It seems like nothing stays still for too long these days. I know I for one am guilty of wanting to change things up ALL THE TIME. George loves it. His most dreaded words are “So I have an idea.” It is fun to switch things up, makes spaces feel like new and use your creative energy. It’s all about progress, and this includes when it comes to our properties. The traditional look has been well left behind, and now many of us are looking to transform our dwellings into more modern homes. But of course, that’s sometimes easier said than done. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some tried and tested methods for making your home one of the future.

Minimalist Design

Lately, I have found that if my house is too cluttered, so is my mind. I am not a complete minimalist, but I understand why this is style of design is calming and I have found myself gravitating towards anything calm these days. There’s been something of a rejection of the consumer culture that has dominated the world since the end of World War II. We understand now that owning more material goods doesn’t make us any happier; quite the opposite, in fact. Having too many items around us can have a detrimental impact on our state of mind. This is one of the reasons why the concept of minimalism became so popular. It’s a ‘less is more’ approach. While it has been around for a few years, it shows no signs of losing popularity anytime soon. You can go deep into minimalist designs, but the first, most simple step will be to clear out the belongings you no longer need and make your home more spacious. This is something I have slowly started to do, but to be honest I have a LONG WAY to go. Just start small, with one little space :)

Interconnected Home

Technology has been a part of the home since forever, but it’s beginning to become more advanced now, especially with the rise of the Internet of Things. This concept will essentially make previously “dumb” aspects of the home smarter. It can apply to all facets of the home, including your heating, lighting, entertainment, refrigeration (hello SAMSUNG family hub), and more. Make no mistake: this will be what the future of homes looks and feels like. You can’t start small by adding just a few little items, such as a thermostat. It won’t be long before you realize how cool these features are and install a lot more in your home! I literally play with my refrigerator on the daily and learn something new.

Energy Efficiency

I have blogged in the past about how to have an energy efficient home. I also talked earlier about how consumer culture is slowly eroding because people recognize that possessions don’t make them happy. But there’s another reason why it’s eroding too: it has a negative impact on the environment. There’s no avoiding the fact that we all need to change how we’re living, in various ways, including in the home. So take a look at your property and see just how much of an impact it has on the environment. If it’s a lot, you can make some changes. You can get solar panels installed by a company such as Iowa Solar so that your energy comes from a renewable source (the sun), and you’ll also want to add insulation so that your home can retain hot/cold air more efficiently. Making these changes is important for the sake of the planet, but they can also boost the home’s value, too.

Deep Relaxation and Work

It seems increasingly likely that many of us will be working from home in the future. As such, you can prepare for this shift by creating a workspace in your home. This is why I created a guest room/office space. This way I am not working in my kids playroom all day, because let me tell you that is not a productive work space ;) This will help divide the ‘working’ and ‘relaxing’ aspects of your home.

Cheers!

Janelle