Can you believe that it’s the middle of February already? The weeks are going by so quickly that you might not have got round to starting your new year’s resolutions. You might have decided to get fit, quit smoking or lose some weight. But why not make some changes to your home over the year too? These 5 small, attainable goals to improve your home will help you to have a happier, healthier and calmer 2016.
1. Improve the air quality in your home
Indoor air can contain dust, pollen and mould spores, which can affect our respiratory systems. Exposure to polluted air over long periods of time can lead to respiratory disease and even heart disease or cancer. You can help to prevent these complications by getting an air conditioner, using non-toxic paints during decorating and ventilating your bathroom and kitchen.
2. Save energy
Saving energy not only helps the environment but it can also save you money too. There are some simple steps you can take to use less energy and reduce your bills:
- Turn lights off when you leave a room
- Draught-proof your home so you don’t need to have the heating on as high
- Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree – you could save up to £90 year
As well as these small steps, you could invest in solar panels and start generating your own electricity. You could save up to 50% on your electricity bills whilst earning up to £5,300 over 20 years from the government’s Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs). Solar electricity is a renewable energy source and carbon-neutral, so you can do your bit for the environment by generating your own power.
3. Redesign your kitchen
Your kitchen is the hub of your home, and you should look to see that you’re utilising space as well as you can. If you eat in your kitchen, consider a new breakfast bar or table, and if you find yourself short on storage why not hire a kitchen designer to see if there is any way you can create more cupboard space? Also, take this opportunity to go through your cupboards and throw out any food that’s past its expiry date.
4. Test your alarms
We all know these days that you should have at least a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, but we often forget to check them once they’re installed. It’s best to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every 6 months at least. If you’ve not got a smoke alarm, get one now! They are very cheap to buy and you can get battery- or mains-powered models. You can arrange for your local fire service to visit your home and carry out an assessment, and you may even qualify for a free smoke detector.
5. Switch to durable, low-maintenance furnishings
If you want to spend more time with your family and less time on the upkeep of your home, consider investing in more long-lasting materials such as LED lightbulbs. They can last between 18 and 46 years so you won’t have to worry about changing your bulbs every few months. Another great way to keep your home low-maintenance is to replace your old, dead plants with artificial ones so you can keep your house looking bright and welcoming all the time.
If you’re ready to step up and fulfil your resolutions and would like to install solar panels on your home or get help from a kitchen designer, simply fill in our form below to get up to 4 quotes from reliable traders.