Kitchens and cookware were strong performers at the start of the year, according to new data from GfK.
The company says there is one particular area that stands out as showing positive year-on-year growth across DIY in January and February, and that is what it calls the 'room specific' sector. Within this, kitchens performed best, showing 12% value growth. In contrast, the bathroom/shower sector declined by 7%.

GfK says the figures perhaps indicate the increasing importance of the kitchen as a focal point of the home, and seem to correlate with the growth seen within the food preparation and hot beverage makers sectors.

Total room specific value grew 3% in January - February 2013 over the same period in 2012 - a marked recovery from the 19% decline in January - February 2012 over the 2011 period.

Meanwhile, the UK's appetite for home cooking shows no signs of abating, GfK says. Series 3's final of The Great British Bake Off in October attracted a record 7.2m viewers, and its popularity has translated into an all-time high for bakeware sales. They saw value growth of 2.8% in 2012 - annual sales value is now up 34% on 2009.

Pots and pans are benefiting too. Although total sales declined slightly last year after a record high in 2011, the high-end sector (over £40) tracked by GfK increased by 2.8%, as consumers invested in high quality cookware. Pressure cookers, whilst a small sector, are also seeing a revival, with value sales up 7%.

And there are positive signs that the growth will continue, with value growth of 17.6% for pots and pans and 6.8% for bakeware in the period to February 2013.