Many businesses asked their employees to work from home to keep them safe while continuing to be productive. Since the employees did not have to commute going to work and back home, they had a lot of time on their hands. With this, they started to notice some things that they needed to improve in their homes.
This situation resulted in a boom in home improvement projects. While some homeowners wanted to make their home look better, others wanted to make it safer and more comfortable. For homeowners who are still planning their home improvement projects, here are some ideas to consider.
Image by mohamed Hassan
Add a Deck or Porch
Putting a deck in the backyard or a porch in front is one thing homeowners can consider improving their homes’ overall look. But before they add a deck or porch, they should check the space available on their back or front yard. If the space isn’t sufficient, they can use the house’s alfresco area to add the deck, similar to the homes offered by Modeina, which has an alfresco area where they can build a deck.
They can use wood boards for the deck, which has a higher return on investment when compared to composite board decks. They can add outdoor furniture on the deck to make it an outdoor living space for the family. An outdoor grill is also nice to have on the deck for a weekend barbecue.
Brighten up the Exterior
Painting the exterior can increase the house’s curb appeal and make it stand out in the neighborhood. This is quite practical if the homeowner has plans of selling the house in the future. When the house has a brand-new coat of paint, it can increase its resale value.
It’s advisable to repaint the house’s exterior every few years, especially if the original paint already fades away. A neutral color is best. To further enhance the exterior, homeowners can also add plants along the porch. But they should make sure to take care of the plants and water them regularly.
Make the Home Smarter
To make home living safer and more comfortable, some homeowners buy and install smart devices. These smart devices can include a video camera doorbell, a smart thermostat, or smart refrigerators. These devices make the work-from-home arrangement more convenient and safer.
Video camera doorbells have become popular, especially for people who still go to the office for work. These cameras are typically connected to the internet, allowing homeowners to monitor any unusual activities in front of the house. It allows homeowners to screen visitors without having to go to the door.
On the other hand, a smart thermostat allows the homeowner to control the house’s temperature remotely. The homeowner can also program the thermostat to lower the temperature in rooms where no one is staying for the moment, which results in energy savings.
Update the Kitchen
Updating the kitchen is also a good idea since it has become one place where people converge, especially during parties. While these parties are not yet recommended due to the situation, the kitchen is still the focus of people’s lives these days.
Many stay-at-home employees have started to cook wonderful dishes in the kitchen since they have a lot of time on their hands. Cooking these dishes is easier if the kitchen has everything homeowners need.
They can install a new oven or remodel the cabinets that are already worn out. They can even get a smart refrigerator that creates a grocery list based on what’s stored in it. It can even look for recipes while the homeowners are still thinking about a new dish that they can cook.
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are good additions to any home. Aside from lowering power costs, they also allow the homeowner to contribute to saving the environment. Solar panels also allow the homeowner to earn tax rebates depending on the location of the home. Some states offer huge rebates or tax credits for homeowners that install solar panels in their home.
Some installers cover the cost of installing the solar panels, including the cost of the solar panels themselves. Once they install the solar panels, they charge a reduced rate for electricity consumption. In these situations, the installers are leasing the roof space and give homeowners discounts on electricity consumption. These installers normally earn the proceeds from the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs).
Home improvement projects have become the focus of many homeowners who have noticed the things they want to improve in their homes after they started working remotely during the pandemic.
