Consider this before making any home improvements: is this an enhancement you desire or need? Some homeowners start renovations without realizing what poor investments they are making.
In this blog, we’ll lay down seven makeover ideas for your home renovation plan. These ideas are not just hype but will improve the convenience and functionality of your home.
-
Try an open-plan design
Modern minimalist houses typically feature open floor plans. Once you eliminate the walls, it creates free-flowing space within the areas of the house. Additionally, it allows a continuous flow of natural light and air between zones.
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Have a structural engineer assist you in wall demolition.
- Install bifold doors or patio doors for easy indoor-outdoor access.
- Opt for large glass windows to allow sunlight inside your home.
- Create a partition by building a half wall or furniture to keep spaces organised.
- Use narrow planks for your flooring to make the space appear longer.
The benefits of this project
If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you wouldn’t want your kids running around the kitchen while you’re busy cooking. An open-plan living design makes it possible for you to keep an eye on your kids in the living room while you prepare meals.
Aside from creating an expansive-looking home, an open floor plan makes the house accessible. It’s an ideal layout, especially for family gatherings. You won’t feel isolated even if you’re preparing meals while other people are chatting in other parts of the house.
An open floor plan also makes it easy for a family member with mobility issues to move from one room to another. Whether in a wheelchair or aided with a walker, anyone with mobility issues doesn’t need to hold the door as they move. However, you might consider removing the rugs for safety.
An open floor plan offers flexibility if you want to redecorate. You can move the furniture without worrying if it fits the door.
Home Painting Tips You Need to Consider in 2020
2. Bathroom for two?
One problem in a busy and packed household is having a shared bathroom. Bumping against each other to brush teeth in front of the mirror or taking turns in the shower, only to find out there won’t be enough hot water. Does this scenario sound familiar to you?
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Add a double vanity to make it easier to get ready.
- Install dual shower heads for couples or siblings to share.
- Try a Jack-and-Jill bathroom accessible from two sides of the house to save space and money.
The benefits of this project
You could install a double shower with a fixed head and a hand-held one. The latter is better for kids and the elderly, especially if it has a longer hose. It’s also more practical since it allows you to conveniently give your kids or pets a bath.
If you add a stylish shower curtain, one person can take a shower, while another person uses the vanity.
Choose a stainless steel material for durability, water resistance, and a contemporary look. This will make cleanup a breeze.
Tile Trim Ideas to Enhance Your Home
3. A breakfast bar outdoors
Do you want to dine alfresco but don’t want to bother carrying plates in and out of the house? Try an outdoor breakfast bar. It allows you to prepare food while entertaining your guests. Plus, you don’t need to move your cooking equipment and utensils outside as you can easily serve snacks and beverages through the bench top.
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Shop for furniture or stools to complement your bar.
- Decide whether to have a fixed or floating counter installed.
- Choose a glass window to create space and allow you to pass through items on the benchtop.
- Get a professional draftsman or a building designer for detailed plans and drawings.
The benefits of this project
If you have a tight budget, try going to a local thrift or secondhand furniture store. You’ll be amazed at the fancy pieces you’ll find there that are still in good condition.
The only downside is that you can’t be sure if the material is durable and resilient enough to withstand outdoor weather. Yet, you can always apply a durable paint, stain, or coating to ensure such furniture will not wear out quickly.
Meanwhile, you have a lot of options for the outdoor breakfast bar’s windows. Here are your choices:
- Awning windows are the type of windows with the butt hinged at the top window frame and open from the bottom.
- Bifold windows open like an accordion and close by stacking on one or both sides.
- Casement windows comprise two or more panels hinged on one side. It can either open inwards or outwards.
- Pocket windows stack in the cavity or recess in the wall. These are great space-savers since they move in the cavity if open.
Best Creative Lighting Ideas For Your Home
4. A hidden sliding door
Have you had trouble keeping the door open? Do you have a narrow house that cannot accommodate a complete swing door? If you want a space-saving solution for your door space, you might want to consider a cavity slider.
A cavity slider/pocket door is a sliding door that slides through the cavity or the recess of the wall. Unlike traditional doors, a cavity slider is an excellent idea since it doesn’t have a knob which could be a chore to grip and turn for the elderly.
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Consult with an expert draftsman or building designer (you might have to demolish a wall, and there are pipes or wirings beneath)
- Decide which material you’d like for your pocket door.
- Consider it for your private bathroom, study, home office, or laundry area.
- Avoid getting one for your patio/main door, as it provides less security than a traditional swing door.
A pocket door is also a sleek, contemporary addition to your home. It’s minimalist yet stylish, clean and simple yet convenient. However, you don’t want to consider this addition to your front or main door since it doesn’t provide as enough security as traditional ones.
Creative Ideas for a Startup Business
5. Need a mudroom?
If one of your problems is when your kids step into the house with shoes covered with dirt, a mudroom is a solution. It’s where you and your family can keep messy articles of clothing before entering the house.
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Install hooks, cabinets, shelves, and wicker baskets to organise your things.
- Prepare separate baskets for wet and dry garments (assuming the wet ones are for laundry).
- Determine whether your mudroom has a convenient distance to the laundry area. You can also merge the two into a single space.
- Opt for a bench or comfortable seating. You can place throw pillows, rugs, curtains, and other decorations.
You can decorate your mudroom with lines, patterns, and textures. If you want, you can have it by the entrance, so that it can be a clean and comfortable space for your guests. Decorating with warm and natural materials can make your mudroom cosy and inviting.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Home Improvement Loans
6. Renovate your wardrobe
One practical idea if you’re trying to declutter your whole house is to renovate your wardrobe. It will expand your storage space and allow you to organise your closet better. That way, you can determine where the items are without looking all over your walk-in/cabinet.
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Organise your things according to the frequency of use, care maintenance, colour, season, etc.
- Give away or throw the items you don’t use or will not use
- Decide what type of wardrobe fits your space
- For awkward or unusual spaces, you might want to get in touch with a professional for a customised wardrobe
- Opt for an open wardrobe. You can have sliding or pocket doors if you want privacy, but you don’t have much space for a complete door swing.
An excellent idea would have a mirrored wardrobe. It’s a convenient way to place your mirrors without wasting unused space for a separate one.
7. Convert to an energy-efficient home
With the rising energy prices and global warming issues, having an energy-efficient home is a practical decision. The key here is knowing what cost-saving addition you need to enjoy long-term benefits.
For this home improvement project, you might want to:
- Pick double-glazed windows and doors for insulation.
- Try white roof tiles for their versatility and ability to lessen heat inside your home.
- Opt timber for the flooring.
- Choose zero carbon cladding or thermowood for your facade.
- Consider glass elements for your home — windows, doors, staircases, even mirrors to allow and enhance natural light into your home.
For this project, it’s still best to consult with a draftsman or a building designer. They’ll figure out how you can achieve an energy-efficient design for your home and provide you with an estimate for your project. Your hired professionals can prepare you for how much these upgrades cost.
You may have to invest in expensive upgrades, but don’t worry. They may help you lower your energy expenses in the long run. Don’t forget to consult your building designer on the return-on-investment (ROI) you can expect from the project.
Home improvements you need
More than the design and visual appeal, your renovation should address the existing problems in your home. You should learn, with the help of the skilled designers and drafters, to choose upgrades that are valuable and necessary.
