Despite the expense, there are reasons why you might want to invest some of your money into your home this year. By making a few home improvements and alterations here and there, you can both reduce future home expenses, and have a home that is more befitting you and your lifestyle.
We think the following investments are particularly worthwhile, but use our ideas as an inspiration for your home. It’s unlikely you can afford everything on our short list, but there may be priorities for you that are worth considering before the year is out.
#1: Make your home more relaxing
When you return home each day, you want to be able to relax and take comfort in your surroundings. Therefore, you might consider renovating part of your home to help you do just that. For example, you might want to give your bathroom the spa treatment, or you might consider converting an existing room into a place that is yours and yours alone, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of your house. And as you make your home more relaxing, you might consider the colors you use. Peaceful paint colors will help you to relax, so you might want to use them within your rest areas, such as your bedroom, living room, and bathroom. You might also consider investing in more storage space around your home, because as we all know, the more clutter you have within eye view, the less relaxed you will feel.
#2: Get on top of those small and large repairs
It’s easy to procrastinate when it comes to home repairs. Especially when it comes to those things that seem small and insignificant, such as the sound of running water in your pipes, a crack in your floor, or signs of damp outside of your perimeter, there may be something seriously wrong elsewhere. We have just covered the signs of slab leak detection, for example, an issue that is quite costly if not dealt with quickly. So, walk around your home and list any repair job that needs doing, whether big or small. Before you are faced with a more widespread and expensive issue, get on top of any problems early, calling out the relevant professionals to minimize the effect on your bank balance later on.
#3: Go green with your home improvements
An eco-friendly home is both friendly to the world we live in and friendly to your bank balance. The investments you make this year could significantly reduce your heating and energy bills, so while saving the world should be your raison d’etre, you might also consider the savings you will make to your pocket as a worthy incentive to make some changes in your home. There are all kinds of things you could do. For starters, you might want to renovate your windows, perhaps replacing your current window with one of these super windows, with energy-efficient glazing to keep your home toasty warm and reduce your utility bills to a minimum. You might also consider converting and/or insulating your loft, whether you use the extra space or not, as you will save yourself a bundle on heating. And you can further save money on your heating and electricity bills by installing solar panels, which use earth’s natural resource, the sun, to insulate and power your home. Of course, you don’t need to go to great lengths to make your home eco-friendly. There are also tiny changes you can make, such as swapping the light bulbs in your home to something more energy-efficient and upgrading to a smart thermostat to help you manage your heating needs. Think about your budget, and make those changes that will benefit you and the environment this year.
#4: Create a more welcoming home
We often make the vow to spend more time with friends and family, but if our homes aren’t conducive to guests, then we might spend less time inviting them over. So, perhaps this is the year that your home becomes fit for purpose. For starters, you might consider turning one of your spare rooms into a guest bedroom. This way, you have the facility to invite over those people who might live some way away from you, such as distant relatives or old friends. Consider adding in an en suite bathroom too, and you will make their stay complete. There are some tips here on creating the perfect guest bedroom. Of course, there are other changes you can make around the home to further give your home that welcoming feel. As an example, you might want to extend your kitchen, turning it into a kitchen diner so you can better feed and entertain your guests. You could create an outdoor dining area, perfect for those summer barbecues and friend and family get-togethers. You might also convert your basement into a games room or a bar area, to give you an extra space to mingle with and entertain your guests. With a few changes here and there, your home will be the social hub of the neighborhood!
#5: Make your home more secure
It doesn’t matter if you are living in a high crime area or not; you should always take the threat of burglars seriously. If you have been lax with your home security, then you should concentrate on making your home more secure this year. You can make a start by purchasing a home security system, preferably one that comes with surveillance cameras so you can monitor both the inside and outside of your home, and with smart features, so you can check on your home even while you’re away. On the outside of your home, you might want to secure your perimeters with a stronger gate and fencing, alongside security lighting so any intrepid burglar is exposed if they try and gain entry. On the inside of your home, you should fasten deadbolts on your doors, and perhaps add shutters to your doors and window for extra security.
#6: Create an easier to clean home
Not many of us enjoy spending longer than we should be doing the housework, so consider making a few renovations to make your home easier to clean. We have already mentioned installing extra storage; perfect for when you want to get on top of your clutter. However, there are a few other things you can do. Starting with your flooring, you might want to swap your carpeting for tiling or stained concrete, especially if you have a problem with pet hair in your home or children who have a tendency to spill drink and food! And talking of kids and pets, you might consider changing or reupholstering your sofa, perhaps opting for leather or vinyl materials as they are easier to wipe down. Other easier to clean renovations include adding low-maintenance countertops in your kitchen, as well as an extra sink with a built-in trash disposal to make light work of your washing up and cleanups. Check here for other remodeling ideas that are recommended for anybody who wants to spend less time doing chores this year, and more time putting their feet up.
Finally
There is always more you can do, of course. For example, you might want to invest more money into your outdoor areas, perhaps with a summer house or a conservatory so you can enjoy your garden in the warmer months. And you might want to convert a spare room into something befitting your tastes and lifestyle. There are plenty of ideas here, with everything from a home gym to a library. It’s your home to do what you want with, so think about your needs and budget, and start to put a plan into action to give your home the relevant upgrades this year.
Let us know what you think, and if you have any ideas of your own, be sure to let us know.
