In an Economic Downturn, Only Essential Spaces... "Partial Remodeling" on the Rise

Demand Expands Amid Aging Homes, Economic Slump, and Rising Construction Costs
LX, Hanssem, and Ohouse Ramp Up Partial Remodeling for Kitchens and Bathrooms
Cost Minimization Tops at 57.6%...Practical Consumer Trends on the Rise

As home aging accelerates and the prolonged economic downturn continues, “partial remodeling”—selectively renovating only necessary spaces instead of overhauling the entire home—is becoming increasingly widespread. This trend reflects consumers’ practical approach, aiming to improve their residential environment with less expense and shorter construction periods.

According to the related industry on July 21, major furniture and interior companies are now strengthening their partial renovation services in an effort to capture growing demand.

For example, LX Hausys is targeting window replacement demand during the summer vacation season by promoting “one-day installation,” a service that completes demolition and installation within just one day. This service starts at 9 a.m. and is finished around 6 p.m., making it possible for customers who cannot accommodate multi-day construction to utilize their vacation and simultaneously minimize noise, dust, and other inconveniences. LX Hausys plans to expand its promotions by actively visiting more than 120 apartment complexes nationwide through next month, focusing on its flagship product, “LX Z:IN Ch window Viewframe.”

Hanssem has also strengthened exclusive promotions at major stores for customers considering partial bathroom renovation. This month, customers who consult about the bathroom product “Easy Bath 5” and proceed with renovation at seven “Hanssem Pick” stores—including Giheung, Hanam, and Goyang—will receive a complimentary ventilation fan. The company also offers remodeling packages that bundle partial renovation of kitchens, bathrooms, storage, and windows.

On online platforms, Ohouse’s partial renovation business is experiencing rapid growth. Last month, the contract amount for partial renovation through its subsidiary “Ohouse Renovation” had tripled compared to the same period last year. In particular, the kitchen sector saw a sixteenfold increase in the first year after the launch of its service. An Ohouse representative analyzed, “Even just renovating the kitchen, which takes up a large share of space and has significant visual impact, can create the effect of a brand-new interior.” Ohouse is also expanding customer touchpoints via offline locations, such as “Ohouse Bukchon” and the “Ohouse Interior Pangyo Lounge” opened last March. The company is considering opening an additional lounge in Seoul during the second half of the year.

Industry experts cite the increasing number of aging homes and the prolonged economic recession as key drivers behind the rise of cost-effective partial interior services. According to Real Estate R114 Labs, as of last year, 53.7% of homes nationwide were over 20 years old, accounting for more than 5 out of every 10 homes. While the need for repairs has grown due to home aging, recent rises in raw material prices—caused by instability in the Middle East following the COVID-19 pandemic—along with higher labor costs, have heightened the financial burden of renovations, thus driving up demand for partial remodeling.

According to the recent “Cost-Efficient Partial Interior Trending” report by lifestyle service platform Soomgo, the number of requests for partial interior services rose from 934,228 in 2021 to 1,757,804 last year—a growth of 88.2% over five years. Of the respondents, 57.6% cited “minimizing costs” as the main reason for pursuing partial interior renovation, while 27.5% said they selectively repaired only the areas that required attention. Satisfaction with partial interior results reached as high as 80%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.