Are Home Shows Worth the Admission?

Winter and spring are good times of year for home shows in the GTA. This makes sense considering spring is a time of renewal and many people use this season as their opportunity to make much-needed changes around their home. But, are home shows actually worth the admission you pay to go to them?

Upcoming home shows in the GTA this winter include:

• Interior Design Show – January 19^th to 22^nd
• GTA Home & Reno Show – February 17^th to 20^th
• National Home Show (co-hosted with Canada Blooms) – March 10^th to 19^th

All three of these shows are well-known to the public and feature some great vendors and exhibits.

Advantages of attending home shows

There are a number of advantages to attending home shows, even if you pay a price tag at the door. If you are planning on doing renovations or additions to your home, home shows are a great place to:

• Get ideas
• Meet with vendors/trades people/designers to get their advice or opinions
• View the latest trends
• Listen to inspiring talks
• Purchase items that you wouldn’t normally be able to buy in stores
• Purchase items before they are available to the general public

Many people attend home shows just to get a good idea of what is out there and get some ideas for changes they can make to their homes, large or small. If you have a particular project in mind, attending a home show in the GTA is a good idea, as you can scope out vendors, contractors or designers for your project. You can get their business card and view their portfolios and decide if they are right for you.

If you are a DIYer, speaking to professionals with your DIY questions ready might help you get over a hurdle in your project. Sure, you could search it up on the internet, but sometimes talking to someone in the know is the best way to get the right answer for you.

Many home shows have speakers or segments where you can learn a new skill or ask an expert. For example, The National Home Show has a Destination Renovation feature where you can get free expert advice from professional renovators. They’ve also got the same sort of feature for those looking for design advice or garden advice. The Interior Design Show has a huge list of coveted speakers, like Lynda Reeves, the founder and publisher of House and Home magazine who will talk about Decorating 101.

Admission to these shows usually runs in the range of $15 to $20, plus parking if it is at a downtown location (free at some outer Toronto locations). If you are wondering if it is worth the money, you need to first consider your goals of attending. If you need that expert advice or unique ideas, it may well be worth the money to see your projects in action. If you are just looking for something to do, home shows could make for an interesting and cheap date night!