Rethinking The Classic Elements Of Household Design

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Last updated: April 14, 2023

Times are always changing, and we see this in every element of popular culture, from music to fashion to the politics we follow. Recently, the female English football team, otherwise known as the Lionesses, won the women’s Euros and absolutely blazed a trail for women’s football, in a more entertaining fashion than any men’s match we’ve seen recently, and in a manner that shows such praise has been long, long overdue. This just goes to show that change and improvement is always something we should welcome, if that wasn’t already so obvious.

Taking that mindset and applying it to our own surroundings can be worthwhile, from time to time. For instance, you might decide to look for better work now, especially motivated by the cost of living increases, or deciding that making new friends thanks to your prior social group becoming less enjoyable to be around is a priority for you.

But what about looking at our foremost surroundings and making that appropriate change? Rethinking the classic elements of household design, for instance, could be a worthwhile means forward. Perhaps you’re tired of that textured wallpaper, a holdoff from the 90s, and wish to replace it with brick slip covers as a feature wall. Let’s occupy that mindset a little longer, and discuss how to overcome the classic ‘we’ve always done it this way’ style of thinking:

Do You Need That Wardrobe?

A wardrobe can be a great, protective piece of furniture that looks good, houses your growing clothing collections and shoes that you wear less often, as well as perhaps all of your partner’s clothes too.

Yet it might be in your particular living space, a bulky wardrobe is a little old-fashioned and tired. Why opt for that when a chest of drawers and a worthwhile shelf clothes rail can provide all of the same utility with less of the bulk? By freeing up the protective enclosure you also add a great deal of perceptual space to the room, and allow the natural light to move unimpeded around your space once again.

Not to mention that with a simple rail, you don’t have to bother perfectly organizing the interior of a wardrobe or opening a large door to get to your clothes. They’re here, available, well-aired, and with a shelf on top of the railing unit, can work well within your current home storage approach.

Reformatting A Bathroom

When people think of a bathroom or restroom space, they tend to think of the classics. A toilet, sink, and shower unit or bathtub with an additionally installed shower head, so far, so good.

Wet rooms, however, are becoming more and more popular. Wet rooms increase the space in a given bathroom by opening up the flooring element more widely. By removing the bathroom or shower unit containers, a wet room makes use of properly treated tile so that the entirety of the floor services as the floor of the shower unit. Angled very slightly so that the water runs off into the wider grid-plated drain, all of a sudden the necessity of dividing the space becomes less necessary.

You may think that the floor is sure to be uncomfortably wet for anyone occupying the space just to use the toilet, but with a simple squeegee you can easily push any pooled water into the drain and as such, these rooms tend to dry very quickly. Not only do the tiles on the floors and walls add a uniform aesthetic, but wet rooms tend to be more open, easier to clean, and without the need for a bathtub or flooring unit, are often easier to maintain in the best possible sense.

Your Fireplace

Log-burning fireplaces are certainly nice and a rustic means of developing your home, but in some cases, it might be that you don’t have access to a larger functional chimney required to ventilate all of this smoke.

For this reason, it can be healthier to implement a gas or electric-based fireplace implement that provides false (but increasingly convincing) fireplace aesthetics, sometimes with coloured fire replication, allowing you to add some home comfort and to replace that prior fireplace installation with a cool new renovation that actually makes sense.

In other words, even if you live in a townhouse, replicating the worth and wisdom in rustic home implements can be a great idea. The same goes for retro cooking implements such as Aga oil-burners, where connected to the central heating of the property, oil can provide warmth, always-on cooking and heating, and more.

Driveway Installations

Tarmac, concrete, brickwork, it’s not uncommon to renovate our driveway every so often due to unforeseen damage or weather exposure that can cause problems going forward. Yet should you really have to replace your driveway every five years because of damage or crumbling? After all, it’s not as if you’re misusing it, you’re simply parking on it and walking on it from time to time. The moment we see cracks, melting tarmac in a heatwave, or weeds growing through minor holes, it’s not hard to feel quite frustrated.

This is why so many homeowners are rethinking the materials they use. Epoxy resin driveways are providing the overcoat necessary for waterproofing, wall to wall protection, robust weight limits, and even easy designs that fit well with the rest of the property using patterns that are uniform and in line with the rest of the structure. Not only that, but many epoxy resin installers will often warranties of ten, fifteen, and even twenty years depending on the installation and scope of the job. While this can cost more, it’s more than worth your consideration.

Garden Staging Areas

When entertaining in your household, it’s always nice to think about bringing people out into the garden if you’re lucky enough to have one. However, without a capable staging area, such as a patio, a back porch area or deck, it can feel uncomfortable to stand around on the grass.

First, we need to consider our means of exiting the building. With a small ramp leading from the back door, accessibility can be assured. French or sliding doors may also provide a wider means of access when coming or going. An overhang like a canopy or porch overhang can add that very necessary protection in the middle of a heatwave, while installing decking in line with this will help you add your seating area, benches, and even grilling equipment more easily. It can even be worthwhile to implement custom installations like a wooden protective holder for the gas cylinder used to power your barbecue.

With a garden staging area properly invested in, overcoming the old style of stained patio you may have been used to, your home can feel renewed and your parties will become that much more enjoyable.

HVAC Installations As Necessary

In the United Kingdom and many areas around Europe, air conditioning has not been seen as necessary. Our houses are designed to keep the heat in most of all. But it’s true that with increasing heatwaves, climate change, and raising temperatures and humidity, the HVAC industry is exploding in popularity.

It might be that now is the time to consider inbuilt ventilation, air conditioning, and filtration system necessary to keep your home cool during the intensity of the hot weather. There has never been a better time than now to focus on such an outcome. On top of that, many services are offering worthwhile discounts and warranty packages to cultivate your plan. When renovating your household, put this high on your list. You’ll thank yourself this time next year. It’s time we change the notion that the UK has no AC except for in its commercial buildings and hotels.

With this advice, you’re certain to rethink even the most classic elements of household design.