How will you upgrade your home in 2022?
How we use and live in our homes has changed. Looking ahead to 2022 it’s time to re-evaluate. The last 2 years have taught us the future is impossible to predict, but the impact of the pandemic will last for years.
Consider two factors: What needs to be done to make your home as comfortable as possible and what investments make the most sense for re-sale value. But, where to start to upgrade your home in 2022?
Create a home office
A home office or designated working space may ultimately become just as indispensable as a kitchen or bathroom because many of us are working remotely without a clear end date in sight as many companies have made a conscious shift to a work-from-home hybrid model requiring employees to come into the office a few days a week.
There are many changes that can be made to inspire your productivity at home even if your home isn’t big enough to build a home office. Get creative with what you have.
Painting
If you’re not planning to stay in your current home for more than five years, interior designers recommend a fresh coat of paint to upgrade the space, possibly blending woodwork with walls. Paint is temporary, so this is an opportunity to give your home a personal feel without impacting resale value. It’s a low-cost way to make a big impact. Paint brands like Farrow & Ball started the trend of deep saturated, highly pigmented colours.
Not sure what colours to use? Ask yourself how you want to feel in the room you’re painting. Generally, lighter colours help brighten a room making it feel a little bigger and more light-filled, while darker colours can help make a space feel a little cosier.
Updating your kitchen
Kitchens always sell homes and apartments and the pandemic has placed new focus on this room. Having a kitchen that is both functional and attractive is increasingly important. More and more buyers are looking at the kitchen for appearance and functionality, cooking multiple meals daily and for food storage.
If you’re planning to renovate add a pantry if possible
In terms of aesthetics, consider using the same marble for the backsplash and worktops. It gives the kitchen a clean and streamlined modern look.
Remember that while Carrera marble is beautiful and timeless— it’s not always the most practical stone because it’s naturally porous. For something more durable, it’s best to re-seal the marble periodically or opt for an alternative like Corian.
Sprucing up outdoor space
Outdoor space has become much more valuable no matter where you live due to COVID. Often, terraces, balconies and gardens paled when compared to their homes.
Times have changed. Outdoor space is increasingly valuable and therefore maximising its usability and appearance are great ways to add value for a future sale.
When you’ve decided to re-design your garden it can be daunting, but with careful planning and inspirational research, you can achieve the outdoor space of your dreams without going overboard on garden makeover costs.
Make space more sanitary
A major impact of the pandemic is greater concern about the transmission of illness and germs. This has already and will continue to influence home design. Wayfair has noticed an increase in demand for hands-free and touchless features, as well as air purifiers.
Even the seemingly minor act of choosing a touchless tap or smart lighting in a bathroom or toilet can make a difference now as well as in the future.
Convert your bathroom into a home-spa
Add some luxury. Update your bathroom to make it more spa-like. For a big project that could be big rain showers and free-standing baths. Bathroom upgrades make life better in the short term and boost future resale value.
Maybe instal a bidet. After 2020’s toilet paper shortage, it’s easy to understand why this makes sense. It’s also part of an overall trend toward ‘accessible luxe’ bathroom upgrades.
Make better use of unused space
Most homeowners have space that they don’t use or under-utilise. Many activities that used to take place outdoors now take place indoors. Interior designers suggest rethinking how you use your current space.
Whilst many are converting formal dining rooms into home-offices, there are other ways to use these spaces, especially if there is already a home-office. If you don’t use your formal dining-room, turn it into something that adds value to your family by enveloping it into the kitchen and have one large area where you can all eat together
Attics or garages can be worth renovating. Turn the garage into an office or studio space, to allow you to work in a separate space from the main home.
