April 27, 2026
Demand for decorating services grows
The latest data from Gumtree shows that searches for decorators are on the rise in what it is calling “an early start” to the summer home improvement season.
Gumtree data comparing winter to spring shows demand rising across certain categories, with painting and decorating climbing 140% generating over 157,000 searches.
There are regional variations in these results, with Birmingham and Bradford leading the decorating boom, up 221% and 271% respectively.
Gumtree has introduced a series of changes to its site, designed to make hiring tradespeople faster, easier and more transparent.
These include a simplified booking experience, improved job request forms plus additional trust features such as integrated reviews and identity verification helping users connect with reliable local professionals more quickly.
Sahil Lamba, Services Expert at Gumtree said: “Booking a tradesperson has often felt like a leap of faith, especially during peak periods.
“With demand building earlier this year, those who leave it too late may struggle to secure availability. Planning ahead is key.
“We’ve focused on making the process quicker, clearer and more transparent, so people can hire with confidence even as competition increases.”
Gumtree now hosts over 800,000 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/5, helping users choose with confidence.
