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Renovation Tips for Homeowners

22 December 2020

Home renovation can greatly increase your home’s value as well as elevate the aesthetic of your house, but before you head out and start hunting for inspiration or checking out personal loans, you should buckle up and do some research in this sector because it’s not just about hacking down walls and adding a walk-in closet. There’s lighting, flow, practicality, climate, and all other factors that you should consider.

Maximise on natural lighting

Yes, technology has given us the power to light up the night and regardless of how big or hidden your room is, you can manage to bring in some form of light. However, one thing that this does not afford is airflow or the benefits of sunlight. Natural lighting is the best option because it means you can open a window and air out a room, it also means that you can get your daily dose of Vitamin D and serotonin which keeps our moods in check and winter blues at bay. Furthermore, having enough lighting means that you can save on your electricity bills.

Don’t underestimate the power of your home’s layout

Architects spend years understanding how to create good flow in a house. It requires meticulous planning and lots of trial and error as well as experience. The position of the rooms in the home and how homeowners will interact with these spaces plays into a successful layout. Some traditional examples of rooms and the relationships between them are the dining area and the kitchen. It wouldn’t make sense to separate the two. Can you imagine having the kitchen on the second floor and the dining area on the ground floor? Not only is it a hassle to set the table, but you’ll have to bring the groceries up the stairs which is an incredible inconvenience.

A good flow takes into account the day to day tasks that will be done within the house and create a flow of things that feels natural. You’ll be able to unload your groceries on the way to the final destination, for instance, you pass by the storage space or utility room for toiletries and detergent and get to the dry pantry before reaching the fridge where you’ll store the remains of your purchases.

Even something as simple as a herb rack can do wonders for how you work in the kitchen. Everything should be within reasonable reach and you shouldn’t have to go out of your way in order to take something out of storage to use it. A well-designed space is like a good pair of shoes. If you’re wearing a good pair of shoes, you don’t even notice that you have them on your feet. But if you’re wearing a bad pair of shoes, you notice them every step of the way.

How’s the humidity?

According to ScienceDirect, skylights are prevalent in seasonal countries to reduce energy consumption. In tropical climates, skylights are often neglected and fall into disrepair due to rain or extreme heat. If you get a lot of rain in your area, you might want to avoid wood that rots easily. This doesn’t just apply to the weather in your area, it also applies to different rooms and their functions in the house. Bathrooms have high humidity and therefore are not an ideal setting for marble and wood fixtures as it can rot and crack, neither are they the best option for your kitchen island. It might look good, but it isn’t practical nor is it durable.

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