Date Published 28 January 2021
With the pandemic and lockdown still upon us, home design certainly hasn't taken a back seat just yet.
Here are some of our predictions for what homeowners will be tackling this year:
INCREASING ENERGY EFICIENCY
Being more ‘green' is not only essential for the future of our planet, but it can also help lower energy bills and save you money. So, it's unsurprising that creating energy efficient homes is now a priority for many.
Some energy saving home improvement ideas include:
- Upgrading your boiler
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Draught proofing
- Solar panels (these are on the rise too!)
- Want another way to save money on your bills and tackle climate change?
OPEN PLAN LIVING SPACES
Depending who's next in line to buy your home, more space could add value to it and help it sell, setting it apart from the competition. The bigger you can make a room look, the better. They can also feel more homely and nicer to live in.
OUTDOOR SPACES
Lockdown proved that having a garden is a huge benefit. In fact, it's changed homebuyer's priorities, with many now looking for homes with a nice outdoor space. Therefore, it's likely many of us will be doing ours up this year – now that the fences are painted!
Words like ‘summerhouses', ‘fire pits' grew in popularity last year – with outdoor entertainment spaces sitting at the forefront of people's minds.
People were also getting more sheds, as the garden has been getting significantly more attention than in previous years.
EXTENSIONS
If last year is anything to go by, people will still be looking to create more space. Extensions and loft conversions alike can significantly add value (estimated between £10,000-50,000) to your property.
Also, it can be practical to renovate in this way if working from home is your new normal. For example, if your garage is unused, why not turn it into a home office?
REDOCORATING
Never underestimate the power that revamping can have on your home. Whether it's painting the walls, putting down new flooring or new cabinet doors – a freshen up can go a long way.
New bathrooms and kitchens are hugely popular with potential buyers, so they can be good places to start.
Some trends that are becoming popular include:
Interesting bathroom fixtures e.g. matt black & rose gold
Vintage furniture
Colourful bathrooms e.g. ‘navy', ‘gold'
Nature-inspired palettes
All-white kitchens
Modern kitchen finishes
Bathrooms with baths and showers together
DEATH OF THE LIVING ROOM
While not everyone is a lover of open-plan anymore (for working from home related reasons), who has a need for a dining room?
When guest entertaining is permitted again, it's likely many of us will favour outdoor spaces. Dining rooms are starting to be seen as dated by many.
