New York, NY -- Move over "American Idol:" A New York-based TV producer says home decorating shows are this year's hottest trend in reality series.

Stephen Schwartz says it all started with a British show called "Changing Rooms, "which allowed neighbors to redecorate each other's homes. Since then, shows like "Trading Spaces, Surprise by Design" and "Surprise Gardener" have hit the screen.

Schwartz says these shows are popular because one of the biggest things people don't want is to be publicly criticized for how they decorate their home so when it happens on TV, there's an air of tension that viewers love.

Schwartz's new reality show, "While You Were Out," which shows spouses redecorating while their better halves are out of town, debuts in prime-time September 21 on TLC.

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