American homeowners continue to invest more in remodeling and home improvements than ever before. Spending on home renovations has surged and experts predict that trend will continue.
As we celebrate National Home Remodeling Month this May, let’s look at a few of the key elements of successful home improvement to consider within your next project.
Stay true to character
The original character of a home is sometimes lost during extensive home improvement projects. Experts say this approach makes the home appear disjointed or out of place.
Staying true to its original character was the primary objective for The New American Remodel 2022 – a flagship exhibit of the 2022 NAHB International Builders’ Show.
“The vision for the 2022 New American Remodel was to capture the essence of this midcentury modern home without taking away from its original beauty and charm,” says Phil Kean, president of Phil Kean Design Group and the project’s lead architect.
Many of the original elements the team kept and enhanced included the home’s expansive great room, its floor-to-ceiling windows, its large stone fireplace and its front porch, which overlooks a nearby lake.
Optimize natural light
The right amount of illumination can make or break a room. In 2020, the America at Home study surveyed nearly 7,000 consumers nationwide to better understand how their home design preferences might have changed considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study confirmed that one of the top things people are now looking for in a home is abundant natural light, says Donald Ruthroff, principal and senior architect at Dahlin Group in Pleasanton, California.
More light in your home does not always mean better. The key is determining the size and placement of the windows based on a home’s layout. Distinct angles of light at different times of the day will add character and balance the space.
Connect with the outdoors
Especially for those who spend most of their day indoors, creating a connection to the outdoors has become increasingly valuable. In fact, according to the most recent NAHB study “What Home Buyers Really Want,” 78% of homebuyers consider a patio to be either “desirable” or “essential.”
As a result, builder data shows the percentage of new single-family homes with patios rose to 63% last year.
But not just any outdoor space will do, as most consumers say they strongly prefer “multifunctional” patios over “open yard” designs.
For homeowners who want to make that ideal, multifunctional space, design professionals suggest creating multilevel terraces, sunken patios or outdoor kitchen-living rooms.
No matter what your home improvement needs are, it’s always best to enlist the expertise of a professional remodeler to help guide you through the process. To find a professional remodeler in your area, visit the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga’s member directory at www.HBAGC.net.