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LOCKDOWN LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT OUR HOMES WE could never really have envisaged a time when we would be incarcerated in our own homes for weeks and weeks, could we? is definitely the time to open it up and appreciate its real proportions. New carpets or wooden flooring, mirrors and a fresh coat of paint can make it a very welcome entrance to your home once more. SPACE is something we’ve definitely come to appreciate during those months indoors: space to home-school children, lay out jigsaws, bake or just enjoy your favourite craft hobby. So rather than complain, do something about it. Could you build an EXTENSION, an ORANGERIE or add on a CONSERVATORY? Organisations like rated people allow you to post the job, get up to three quotes and see how other people rated individual builders.Go to www.ratedpeople.com/local/builders
As the lockdown days turned into weeks and then months, our four walls became a safe haven or a prison – depending on the individual and sometimes on the day. So, we had plenty of time to examine our homes in minute detail and decide just how we wanted to change our surroundings. What many of us did discover is that our homes were sometimes not fit for purpose. They were too big or too small, too dark, too cluttered and just not suitable for the way we lived our lives. The result has been a rush to estate agents to move to something more suitable or a willingness to re-think the homes in which we live and, finally, do something about them. The great thing about this latter decision is that these kinds of home improvements can actually add to the value of your property. One of the most popular changes people are already making to the outside is for a fresh coat of paint to WALLS and the FRONT DOOR. It might even be time for a new front door now that we’re actually able to leave the house. If you’re brightening up the property generally inside, opt for neutral shades as this allows for future plans when you might want to sell your home. A prospective buyer is better able to imaging their own lifestyle if you go for neutrality in room furnishings. While we’re looking at neutral colours, another simple way to update your home is by painting both the exterior and interior WINDOWSILLS. Nothing says old-fashioned like wooden or stone sills and painting them gives your home a fresh look. The HALLWAY is another area that may have become an irritant during lockdown. If it’s dark and dingy, or just simply cluttered, now 18
Try to see work your selected builder or supplier has carried out locally and talk to their customers if you can. The online world now allows all areas of opinion to be aired so you can easily find out more about what customers thought about any tradesman’s skills and value. One thing is certain: it’s always best to go to the experts for major work at home. Can you re-purpose specific rooms to suit your new approach to your lifestyle? Is the way you currently have your FURNITURE in particular rooms making the most of space there? Sometimes, decluttering needs to start with furniture rather than possessions. If you have realised that your old sofa is actually uncomfortable after you’ve spent long hours watching Netflix, or your dining room table and chairs are just too bulky, consider a change if you can. Side tables, large furniture and awkward cupboards could be replaced with streamlined, more modern items and built-in units that make the most of existing space to suit your daily lifestyle. The bonus for charity organisations like Emmaus and the British Heart Foundation is that they will often collect your unwanted items free in order to help fund their vital work. Light has become particularly important in our homes during lockdown, especially on grey days. So, is this time for new, more modern and more efficient WINDOWS? Today’s market offers a multiplicity of styles and sizes which keep warmth in and cold out better than ever and – perhaps most importantly now – bring light into many new areas of your home. Look at brightening up previously dark areas including landings or attics with roof windows like Velux. These help create rooms from unused part of the home and give an illusion of space in cramped areas.
