is everywhere, and each type has a different purpose. And the people viewing them have different intents. Renovation shows pull you into a thrill of the “big reveal.” Instagram overflows with aesthetically pleasing living rooms. YouTube tutorials make even the trickiest repairs look easy, and magazines whisk you into dream homes across the globe!
And here’s where it gets REALLY fascinating…the kind of home content you consume says something meaningful about you. It reflects your interests and your deeper priorities.
Once you see which content you’re most drawn to, you’ll understand something powerful about what you really want from your home!!
Types of Home Improvement Content
Start with a quick look at the kinds of home-improvement content out there (and be sure to take note of which ones you like the most).
ENTERTAINMENT-DRIVEN CONTENT
Some home content exists PURELY for the thrill! The emotion…the transformation…and most of all the story arc. If it’s not about picking up tips, then it probably falls into one of these buckets…
Renovation & Real Estate Shows
These are the glossy headliners y’all know well! Fixer Upper, Dream Home Makeover, Property Brothers…you know, the shows where an ordinary space becomes extraordinary in 43 minutes. The lighting is perfect, the budgets are never realistic, and yet it all feels sooo satisfying.
The intention behind watching these is about feeling something. The draw is the emotional payoff.
The revenue model behind these shows tells you something, too. These programs thrive on entertainment value. The funding comes from network deals, brand partnerships, and product placement. Each paid product reveal is carefully orchestrated for the camera as much as for the client.
Lifestyle Influencers & Vloggers
These are the personalities who invite you into their homes!! Their main purpose is to inspire, while peppering in a little “how to” from their personality-packed points of view. Their spaces are aspirational, but still personal.
The intention behind engaging with these influencers comes from the appeal of relatability and a hunger for inspiration. We want to watch someone live beautifully and then think, I could do that too…
And how do these folks make money? They operate as small media brands, earning revenue from sponsorships, ad revenue, affiliate links, and sometimes their own product collaborations or design lines.
EDUCATIONAL & INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT
This is where the doers live. Anyone watching or clicking on this stuff doesn’t just want pretty pictures, they want to know how to do stuff and to see what’s behind their walls.
DIY & “How-To” Creators
You’ve seen PLENTY of DIY articles and YouTubers, I’m sure!! These channels break projects into approachable steps. They help viewers reach satisfaction through self-reliance.
Anyone digging into DIYs is a hands-on thinker. Sometimes, they’re driven by the thrill of creation, and other times in the pride in learning something new. They fundamentally believe their home can evolve through their own effort.
So, how do these content creators make money? They rely on YouTube ads, brand sponsorships from tool companies, and affiliate commissions on the products they show in action.
Trade & Pro-Level Educational Channels
Builders and remodelers like dig into the science of construction on a much more professional level, too. They create content where they talk publicly about structure, air quality, how the work is done, etc.
Their followers are serious hobbyists or other professionals who crave technical depth and quality. They want to understand why things work, not just how.
These companies are often remodelers themselves, but they also get sponsorships from manufacturers and industry partnerships. Sometimes, they offer paid training.
DESIGN & AESTHETIC INSPIRATION CONTENT
This is where you’ll find the moodboard-makers and more…those publications and personalities who turn interiors into instant emotional experiences.
Design voices on social media lead followers through visual storytelling: color stories, perfectly styled corners, and products that define an aesthetic.
The folks following these accounts want to express themselves through their homes, and they look to this content for ideas AND empowerment. They crave creative confidence!!
As always, it’s important to know where these influencers come from and how they make their money. With few exceptions, these influencers often earn through brand collaborations, affiliate sales, and their own design services, translating taste into trade.
Magazines & Publications
Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Dwell…these are PILLARS of taste that most of us recognize instantaneously. They blend trendspotting and storytelling.
The readers of these design magazines want to know what’s next, but also what’s best. They read for perspective as much as they do for inspiration.
These publications rely on ad placements, sponsored features, and (increasingly) on affiliate revenue through curated shopping guides.
Visual Discovery Platforms
Pinterest and Houzz are where ideas live before they become reality. They’re like digital sketchpads for the design-hungry!!
Users here are in the ideation phase for a REAL project they want to do. This is where they start planning, collecting, comparing, like explorers gathering fragments.
Both these platforms monetize through advertising and promoted pins, while also offering exposure for professionals and brands.
LIFESTYLE & EDITORIAL CONTENT
This category connects home to life itself. It’s about warmth, flow, and the beauty of “the everyday…”
Lifestyle Bloggers
These are popular designers-gone-bloggers who share the imperfect side of design through the prism of their real life requirements…including the setbacks.
Readers of these blogs value authenticity. They see home as process—something that grows and changes just like life does. And readers genuinely like the persona of the blogger who’s writing, too!!
These creators earn from ads, sponsorships, and brand collaborations, often layering personal storytelling with gentle marketing.
Lifestyle Magazines
Publications like Better Homes & Gardens or Real Simple focus on the rhythm of living. There are some design nuggets, and some home organizational ideas…and there are also recipes, organization, and garden stories. And everything in these mags feel achievable!!
Readers of these publications want balance, not just a “design refresh.” They also want to make real changes right now as soon as they see something they like.
So, how do these publications make money? Through subscriptions, digital advertising, and brand features.
E-COMMERCE-INTEGRATED CONTENT
Here, you find the world where inspiration and shopping merge…
Retailer-Led Inspiration Hubs
West Elm and Wayfair Ideas (and even Home Depot) all curate product-based “projects” online to spark instant inspiration (and action, where you can purchase in a click).
Shoppers here want fast gratification. When they see something inspiring, they want to make it theirs this instant.
On these company pages, the content is the marketing. Every item on the page exists to guide a sale.
LOCAL & NICHE CONTENT
At the most personal level, there’s also home-related content rooted in a place. This is the content made by firms and influencers who speak directly to their communities. Like us!
Readers of these blogs are past the dreaming stage. They’re ready for meaningful change and want a guide they can trust.
In these blogs, instead of selling ads, companies cultivate authority and generate leads through authenticity and expertise.
So…what do your favorites say about you?!
Every click, scroll, and subscription says something about what you crave at home.
Once you recognize the pattern, you begin to understand your own definition of “loving your home®.”
Are you…
The Transformation Lover?
You’re drawn to renovation shows and emotional before-and-after stories that deliver satisfying moments where the impossible becomes reality. You don’t want to swing the hammer yourself…you want to see what’s possible when imagination meets expertise.
What it reveals:
You value possibility and growth.
You love spaces that tell a story of personal evolution.
You find joy in visible, dramatic change.
You’re inspired by professionals who turn vision into reality.
The Hands-On Creator?
Your video playlists are packed with DIY tutorials, “how-to” videos, and maybe even some tool reviews!! You’ve probably fallen down more than one late-night rabbit hole of sanding, staining, or wiring tips. You LOVE learning how things work and the reward of doing it yourself.
What it reveals:
You value independence and capability.
You enjoy the process as much as the result.
You see your home as a reflection of your own ingenuity.
You thrive on problem-solving and tangible accomplishments.
The Style Curator?
Your social feeds are curated galleries of interior design influencers and shoppable moodboards. You see beauty as a language, and your home is how you speak it!!
What it reveals:
You seek self-expression and visual harmony.
You crave aesthetic confidence and a sense of cohesion in your surroundings.
You’re energized by visual inspiration and current trends, but you filter them with taste.
The Comfort Seeker?
You gravitate toward lifestyle magazines, home blogs, and wellness content that link design to peace of mind. You love reading about cozy interiors and meaningful simplicity.
You appreciate design that communicates intelligence.
You want a home that feels grounded in purpose.
The Relatable Story Follower?
You prefer home vloggers, real-life renovation diaries, and behind-the-scenes creators who share the imperfect side of design, because it feels authentic.
What it reveals:
You crave connection and relatability.
You enjoy watching growth in progress.
You want YOUR home to evolve naturally with your life, too.
You see beauty in imperfection, and personality through honesty.
The Expert Appreciator?
You follow builder channels and pro-level YouTubers who explain the science behind great construction. You’re fascinated by what’s beneath the surface!!
What it reveals:
You value quality, structure, AND longevity.
You appreciate technical mastery.
You want your home to feel solid and reliable.
You see expertise as a core part of beauty.
The Quick-Changer?
You’re drawn to shoppable influencer content and retailer-led inspiration hubs. You love the immediacy of updating a space, that thrill of a small tweak.
What it reveals:
You thrive on variety and fresh energy.
You prefer simple, attainable updates.
You see your home as a living canvas that evolves with you.
You find satisfaction in instant transformation.
The Collaborator?
You spend time in Facebook home décor groups or similar, sharing advice and celebrating wins. You believe design is best when ideas are exchanged.
You see design as a pathway to lasting joy and functionality.
You’re ready to experience your personal Return on Enjoyment®.
In the end, home content is a mirror into your mind and your home.What we consume reflects our ambitions, our curiosities, and the kind of life we want to live within our walls!
What kind of content do you consume? Tell us in the comments!!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
