A SURVEY commissioned by the Ideal Home Show has revealed that the main motivation for two thirds of all adults when undertaking DIY is the need to stay up-to-date with current trends in home decor.

Perhaps in response to the explosion in the number of home television shows, 66 per cent of respondents stated that modernising the decor was their main priority. This is reflected in the fact that painting emerged as the top DIY job, with two-thirds of households having done some painting during the last six months.

Space is also at a premium in many households across the country with 22 per cent of respondents having undertaken building work to make better use of space within a property and a further 15 per cent having built an extension, conservatory or loft to increase space rather than move house.

Men differ from women in their reasons for doing DIY with 74 per cent of women voting for the aesthetic and focusing on modernising decor against 69 per cent of men. Adding value has less priority for women than men with only 22 per cent mentioning it as a reason to undertake DIY against 29 per cent of men.

Not surprisingly, women are more modest when gauging their skills than men with a third stating that their DIY skills were either poor or useless compared to just 18 percent of men.

Attitudes to DIY also differ across the country, including:

More time is being spent on DIY in Yorkshire, the North East and North West, while respondents in the South and South West spend the least time on DIY.

The highest amount of Southerners rated themselves as an expert (32 per cent) against the much more modest North Westerners (24 per cent).

In addition to the latest in technology, garden ideas and showhouses, a16-metre medieval tower from London Electricity forms the centrepiece this year. The show will take place at Earls Court, London from March 7 to April 1. Tickets on 0870 606 6080.