Having the freedom to decorate your home exactly how you want is an incredible feeling, especially when you get to show all of your hard work off to friends and family. If you’re like most, you’re always looking for new ways you can improve your home and the way it looks. But, have you ever considered making improvements that do more than please aesthetically?
Improvements that are useful as well as upgrading the way something looks are a great way of making your home better in more ways than one. Not sure what we mean? Let’s take a look at these home improvement ideas that go deeper than looks.
Upgrade your windows
Your windows are an integral part of your home, and there are so many things you can do to make them better! Firstly, have you considered upgrading them to triple glazing? That extra layer of glass will help keep your home even more insulated, which will save you money on both heating and cool;ing your home.
If replacing your windows isn’t an option, there are still other upgrades you could consider. Have you ever considered window tinting? It’s essentially a film that sits on the outside of your windows that serves multiple purposes such as:
- Giving your home privacy
- Adds style
- Controls the temperature
- Protects furniture from sun damage
It’s really inexpensive, and provides so many benefits! Pair that with a lick of paint on your window panes and they’ll look as good as new.
Install solar panels
This is a great home improvement to consider if you’re trying to be more conscious of your carbon footprint. And, while solar panels are a large investment to begin with, they can save you so much money on your energy bills throughout the year, especially in the summer. Some consumers have reported that their energy bill is non-existent throughout the summer! Not only that, but some types of solar panels save any extra energy you’re not using and you can sell that energy back to the grid. So, while it might be a big dip in your savings to begin with, they’ll certainly end up paying for themselves!
While solar panels aren’t typically “aesthetic”, they are an attractive quality on any home in this day and age. That means if you ever decide to sell your home, you can expect to bump the price of your home!
Replace drain covers
Drain covers can become battered and beaten over the years, so now is a great time to replace them! It’s a pretty inexpensive job to do, and you can match your new covers to any other aesthetic you’ve created outside of your home. For example, if you’re going for an industrial look in your garden, consider copper drain covers to complete the look.
While you’re there, take the time to take a look at the condition of your pipes. As you know, sewage problems can be extremely expensive, so it’s worth taking a decent bit of kit like the Wohler Inspection Camera and taking a look to check for any corrosion or blockages. Catching any issues early could save you a lot of stress and money!
Add smart home technology
Everyone is making their homes smart these days because it simply just makes life easier, so why not jump onto that trend? You don’t have to spend loads of money to turn your home into a smart home. Not only that, but modern smart home appliances are also way more energy efficient which will save you a lot of money in the long run. All you need to get started is a central hub of some sorts and then you can add devices or appliances as you get them! Imagine traveling home after a long day at work and being able to remotely turn the heating on so that it’s toasty when you get home? Bliss!
Convert your loft or your cellar
Whether you’re building a man cave, adding a bedroom, or creating a private office space, another room in your home is always going to be a welcome addition, right? But, extending your home is expensive, and that’s after you’ve got planning permission. Instead, why not convert your loft or your cellar into an extra room for your home!
Not only will you have another functioning room in your home to enjoy, but if you ever come to sell, you will have increased the value of your home. What kind of room you turn it into is completely up to you!
Replace your boiler
If you’ve got a boiler, then you’ll know all too well how much of a pain they can be to maintain, especially as they get older. If you’ve got an outdated boiler, now is the time to consider replacing it. Not only will your new one be less likely to break down when you need it the most, it will also be much more energy efficient than your current one.
Aside from all of that, you’ll also be cutting the risk of any harmful gases being leaked into your home from your old boiler. It might be an expense you’d rather skip, but it could end up costing you way more – and the headache that comes with it.
Check your insulation
If you’ve never checked the integrity of your insulation, now is the time to do so. With the colder weather well on its way, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep your home warm. Not only that, but in some older buildings, the insulation used may contain asbestos, which if compromised could be extremely dangerous to your health.
It’s important not to touch any insulation that’s broken or damaged and to call asbestos removers to take care of it. They will be able to safely remove it from your home without risking anyone’s health.
If you know your home doesn’t have asbestos but the insulation is looking a bit tired and thin, take the time to replace it so that you can enjoy the winter months in a cosy and warm home!
