Home improvement is the flavour of the decade, so to speak; continued increases in house prices across the UK has led many homeowners to settle on improving their existing property over searching the market for an upgrade. There are many ways you can elevate your home, but the following offer the most significant improvements at a reasonable price.
Decorate Your Windows
Your home’s windows are easily overlooked when it comes to home improvement. Beyond the occasional succulent or flowerpot on the windowsill, windows are otherwise well left-alone – but dressing them properly can revolutionise each room’s relationship to the natural light and views it receives. In particular, making sure your bay windows are well-dressed can bring a space to life – and also provide you with unique storage solutions you might not have banked on.
Upgrade Your Fixtures
Much is made of the major overhauls to kitchen and bathroom spaces, whether flooring or new tiling, but the upgrades that will have the most impact on your day-to-day life are much more specific. By addressing your fixtures and fittings, you can make significant improvements to the things you use on a daily basis, both in terms of aesthetic and functionality.
Faucets and showerheads are a great start, with new designs providing a sleeker, more refined feel to your space – and modern options providing instant boiling water, for quicker cooking in the kitchen. The same goes for your electrical outlets and light switches, which can be so much more than the drab white plastic that adorns most houses.
Smart Technology
Smart technology is the craze sweeping households in the UK at the moment, as futuristic products that were once science-fiction – or incredibly expensive – are now available from popular consumer outlets at a reasonable price. The most common example of smart technology in households at the moment is probably the smart speaker, best exemplified by Amazon’s Alexa range. These Bluetooth speakers are voice-activated assistants in disguise, and can do everything from read out recipes to control the lighting in your home.
Speaking of which, many of your home systems can now be controlled via app, with the right upgrades. Perhaps the most useful in terms of your home’s functionality is control over your thermostat – enabling you to pre-heat your home on your return from work, or choose to heat certain rooms with the touch of a screen.
The Outdoors, In
The contemporary obsession with houseplants has been well-documented – but the effect that a little foliage can have on your home is undeniable. Even the most basic inclusion of succulents and cacti on mantelpieces and windowsills can bring much-needed colour into a space.
But with maximalism a key aesthetic in the 2020s, the bigger the better. Large palm plants can be trained to arc over doorways, and hanging plants can be draped across shelves and around corners. Low-maintenance plants like air plants mean you can improve your home with little impact on your life.