Whether you love your home and want to stay forever or whether you are ready for a new one, it always pays to keep up a regular program of superior home improvements that will increase your home’s value and add to your enjoyment. The ideal home improvement is something that will make your home more appealing to live in, more efficient to run, and will increase your home’s value and longevity. However, with so many possibilities, it can be tricky to decide which to choose. We have nine home improvement upgrades that can make a real difference.
Home improvements for energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly import both for our pockets and for the future of our planet. If you are planning to remain in your home for a while longer you will see good financial returns on energy efficient home improvements and, if you are considering a move, energy efficiency will add to your property’s attraction factor.
Insulate your window areas
Current interior design trends are still towards clean lines with a focus on simplicity rather than layers of clutter. This has led to minimal window decoration, which can look great but does limit opportunities to keep your home warm. Thicker, longer-hanging curtains will add warmth, don’t have to take centre stage in a room and offer opportunities for hygge-style texture. If you don’t want to change your curtains, consider adding curtain linings for that added cosy factor.
Go for a boiler upgrade
When it comes to superior home improvements, not many people consider a boiler upgrade. There are, after all, more glamorous ways to upgrade your home. However, a new boiler can save you a lot of money and help reduce your carbon footprint. Check your existing boiler against energy efficiency ratings and make the change if necessary.
Invest in an energy monitor
It has always been possible to make limited checks on energy consumption by looking at your meters but energy monitors have made this task easier and more instant. There is nothing that is more likely to encourage your family to turn unnecessary appliances off than the immediacy of a visual display unit sitting right in front of them. This is an ideal home improvement because, not only will it save you money, it can be used to demonstrate the efficiency of your home to prospective buyers and be taken with you if you move.
Home improvements for productivity
Like millions of people all across the UK, you probably lead a very busy lifestyle and it is important that the home improvements you select take into account the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. By choosing home improvement ideas that will increase your home’s productivity, you will make your life easier, add attraction to potential buyers and find yourself with more time and money for the lighter side of life.
Install a home office
Even if you don’t officially work from home, you will find that a dedicated home office space can make all the difference when it comes to those annoying home-management tasks. You don’t need a whole room, find an alcove, install a desk and use screens to partition off your new office. Who knows, you might even bring out your inner entrepreneur!
Install a hard water softener
If you live in one of the UK’s hard water areas, for example Suffolk, you will have experienced the nuisance of the scum marks and blocked pipes that can be caused by hard water. Not only this, you will probably be spending more on shampoo and cleaning products than you really need to. Installing a hard water softener is an ideal home improvement because it will enhance both the look and productivity of your home. View our water softener buying guide to choosing the right one for your home
Conduct a lighting audit
The right lighting can make or break a home and save time and energy. One of the most cost-effective home improvement ideas is to take a close look at your lighting and decide whether or not it meets your needs. Your kitchen is a great example of this; soft lighting where people will gather around the table needs to be accompanied by more direct light in food preparation areas.
Home improvements and smart technology
The internet of things is here to stay and it won’t be long before every home buyer will be expecting to find a certain level of smart phone control over their home appliances. Smart technology is definitely up there amongst the superior home improvements that we are all starting to enjoy.
Install a smart thermostat
A smart thermostat is a solid home improvement that takes energy intelligence beyond the information you get from an energy monitor into a realm of control and fine-tuning that can save you money and make your home more welcoming. A smart thermostat can be programmed to adjust temperatures to suit your family’s needs through the day and controlled remotely from your smart phone.
Smart sensors
You hopefully already have a smoke alarm but many people don’t realise that smart sensor smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are now available. These clever devices can tell the difference between smoke and steam, feed important safety messages to your mobile phone, turn off heating in an emergency when used with a smart thermostat and give you verbal warnings before louder alarms go off.
Smart lighting
Not only can smart lighting improve the ambience and versatility of your home, installing it is yet another home improvement idea that can save you money. Smart lights are highly energy efficient, particularly when compared to incandescent bulbs. They also save money by making turning off or dimming the lights easy from your mobile phone. Those considering superior home improvements could even consider installing lights with occupancy sensors, no more turning the light off as you leave the room, these smart gadgets will automatically do the job for you when they detect that it is empty.
Your home is your castle, your shelter and the place where you spend quality time with your family. Upgrading it and making home improvements makes so much sense that you are probably wondering right now why you haven’t started yet. Installing a water softener is easier than you think and makes a great home improvement first choice. Get in touch with Hart Water today. We offer competitive pricing on a range of filters, taps and water softeners including installation, service and repair.
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