One of the silver linings of this year’s pandemic restrictions is that a lot of us have gotten more skilled at handling home improvement on our own.

According to a recent survey from Craftsman, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, more than 3 in 4 Americans (78 percent) have honed their home improvement skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey examined how Americans' home renovation interests and skills have evolved over the past six months, the tools and resources they leveraged to tackle various projects, and their plans for continued home improvement in 2021.

As people across the country found themselves spending more time at home than ever, the realization that DIY home-care capabilities were lacking became readily apparent, with 6 in 10 indicating they wished they had more skills or know-how to accomplish home improvement projects. The survey found that more than half (51 percent) have learned new home renovation skills this year, 44 percent of whom are women compared to 58 percent men. In addition, more than half of Americans (53 percent) have either completed, or expect to complete, their 2020 home improvement checklist by the end of the year.

The survey also revealed that people spent their time working on a variety of home renovation projects during the pandemic, with more than three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) saying they or someone in their household worked on at least one home improvement project in 2020.

The most common indoor renovations included:

- Painting a room (28%)
- Creating a home office (13%)
- Remodeling the kitchen (10%).

For outdoor projects, about a third of men (32 percent) have completed a garden overhaul since the onset of the COVID-19, while 1 in 5 women (22 percent) have done the same.

To complete their projects, many Americans learned to use power tools for the first time. Respondents said they learned to use power tools such as a drill (21 percent), sander (15 percent) and table saw (13 percent) during the pandemic.

More than 9 in 10 Americans who say they have learned new home improvement skills report that learning these skills has made them feel accomplished. Of those who say they have tackled or may tackle a home improvement project during 2020, 29 percent say that home renovation activities are a way to spend quality time with others in the household. Of those Americans who say they have worked on at least one indoor or outdoor home improvement project in 2020, more than half (52 percent) say they worked on the project(s) with a spouse or partner, 29 percent say they did so with their children, and 22 percent say a friend helped them complete their project(s).

This DIY home improvement trend is likely to continue into the new year and beyond. More than 6 in 10 Americans (62 percent) feel their experiences during the pandemic mean they will likely tackle more home renovation projects long-term. As a result, many households are creating 2021 to-do lists. In addition to painting interior rooms (23 percent), a sizeable number of people plan to install an outdoor patio, deck or entertainment space (19 percent), install flooring (15 percent), remodel a bathroom (15 percent) or renovate a kitchen (15 percent). The survey data suggests people are shifting from immediate-need or functional projects in 2020 to more advanced home updates in 2021.