Market report
Track the professional painting market
Explore research on professional painters’ business development, product choices and purchasing behaviour through the Painter Insight Monitor. Use its report range to place paint-market opportunities in the context of customer needs, company profiles and changing workloads.
Blogs I published 11 June 2025 I Dirk Hoogenboom
European Paint and Construction Markets Outlook Through 2026
European Paint and Construction Markets Outlook Through 2026
2024 was a tough year for European construction and paint. New builds slowed down, held back by high interest rates, rising costs for materials and labor, and political uncertainties. Germany, Europe’s largest market, is particularly weak and isn’t expected to improve through 2026.
Renovations Are Holding Things Together
New construction is down, but renovation work is steady. Across Europe, homeowners are still investing in decorating and repair projects. Spain and France are showing solid growth in small decorative projects, and Italy’s home improvement spending is expected to rise by over 20% next year.
Signs of Recovery in 2025 and 2026
We expect modest growth driven by:
- lower interest rates
- more government spending on infrastructure
- backlog in social housing projects
- falling material prices
DIY and DIFM projects are also set to grow, especially among younger consumers aged 18 to 34.
Painters See More Work, But Confidence Is Mixed
More painters report increased workloads than last year: 33% in Poland, 27% in Spain. But confidence isn’t universal. Germany is still seeing declines, and Polish painters are unsure about the future.
Market Outlook
The paint market overall is stable but uneven. Growth opportunities are mainly in coatings, specialty paints and timber products. The labor shortage is pushing more DIY, putting extra pressure on painter availability.
Bottom Line
The construction and paint markets in Europe will see slow but steady improvement, mostly in renovations and DIFM work. However, labor shortages and structural challenges will continue to hold back growth in key regions. The industry needs to focus on building the workforce, innovating prefab solutions, and adapting to the growing DIY and DIFM trends.
Tailored market research
Turn paint-market signals into priorities
Renovation demand and painter capacity do not develop evenly across Europe. USP can help assess the size of your opportunity, compare market conditions and identify the customer groups behind your next investment decision.
Market Size Research
Estimate the value and volume of defined paint categories by country and customer group, separating renovation opportunities from new-construction demand.
Market Exploration Research
Investigate local competitors, distribution structures and market developments before deciding where to expand your paint business or adjust your commercial focus.
Market Segmentation Research
Profile painting companies and home-improvement buyers by project mix, needs and purchasing behaviour to focus propositions on the most relevant opportunities.
Read more
11 June 2026
European Construction 2026: Cautious, Not Catastrophic
03 October 2025 I Dirk Hoogenboom
Small Players, Big Impact – Understanding Europe’s Painter-Dominated Market Landscape
04 June 2025 I Dirk Hoogenboom
The Labor Wall – Why Europe’s Painters Need Innovation?
10 March 2026 I Dirk Hoogenboom