7 Must Have Home Investments for 2021 - SrijibDutta/srijiblog GitHub Wiki

The home improvement movement received a serious bump in 2020. When the pandemic forced people into lockdown mode and necessitated remote working arrangements, homeowners started remaking their living spaces. At the height of this trend, more than 70% of consumers were actively engaged in DIY projects. Now, months later, almost two-thirds of individuals are still sprucing up their properties.

Whether or not you’ve already jumped aboard this trend, you should consider adding the following investments to your home. Each one will improve the way you feel about your personal palace. And some may even boost your roost’s value.

1. Set your sights on super-speedy Internet. What’s the number one complaint among remote workers and kids engaged in online learning? Internet speeds that can barely outrun a sloth. Generally speaking, each person in a household needs around 25 Mbps of dedicated bandwidth at the bare minimum. Regrettably, many providers don’t offer anywhere close to that amount of lightning-quick service.

If you work from home or have children in a virtual school, seek out high-speed Internet that’s genuinely fast. Otherwise, you’ll end up dealing with plenty of annoying Zoom hiccups and ridiculously long downloads. It’s much easier to make a positive first impression on a client or your boss if your Internet doesn’t misbehave. 2. Link all your smart devices. Smart homes are all the rage. Most of us rely on some kind of smart technology, such as a personal assistant. However, to make the most of advanced gadgets, consider purchasing devices that work seamlessly together.

For instance, seek out brands that offer smart solutions like doorbells, security cameras, and thermostat settings that work from a single console. Being able to control all your smart devices from a centralized tablet, or even one app, can be a lifesaver. Why waste time having a bunch of separate gizmos when they can all communicate? 3. Triangulate your kitchen’s hotspots. When you think about touching your kitchen as a DIY project, do you worry about cost? Not all kitchen renovations have to be full-scale, HGTV makeovers. You can get a major upgrade without spending a fortune. Just keep the kitchen triangle in mind.

Not familiar with the kitchen triangle? It’s a method of designing a kitchen with an intuitive, comfortable layout that’s been around for nearly a century. The premise is straightforward: Your stove, refrigerator, and sink should be arranged in a triangular shape. This shape enables you to move freely between each element, but not be too constrained. By redoing and triangulating your kitchen layout, you can aesthetically and visually refine your kitchen space without overspending. 4. Replace appliances and accoutrements with energy-efficient models. Most homes could use an energy efficiency tweak, especially if the property is older than 20 or 30 years. Over time, insulation starts to settle, windows may become less effective, and HVAC and plumbing systems begin to break down. Added together, these elements can cause a home to be less airtight than most homeowners would like.

How do you know if you’re ripe for an energy efficiency overhaul? You can hire someone to figure out if your home is energy efficient. Or, you can conduct a DIY energy audit. For instance, look for leaks, look over older appliances, and take a peek at insulation. Use your audit findings to decide if certain enhancements could reduce your utility costs and make your house more comfortable. Then, decide if you want to make adjustments yourself or call experts. 5. Extend your living spaces to the outside. Wish you had a home with more square footage? One way to give the illusion of square footage, at least in pleasant weather, is by improving your green spaces. For instance, adding a patio or deck can give you new areas to play—and maybe even work from time to time.

Making your backyard, side yard, or porch more pleasing serves a purpose other than to extend your home’s livable footprint. It also gives your property what realtors like to call “curb appeal.” Consequently, if you decide to relocate, you’ll be glad you make the exterior investment when you receive higher buyer bids. 6. Carve out a designated home office area. Many people had to find an emergency spot in their homes for remote work when Covid hit. They did the best they could, repurposing dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and even closets. You might have been in the same boat, struggling to find a quiet haven to finish tasks without interruptions.

At this point, you’re probably either still working from home or have the option to work remotely occasionally. But have you elevated your virtual office location? Now is the perfect time to make a part of your home an “official” work station. You can choose anywhere you like, including a climate-controlled basement or unfinished attic nook. Even if you’re not using the space, it could become the perfect niche for kids’ homework or other projects. And once again, if you put your home on the market, someone might appreciate having an instant office to occupy. 7. Raise the organization level in your home. Be honest: Has clutter taken over your home environment? You might not be ready to discard all the treasures you’ve clung to, but stay open to organizing them. Look for places to add built-in shelving or painted storage cubes. Anything from your laundry room to walk-in closets can become an organizer’s dreamscape.

Once you begin to organize your items, you’ll probably notice that your house feels more spacious. That’s a natural (and appealing) aspect of finding a place for stuff that you aren’t immediately using. It’s also an investment in both the attractiveness of your home and your mental health. People who live without distracting visual chaos tend to feel calmer overall.

Investing in your home will allow you and your family to more fully enjoy your living areas. Plus, depending upon how extensive your facelift is, you could net more in terms of resale value when you move. Overall, it’s a win-win for you and whoever calls your house a home in the future.