It’s usually pretty hard to swallow major changes to our favorite TV shows, but it’s especially difficult when it affects an entire network like HGTV, which was once a go-to source of inspiration for homeowners. Longtime viewers are criticizing the channel for replacing valuable content with phony dilemmas that consume screen time. Others complain that even when the network is on focus, it’s centered more around unrealistic home projects that far exceed typical budgets. And according to some angry fans on social media, HGTV is leaving little for "non-millionaires" who still tune in.
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Viewers complain that HGTV is featuring overly lofty work.
DIY home projects are enough stress without having to worry about spending too much on them, especially when even the basic materials now feel like they cost more than ever.
In a pair of recent posts to the r/HGTV subreddit, viewers aired their grievances about how the network has lost its approachable how-to focus and now caters to a higher-end homeowner.
“I miss the days where I would actually learn something watching this channel,” one wrote. “Like Design on a Dime? I even liked that show where people upcycled furniture. But then it became professional carpenters, etc., doing all the work.”
They added that a majority of the channel’s programming now features expensive designs and projects they could never undertake themselves, much less afford.
“I literally watch the first 10 minutes of most shows to see who they are designing for and see the before. Then I forward to the end to see how it came out,” they admit. “The middle is all manufactured drama, like ‘Oh no! We'll never get it done in time.’”
They then pose a question directly to the network: “America is going to be on a huge budget soon. Maybe create shows for non-millionaires?”
Another viewer posted about wishing HGTV would put back more shows “with normal-sized homes” on its schedule.
“Besides Love It or List It, there aren't many new shows that renovate regular-sized homes,” they said, adding that many of the current shows are “bland” or too focused on flipping rather than fixing or improving—a far cry from previous hits like Nate and Jeremiah: Save My House and Home Project. “I wish they would put more of these types of shows where renovations are done to an average person's home.”
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Other fans agree that the network has changed.
Many viewers quickly agreed that they feel alienated by the channel’s new out-of-touch tone. Some even took issue with recent format changes.
“I liked the half-hour shows,” one commenter replied. “You could take a break from life and just relax without committing to a whole hour. I liked Curb Appeal and Designed to Sell. Give someone a budget of $1,000 to $2,000 to transform a house. Not $100,00 to $200,000.”
Another bemoaned the loss of their one-time favorite show on HGTV, Sensible Chic.
“They would have a homeowner on a budget with a specific room they needed to improve, say, a bedroom,” they write in one post’s most upvoted comment. They explained the premise would often involve the host highlighting a bedroom that had been decorated with over $50,000 in beautiful furnishings before proceeding to copy it on a budget of around $2,500 or so.
“They were magicians, finding similar furniture and accessories for a fraction of the cost. The overall effect would be the same, though!” the commenter wrote. “They always showed where every piece came from so the viewer could attempt this on her own. It was genius! Of course, the budget would have to be raised to probably $4-$8K nowadays, but it would still be the perfect show for the masses.”
The commenter went so far as to say they would recreate the show if they were a producer in charge of the network’s lineup. “It was magical. I once wrote to HGTV asking them to bring it back, but they refused,” they admit.
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Even some long-running shows are different now.
Other viewers say that even some of their go-to shows, like Rock the Block and Dream Home Giveaway, are no longer the same.
“They should just rename it the Wayfair channel,” one Redditor wrote, bemoaning the sudden inclusion of the discount furniture and decor company. “It seems like everything went downhill once Wayfair got so overly involved.”
But of course, many were most upset about the programs that haven’t stuck around. “I miss the old shows, such as Room by Room and Decorating Cents. I learned some budget-friendly decorating ideas from both shows,” one commenter lamented.
And there’s another major part of the channel’s format that appears to have vanished, as well. “I miss the G part of HGTV,” one person writes, referring to the lack of gardening, lawn, and yard content. ”I enjoyed that one show, Gardening By The Yard with Paul James. And I liked Curb Appeal, too.”
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Some viewers have some tips for the network.
If there’s anything a hammer-wielding homeowner has at the ready, it’s plenty of ideas on how to improve something they care about. Many of the commenters shared what they thought HGTV could do to course correct and win back some of its devoted fans.
“I'd love to see more DIY shows like Flea Market Flip,” one commenter suggested. “I would love to see more design shows that regular, middle-class people can afford to make their home either more comfortable for them to live in or more sellable. I hate these over-the-top budgets. Doesn't make any sense to many of us.”
Another pointed out the value of a show like No Demo Reno. “Sure, the homes in Texas are enormous, but they still feel like ‘a normal middle-class family could have bought this in the 90s,’ and they tend to have builder-basic tile, light fixtures, etc.,” they write.
They go on to explain that the renovations on the program not only feel more like something you'd see in the real world, but also address problems that likely resonate with most viewers. “‘How do I turn this front dining room into a nice home office in the age of Zoom?’ ‘WTF do I do with this weird built-in niche in my living room wall?’ ‘My backyard patio is functional, but it's hideous,’” the user writes.
For now, those who are starved for price-conscious programming might have to reach for their remote for the answers they’re looking for. “I have been liking Beer Budget Reno on A&E because the houses and budgets are more realistic for the average homeowner,” one commenter suggests.
