Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Blogiversary 5: Charts, Graphs & A Little Beyonce

As our fifth blogiversary week comes to a close, we must first dole out a giant thank you to everyone for the sweetness (oh the humanity) and the laughs (oh the hilarity) and – well – for taking our little annual poll that we dropped into Monday’s post. This year we had over 30,000 entries. Wowza. Thank goodness Google helped me crunch the numbers (a stark contrast to our first blogiversary poll where I copied and pasted all 199 comment responses into a spreadsheet by hand).

Obviously it wasn’t a scientific study, but we did come out with some fun facts and figures that we thought would be fun to share here courtesy of some fun little graphics we whipped up. I’m hoping if I say “fun” enough you guys will forget this is a post about statistics. Did it work? If not, and you refuse to scroll further, I’ll summarize it for you: most of you are pretty much like us (well, Sherry to be exact): married Americans who own a house and a dog. Although for the first time we’re older than a majority of our readers. So maybe we should throw some quotation marks around the “young” in our name (or check up on the availability of “Thirty-Something House Love”). Anyways, here goes nothing…

Stats Age

Stats Geography 3

Stats Housing

Stats Married

Stats Pregnant

Stats Pets

Stats Teeth

Stats Black Eyed Peas 3

Stats Blogs

We had so much fun reading all of the stats on you guys. Did anything surprise you? Is there anything you’d love to know next year? Oh yeah, and speaking of yesterday’s goal post, this post is under 375 words (not counting the text in the graphics). Small yet satisfying. Like popping a dense little truffle over a heavy ol’ hunk of pound cake. Take that resolution!

Image sources: Beyonce, Ultrasound, Black Eyed Peas, Tina Fey, J.K. Rowling, Martha Stewart and Candice Olson.

Update – Some of the most frequent requests that we get are for info about professionally blogging (how we made our site, how we grew our following, how we make money, etc) so we shared all of the details about how we started a blog, grew our traffic, and turned it into a full time job. 

Comments

  2. Caroline says

    When I read “Small yet satisfying. Like popping a dense little truffle . . ” I first read “like POOPING” and I thought “wowza, do we get personal around here! But no. . that was just my messed up mind misreading. Thank goodness! (no offense)

    What would I like to see? Well, we are a military family and move every few years so right now we are renting out hose. I would like to see things that renters can do so that I don’t just have to sit and drool and sigh over all the cool stuff you do. (which means I can’t paint my walls any of the gorgeous colors you suggest or build a sweet deck in the back) but there’s gotta be SOMETHING I can do right?! I mean I stalk Craigslist for cheap furniture I can re-do, but I think my husband is sick of my bringing home random furniture we don’t need :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I knew what you meant! We love those smaller projects too (painting furniture, upholstering a chair or headboard, making DIY art, etc) so hopefully if you peruse our Projects page you can see ton of that stuff and of course there’s more to come!

      xo
      s

  4. Meg says

    I went through my entire second pregnancy (well, third pregnancy, second child–miscarriages suck) reading your blog, since I seem to do this crazy thing when pregnant where I must DECORATE ALL THE THINGS. …And then have to take it slow, since I have preterm labor issues. Womp womp. But seriously, since I found you in October 2011( at 2 months pregnant), I:
    – painted walls and trim in: my breakfast nook, dining room, kitchen, pantry, bathroom, bedroom, office (just trim) and living room
    – made a frame collage of DIY art
    – got a new couch
    – got new office furniture
    – painted my vintage metal sink cabinet
    – spray painted many, many thing
    – DIYed a table runner
    – painted a table and chairs
    And did about a hundred other DIY projects. :D You guys are such an inspiration to me, and my house has been entirely transformed and is about a million times better. AND–bonus–I’ve been awesome at budgeting, too.

    Oh, and I had Baby #2 in May. (My older son is a few months younger than Clara.)

    I adore your blog. It has literally changed my life.

    I’d love it if you’d do a follow-up poll with more details. How many of the moms or moms-to-be cloth diaper (or plan to)? Or homeschool? How many people have spray-painted a ceramic animal white? Level of education? Religion? Etc. It’d be awesome to see if we are all actually the same person… ;)

    Reply

    • Meg says

      I realized about halfway through the DIY craziness around here that I totally should have started a blog. I’d have months worth of posts! Oh, well. I keep meaning to send you pictures, though. Our house is pretty cool–it was built in 1922 and has all these great farmhouse details–and it’s been fun trying to make it feel fresh and pretty on a shoestring budget.

  5. Sam Power says

    Woo! Representing the 2% of those of us who live in Australia… or New Zealand. (but Kiwi’s are like our second cousins anyway, so I’m happy to be grouped as one family).

    Reply

  6. Hudson says

    I am proud to be in the teen category! And male! I love this blog and am always being inspired! You guys are great! May the blog live on!

    Reply

  7. Isobelle says

    WooHoo i am one of 2%…….Go Aussies!!!! So happy for you guys on your 5 year Blogiversary. Send our love to the Burger Man for his B,day.

    Love Nick, Izzy, Zoey (cavoodle) and Poppy (Kitten)

    Reply

  8. kate says

    I’m in England – yay me –
    and your book comes out on my 51st birthday -whoop whoop –
    guess what I’ve asked hubs for.
    I felt really old until I read all the comments about cool people reading your blog.
    Keep doing what you’re doing guys love reading it. I second the thing about doing what you want with the house now the kids are grown up.

    Reply

  9. Gillian says

    Well from one of the 2% Aussie readers, I want to tell you guys how much I love your blog. Just wish we had home depot and old navy here – they sound like my kinda shop :)

    Reply

  10. Karen@RestyledVintage says

    aww I love your blog, it is my favourite and sadly I forgot to take part in your survey. I’m in the group with all the other ‘oldies’ commenting on the first page, lol! I’m 41, married with two kids, and female. I am a Kiwi but live in Australia (we ran away a year ago from the big earthquakes shaking our hometown of Chch NZ over the past two years). Anyway, I am really surprised that such a small percentage of the survey respondents were from Aus/NZ. Maybe they are just slack like me and didn’t take the survey? Keep up the great work, you never fail to make me smile :)

    xx Karen

    Reply

    • Nelle says

      Karen, I thought the very same thing! I am also Australian and can’t believe there is only 2% of readers, I also came to the conclusion that Aussies are just too laid back to worry about doing the survey (even though I did it) I actually found young house love on a favourites column of an Australian blog.

  11. kory says

    This is awesome, I love statistics and pie charts :) I can’t imagine someone being bored by this stuff. (But I’m not even a math nerd, I’m a mathematician. And a nerd. Independently.)
    I’m also surprised Europeans are such a minority here, DIY knows of no borders :)

    I love Tina Fey, a friend once told me she reminded him of me… I wonder if that was a compliment? Are we alike in character or in liz-lemon-dorkiness? hmm…

    Reply

  12. VV says

    The infographics were awesome! I lol’d at the Single Ladies one :) Very clever!
    And so many other folks with buns in the oven! Congrats everyone!!! :D

    Reply

  13. Martine says

    Long time reader first time blogger. Part of the 6%.(but didn’t fill out the survey so maybe it should have been 10%??) Loving your wall of art in your home. Have tried a few of the ideas. Also enjoyed the cool graphics. Thanks

    Reply

  16. Julie says

    Ha ha, I was happy to see that I’m not the only 40 something that was surprised to be in the minority. Maybe many of us just didn’t take the time to do the survey?? Love all of your graphics :)

    Reply

  17. Kathy says

    OMG, I’m in the 1% What will my friends think? At 63, I find your blog entertaining and full of great ideas that have no age limits. Maybe it fulfills a little grand baby envy?
    K

    Reply

  19. jeannette says

    as much as i admire the real professionalism with which y’all drive this rocket, the youth and spontaneity you seek in the smorgasbord goal is a good catch. your artistic/taste level and sense of fun are always good, and when it lags (in reader redesign editorial decisions, for example, or formulaic phrases/prompts which, i hasten to add, are all forgiven for a yellow chair or time lapse photography, for example, on dressing the kitchen shelves) i get worried.
    plus the admin work seems to be a grind. one thing i find really really useful is julia cameron’s (the artist’s way, 85 per cent caca, 15 per cent pure gold) is the concept of an art date. once every 10 days, go soak your head in art.
    here’s to many, many happy returns of a good day.
    xxx

    Reply

  20. KateOmega says

    Africa doesn’t even get a slice of the pie! I am from Cape Town, South Africa, and I am an avid reader of your blog. I will have to do more to spread the word!

    Thank you for the inspiration you have provided over the years. Because of you guys I have become an internet trawler for second hand goods (I found my beautiful white couch for a bargain) and got up the nerve to repaint an old chip board table white.

    Reply

  21. Chris says

    I’m in the 6% club too. You guys are a major inspiration. I used to do a ton of DIY projects when the kids were younger. It’s soooo hard to find the time now. Your blog helps to fill that void for me. Thanks!

    Reply

  23. Maria says

    Not sure if you knew but your background is loading incorrectly to a picture of a bed with a b&w striped duvet, it’s impossible to read most of the text. Hope you guts are able to fix it soon and aren’t experiencing too much stress.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      So sorry about that! It’s just a smart phone glitch, so if you clear you cookies/cache/data it should be all good again. Wish we could change that weird little glitch on our end!

      xo
      s

  24. cheri says

    As part of the tiny fifties crowd, I feel out of place. I think reading your blog every day brings out my inner 30 year old self. Keep up the good work!
    p.s. Remember the days are long but the years are short.

    Reply

  25. n says

    Hey,

    I might be as of this second, your newest reader – one of 38% or 97% or 2% or 1% or 23% or 76% (8%) – or one the unique ones who has procastinated for an entire day using your blog!! :)

    Great work guys!

    Reply

  27. Jill says

    Wow, I’m surprised to be in the (top) 3% , since I am in my 50’s. At first I felt old, but then I thought that 3% is kind of special. And since I have bought a new (to me) house, a 1940’s bungalow I thought I could start a blog called “Old House Love”. old being both me and the house! hahaha

    Reply

  28. Tarnya Cook says

    I’m sure its still Sunday over there so I’m not too late… Happy Anniversary!!
    Loved all the posts this week and also the poll results were fun to read.
    I’m in the minority being an Aussie reader but good to know you have a few of us!!
    Tarmya xxx

    Reply

  32. Gem says

    Amazing graphics!

    I’m in the UK so I’m always excited when 3pm hits and the post goes up. Not only does it mean I get a 15 minute YHL fix, it means it’s nearly the end of the work day…

    Reply

  33. susan says

    Hey I’m in the 1% category for age but it doesn’t make me feel old it makes me feel “with it”! I love learning new things from a great couple like Sherry and John.

    Reply

  34. Tad says

    I don’t think I’m a “murker” because I’ve commented a few times, but most of the time I “murk” about 4 to 5 times a week. Ha Ha.

    Reply

  35. Life In Yellow says

    I can guarantee you my hubby is one of those unaccounted for “murkers” :) He is very familiar with YHL – since any time I need to sell him on an idea or project, I reference you guys when pitching it to him! Works every time :)

    Reply

  36. Kim says

    First….I love your blog! It’s inspired me to find my own decor voice (i.e. do what makes me happy in my own space), and your blogs always make me smile! I’m in the 20-something age range and am currently in my first grown-up apartment (meaning no roommate, more than one bedroom, and space to decorate). I’d love a few posts on decorating an apartment, or apartment crashing for those of us who don’t own a home (YET). Anyway…thanks a million for being who you are! :)

    Reply

  37. Teka says

    Great post and infographics. You should do a data visualization tutorial. I would love to learn how to do this too!!

    Reply

  38. Shelby says

    I don’t know if someone else has already made this remark and since there are a million comments, I’m not going to scroll through…

    Looks like there are a lot of teens who own their own homes! lol

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That majority of the pie is actually 20-somethings. Teens are a little sliver but the color is similar- so sorry if that’s unclear. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  39. Drew says

    I’m a person who uses the men’s room who took your survey because my girlfriend reads/loves/talks constantly about your blog. This is our first comment.

    Reply

  40. Lyn says

    I’m surprised that us “over 60” are even 1%. I feel like I’m in my 30’s, as long as I’m not moving!!! Most of my friends don’t even know what a blog is let alone read tons of them. They don’t know what I’m doing on the computer all the time. Of course that gives me the advantage on my decor projects when they say “how do you think of these things, you’re so creative”, ha, ha, read it on a blog. Don’t even get me started on Pinterest, they say “what”???

    Reply

  41. Ellie says

    I love your visual represenations of your statistics. Did you create them yourselves using photoshop or is there an online tool that helps you make pretty graphs? Thanks!!!

    Reply

  42. Eden says

    Hi, I’m from the Philippines.. Too bad, i missed the survey! I chanced upon blog while I was busy building our house.. We moved in around the same time you did! But my projects are nowhere getting done, unlike yours. :) Anytime I need a push – for inspiration or just to really do stuff, this is my go-to blog. Can’t wait to get your book.. Thanks much,

    Reply

  44. naa says

    Too bad I did not participate to this poll to increase the european “slice of the pie”!!

    Love your ideas!!!

    p.s.Because everything is so accurate, nice and neat at your website see whether graph number three about geography needs a reexamination. The sum is larger than 100% and think there is a lapsus in the “others” category as it says >1% instead of <1%…maybe I am wrong.

    Reply

  45. timothy says

    hello!
    i am disappointed that no that many male people read the blog. i wish i had someone that shared my love for design…that was a boy..i am a teenager which i see was 1% (im 13) and a boy which i see was only two little people and i have 2 dogs and..ya idk.haha. :)

    Reply

  46. Francinne says

    Well, I am shocked, 71 and in the 1%. My husband and I always have a home project going. I am new to reading your blog, discovered you in the HGTV magazine article. You two keep me inspired and to step up my pace and do more.

    Reply

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