10 Renovation Trends to Watch in 2020
Our clients are always looking to improve their homes. We’ve taken a look at some of the most requested features from our clients last year and created our 10 Renovation Trends to Watch for 2020.
1. Home CCTV Systems
CCTV (closed-circuit television) has been around for a long time. Originally used to protect commercial premises, many people are now using it to monitor their homes as the technology becomes more affordable.
Cameras take various forms, and the latest systems include the ability to oversee multiple viewpoints around your home via an app on your phone or laptop. You can set notifications for any suspicious activity that occurs around your property.
The popularity of systems from companies such as Nest (owned by Google), Blink (Amazon), and new security company Ring, have made the use of home security cameras more widespread.
While there are many DIY options, we suggest using a specialist company who can advise on locations and installation.
2. Home Automation
Home automation, or smart home technology, lets you control objects around your home using network-connected devices. Examples include:
- Smart hubs and controllers: At the centre of home automation are smart hubs such as Amazon’s Echo range which feature their Alexa voice assistant. Although the Echo is primarily a Bluetooth speaker, by using Alexa, you can use it to control many other smart home devices. Another controller is the Wink Hub, which gives you control of any equipment around the home that uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave and a whole range of other connection technologies.
- Remote heating controls: These come in many different forms – one of the most popular is the Nest range of smart thermostats, which allow you to remotely control room temperatures from your phone, tablet, or PC.
- Electrical sockets and lighting: Smart plugs and power strips let you control anything that can be plugged into the wall from your phone, or a smart hub. With Philips Hue, you can control the intensity and colour of the lighting throughout your home from your phone.
- Music systems: Tech giants are falling over themselves to get their technologies into your home. One way in is by providing cheap smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home (pictured below), which give you voice control of digital music downloads and streaming from providers such as Spotify. These systems allow you to control music in different rooms throughout the house remotely.
- Doors and gates: Remotely operated gates and doors are very popular as they save you the need to get out your car until you are in your home, especially if you have an integral garage.
3. Aesthetics
A few years ago, aesthetics were not high on people’s wish lists, as their renovations were mostly concerned with adding additional room space. However, people are now focusing more on the finished look of their homes, with greater consideration now given to:
- Replacing dull brickwork or old render with either new render (sometimes coloured), timber boarding, composite boarding or stone cladding.
- Replacement windows for more contemporary style windows.
- Ensuring window proportions are in keeping for the elevation size.
- Replacement of roof tiles for a more modern look.
Below is an example of a before and after project, we have completed previously, which created a totally updated look for an old bungalow.
4. Flexible Room Use
Renovating to provide flexibility is becoming increasingly popular. Many of our clients are requesting rooms that double-up as a playroom, a study or occasional alternative bedroom for guests. With house prices becoming increasingly unaffordable for young people, many more are living at home with their parents for longer. This is increasing the need for flexible room spaces to allow families their own useable/practical space, away from each other.
5. Additional Natural Light
When renovating, homeowners want to include as much natural light in their homes as possible. This not only creates a pleasant living environment but helps to increase solar heat gain.
There are many ways to achieve this, but perhaps one of the most popular and effective is by the addition of roof lights or sun pipes into the property. Rooflights do not always require a vaulted ceiling – they can be fitted by forming a shaft for the roof lights to sit in.
Other alternatives include extra windows, full-height screens, large sliding/folding doors etc. Below are some examples where we’ve fitted roof lights into dwellings:
6. Indoor/Outdoor Living
Indoor/outdoor living is becoming more popular as homeowners try to take advantage of the occasional good weather in the UK. Indoor/outdoor living helps to provide the connection between the garden and the home, usually via the kitchen area. We can create this link in many ways, but it usually involves a large external terraced area for alfresco dining while ensuring connectivity to the house via a patio or bi-fold doors.
Homeowners sometimes decide to create external kitchen areas, with BBQs, pizza ovens and sinks for convenience. Overhanging parasols or pergolas are used to provide shade.
7. Large Kitchen/Dining/Sitting Spaces
These have been popular for a while, and we only see demand growing in home renovation projects. Homeowners/families are wanting to use a large kitchen, dining and sitting space within their home as the main living area. This means that during meal preparation time or after work, families/homeowners can sit down together and socialise.
A large kitchen/diner/sitting area also adds an impressive feature to any home. Below are a couple of examples that we have designed:
8. Renewable Energy Systems
With the need for thinking about the environment and the increase in the price of fossil fuels, systems using renewable energy are becoming more popular. There are many different types which can be considered as part of a home renovation. Examples include:
- Solar panels
- Air-source heat pumps
- Electric vehicle charging
- Battery storage
9. Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is excellent for the ground floor of properties as it provides constant heat, and systems are now very efficient. Partial ground floor underfloor heating is often favoured, as it can be both useful and beneficial in kitchen/dining areas.
10. Air Conditioning
With rising average temperatures, we see home air conditioning systems becoming increasingly popular. There are many types of air conditioning systems available, and if this is something that interests you, we would strongly recommend speaking to an expert regarding specifications and installation.
These were just a few of things we were asked about in 2019. Once you have a wish list and a budget, you have your starting point for a home renovation project.
We would be happy to help you create your dream home, so if you are thinking of renovating, please give David a call on 01530 560939 to arrange a home visit.
