Top tips to make your house feel more luxurious when renovating your home.
Picture #1: Multiple extensions project in Fulham while a project architect at EMR Architecture.
When thinking of renovating a house it is important to take into account what will be interesting for potential buyers in the future as well as your needs. I have been asked many times how can we make this master bedroom feel more luxurious and attractive to potential buyers? You might not want to sell your house in the near future but it's good to keep an open mind in certain aspects.
Not only adding square metres to a property adds value to a house but also the interior design choices we make.
Tip #1 - Wall and Ceiling Details
Adding details to walls and ceilings of the main rooms or circulation areas is an easy way to add a focal point of interest to a space. There are lots of ways of doing this: using wall paper or a feature wall or adding cornicing, panelling or dado rails that work for different periods and tastes whether you are classic or modern.
Tip #2 - Big Wall Art
Sometimes a space needs a statement piece of wall art that tells a story. Usually, these pieces can often be expensive since they are difficult to transport but thankfully nowadays there are affordable ways of achieving the same effect without spending a fortune. Furthermore, large wall art helps making a space feel bigger compare to using lots of small pieces of art.
Tip #3 - Neutral Colour paint
Neutral colour paint such as light greys and off whites help give a more spacious look than darker colours. It also creates a white canvas where it's easy to add wall art, lighting features, decorative items and combine furniture.
“Tonal and Subtle colour combinations allow us to mix furniture and pieces from different eras to create a cohesive narrative.”
– Rafael de Cardenas
Tip #4 - Dress your floors and windows
Adding appropriate size rugs to a space increases the interest and warmth of the room. It also adds comfort to it and makes visitors feel more cosy. Rugs also help protecting the floor so it lasts longer. Curtains, roller blinds, roman blinds, shutters and all window treatments in general make a room feel finished. Those two items really make a difference.
Tip #5 - Add built-in storage
Without appropriate storage most houses end up looking like a mess. Even when we think we don't need it, it will still be useful and functional on a daily basis.
Tip #6 - Vintage furniture
A vintage piece can really add interest to a room and make it feel finished. At TUB architects we are specially fond of mid century furniture as it's timeless and fits almost any home style but of course there are many other options available depending on the period of your home and the rest of the furniture we are planning to use in the scheme.
“One should never be the oldest thing in one’s house.”
– Patsy Stone
Tip #7 - Double doors
If you are looking for a luxurious feeling when entering a room there's nothing like a double door to give you a sense of grandeur. Whether it's a pocket or swing doors, a bigger opening enlarges the view inside, frames it and dignifies the space.
Tip #8 - Lighting
Lighting is such an important factor in a room. Every room needs different levels of lighting depending on the time of the day and the use you make of it. You need a stronger light to clean or look things up which is usually sorted with the ceiling spots. Wall lights or floor lamps for subtle lower brightness or reading purposes. Pendants are great as a secondary source to set up a mood but also for decoration purposes. Floor recessed lights by the chimney or on each side of doors can add focal points that bring interest too. Hidden lights on the ceiling or inside the joinery, on open selves or to lit the kitchen worktop up are very functional.
Investing in nice quality fittings will also bring personality to the room.
“Design is defined by the light and shade, and appropriate lighting is enormously important.”
– Albert Hadley
Tip #9 - Hardware
Replacing all hardware in the house has few purposes. Firstly, quality handles and knobs change your daily experience of your home and will last longer without breaking or starting to malfunction. Secondly, they should match the new style of the house and colours. Lastly, it is a great and easy way of refreshing furniture too so everything is consistent and adds texture to your home.
“The door Handle is the handshake of the building”
– Juhani Pallasmaa
Tip #10 - Create a Walk-in Wardrobe
Allocating a small unused room or space for a walk-in wardrobe ideally, in the master bedroom, will really give the premium feel.
Tip #11 - Highlight your hallway
This area is your presentation letter so it is important to pay attention to it and design it properly. Creating some storage for shoes, coats and hide things away in general, will keep your space tidy and give a good impression.
Tip #12 - Flooring
The floor is one of the largest and more visible areas of your home that's why it can be a focal point and bring warmth and personality to the room. Choosing the right material and colour is key to bring the whole house back to life.
Tip #13 - Update your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Research shows kitchen and bathrooms are the two most important rooms potential buyers look at when visiting a house. Functionality and practicality along with quality and well thought designs will definitely have a big impact in how people perceive the whole house but, more importantly, in the way you experience and enjoy those spaces.
“Kitchens should be designed around what's really important: Fun, Food and Life”
– David Bouloud
Tip #14 - Add underfloor heating
Underfloor heating is more efficient than radiators as it heats the house in a more uniform way. Usually, every house has cold spots in it which feel uncomfortable. This uniform warm feeling is definitely a luxury easy to achieve and very noticeable. The other great advantage is that it frees the walls from having radiators and therefore the space looks bigger, tidier and cleaner while making it easier to rearrange furniture or hang wall-art.
“Real Comfort, visual and physical, is vital to every room”
– Mark Hampton
Tip #15- Maximise the natural light
Natural light is fundamental in the way a space feels. Both rooflights and vertical glazing contribute to this feeling. Light or the lack of it has a huge impact in our well-being, mood and stress. Therefore, finding ways of bringing more natural light into your home will always be perceived in a positive way. Furthermore, ideally the light should flow from the front to the back of the property and create visuals into the rear garden.
“A room is not a room without natural light.”
– Louis Kahn
Tip #16- Consider an Open plan
Open plan Kitchen-Dining-Living feels more spacious and it's great for entertaining. The light and air flow a lot better and more naturally. The space is more flexible and allows for greater changes in the future.
Tip #17- Smart home technology
Controlling every aspect of your home from your phone or tablet is relatively easy these days. Temperature, lighting, music, home cinema, blinds, security or irrigation are some of the aspects you can have connected to it. This used to be very expensive and therefore it is rarely present in houses. Nowadays, smart home systems have become more affordable and easy to install but it is still a bit uncommon and therefore attractive to buyers while functional.
Tip #18- Garden Studio
Since the pandemic most of us have realised we don't usually have a decent space to work from when at home and we could really benefit from one. A garden studio can have different functions from office space, to gym, guest house or play room but in any case this additional space separated from the main house is certainly more appreciated these days. It has of course become a great selling point and therefore adds value to the house.
Tip #19- Front Door and Windows
Everything that is visible from the outside speaks of your house so it is important to refresh it when doing works to your home. If buying new windows is expensive or the ones you have are still in good condition, you can always paint them in a new colour that suits the new design better.
Tip #20- Hide your bins
An easy upgrade to your outdoor space is the addition of a bin storage shed to your front garden. Having the wheelie bins on display will always make your garden feel messy and uncared.
Tip #21- Garden care
A well-designed and maintained outdoor space is always a good asset. It is the perfect place to enjoy outside and entertain guests. Never underestimate the front garden look either since this is the first thing your visitors will see of your home. Invest in some perennials, they are easy to maintain and will come back year after year giving your home a fresh look outside.
We hope we have inspired you!
If you are looking to make some changes to your house in 2023, please contact us to discuss your project. We'll be more than happy to help you!
“A house is much more than a mere shelter- it should lift us emotionally and spiritually”
– John Saldino
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