Magazines and television 'influence people's interior'

The UK's media has a massive impact on the way homeowners style their properties, according to design group Apropos.

Jason Pardesi of Apropos has labelled self buildpropertyshow Grand Designs a "phenomenal success" that has helped give people ideas on how to develop and upgrade their own homes.

Housing price falls have led to suggestions that people will begin to invest more on upgrading their existing homes rather than moving and the DIY and hardware market is estimated to be worth £16.1 billion this year, it has been reported.

According to the British Retail Consortium, the market has increased by almost 20 per cent in the last five years.

"Magazines and the TV have always played a massively influential role in the style and content of people's houses," Mr Pardesi claimed.

The UK is responsible for more than 13 per cent of the European DIY equipment market, the British Retail Consortium has found.