After a while, most homes need a change or a little bit of updating. If you’ve not done much with your home for a while, then it’s normal that it might feel a little tired, old, or just in general need of some refreshing. Moving to a larger, more modern home might be an option, but if you’re like most homeowners, today’s economy is worrying you and you want to make sure that you spend your money as wisely as possible. So, you may have decided to do some renovation work on your home – not only to perk it up a bit and modernize it, but also to better accommodate your current lifestyle and needs.
When it comes to improving your home, whether you want to improve your quality of life and enjoyment while living there, or make it more attractive to prospective buyers in the future, there’s a lot to be said for making environmentally friendly updates. Making your home eco-friendlier will not only reduce your own carbon footprint and the impact that you have on the planet, it will save you money and additionally, make your home more attractive to any future potential buyers.
#1. Reclaim Old Furniture:
If you’re simply trying to improve the aesthetic of your home with some new décor and furniture, then it’s important to avoid getting caught up with only having the newest, shiniest stuff. In fact, reclaiming and upcycling your old furniture can have just as amazing an effect on your home, without the added price tag or the need to throw anything away.
If you must buy some new furniture, then before you go to buy brand new, think about other materials such as reclaimed wood, which is not only a very environmentally friendly choice, but also growing rapidly in popularity thanks to the fact that it can look really good in all kinds of home renovation projects. In addition to living furniture, reclaimed wood is also an excellent choice for your kitchen counter-tops, walls and flooring. And in the end, you will have fantastic results while having been able to save a lot of time, energy and money that would have been used to produce a newer but very similar product.
#2. Invest in Renewable Energy:
If you are happy with the way that your home looks and feels, then the good news is that there are still plenty of eco-friendly investments that you can make to your home without having to tear it apart or dramatically change the way that it looks.
If you want to make your home not only eco-friendly, but also cheaper for you to live in while adding value, then you should certainly consider investing in having solar panels installed. Click here to visit Semper Solaris, the best solar company in Westminster. If you’re looking for the best solar installation in Westminster by trusted and experienced professionals, then you should certainly check out their services and see which ones are the best fit for your home.
Solar panels don’t just save you money – they can completely eliminate the need to pay for electricity by generating your own from the sun, the most natural resource of all. In addition to that, when you find a solar company in Westminster that offers battery storage installation as well, you can save any surplus energy that your solar panels generate and actually make money from them by selling it back to the utility companies for the best price during peak times.
#3. Donate Any Unwanted Items:
Of course, clearing out and cleaning up is usually a major part of preparing for any home renovation. Whatever changes you are planning to make around your home, this is an ideal time to have a look around at your belongings and determine what you need to keep and what you can donate.
Once you’ve gathered some things that you definitely don’t want to keep, then don’t just simply throw them away. Put them to better use by donating them to Goodwill or a local thrift or consignment shop. Social media is also a great tool to use; you can use local selling or giveaway sites, or Facebook Marketplace to list the items that you no longer need and are giving away to anybody who needs them more. Remember that one man’s trash is another’s treasure – and your unwanted items may very well make somebody else’s day.
It’s also worth checking your local area for charities that will accept any larger items that you want to donate, such as appliances and large furniture items. You can often find charitable organizations that will take these items off your hands and sell them on for money that’s used to benefit the people that they work with, or use them directly to build and set up new homes for those who are less privileged.
#4. Use Safer, Cleaner Paints:
If your home renovation consists of giving all or most rooms a new lick of paint, then it’s a wise idea to double check the type of paint that you are using and consider just how environmentally friendly it actually is. Low VOC paints are the best choice since they are earth-friendly and are also much safer and healthier for you and your family.
It’s certainly worth investing some extra money into using a low-VOC paint for your home; these paints are virtually odorless, made from 100% acrylic and a joy to use, since they tend to be very splatter resistant too. If you want to make sure that your painting job is as efficient and quick as possible, then opt for a self-priming low-VOC paint which will help you cut your preparation time right down.
#5. Add More Windows:
If you want to make a major renovation to your home, then adding more windows if you can to allow more of the natural light in can be one of the best improvements that you will make. And, if you can’t afford to add solar panels to your home and start using solar energy to power it just yet, or if your home isn’t suitable for solar panels, then you can make up for it by getting as much as you can from the sun through your windows.
There are several benefits of getting more natural light in your home – firstly you will be getting more vitamin D from the sun, which can benefit both your physical and mental health. And, when you’ve got more natural light coming in, it can also be a great way to save energy when you’re home during the day, as you will be less likely to switch lights on even if the sun isn’t shining very brightly outside. If you do opt for adding more windows to your home, ensure that they are as energy efficient as possible by using double or triple glazing that will help to trap the heat inside your home.
There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to making improvements to your home, no matter how large or small your budget is. Whether you’re brightening the place up with a new coat of paint or plan to make some major, expensive changes, it’s a good idea to keep eco-friendliness at the forefront.
