The new year is nearly upon us so we thought we’d take a look into our crystal ball and see what the future of home improvements may look like in 2023 and beyond! The last three years has seen massive change across the property and interiors markets, with demand for larger country homes, space for dedicated home offices, bigger gardens, and also bolder colour choices, all influencing what homeowners have been focusing on, and what’s been catching the eye of prospective buyers too. If you’re starting to plan a bit of a home upgrade over the next few months, or there’s that one room in your house that isn’t working as well as the rest, then here are three of the big focuses we expect to see in the home improvement space next year.
Permanent home offices
At the start of the pandemic, home offices began springing up on kitchen counters, dining tables and in cluttered spare rooms all around the country. Yet as remote and hybrid working became a permanent fixture of many economies, proper solutions for long-term working are required. The mini housing boom that followed the end of lockdown restrictions was in part due to families desperate for more space, but not everyone (especially younger generations) will have been able to move up the housing ladder in a bid to accommodate a new WFH arrangement. So 2023 and beyond will likely see some ingenious design ideas to help create that sense of ‘permanence’ to a home office, even if there isn’t a dedicated space for one. And for those with a bit more budget and space to play with, expect to see more garden pods and all the home working tech that’s started becoming more popular too, like standing desks and even mini treadmills. Read more: how to turn your conservatory into a home office.
Upgrading existing spaces
The housing market has been inaccessible for younger generations for a long time, and as property markets begin to falter with rising interest rates, it’s likely that those already on the market will stay put for a little while longer too. The upshot of that is more homeowners will invest in their current spaces to get more from them, from converting conservatories from cold storage boxes into an enviable garden room, to knocking down walls between dining rooms and kitchens to create fashionable open-plan spaces more compliant with modern family lifestyles. What’s more difficult to predict is what demand will look like for bigger-ticket home improvement items, such as new bathrooms, kitchens, flooring and extensions. The size and longevity of the likely global recession will likely dictate that, especially as the price of labour and materials have been rapidly rising over the last three years too.In the absence of big budgets though, expect a move towards bold colour choices instead - from feature walls to darker, moodier spaces at the heart of the home.
Eco and economic consideration
Home improvements on a budget can still be bold and deliver amazing results. One trend that we expect to continue growing are kitchen upgrades involving surface wraps and re-painted cupboards to deliver a ‘new’ and fashionable kitchen vibe for a fraction of the price of a brand new set of fitted units. DIY home improvements will also see more homeowners trying their hand at replacing old kitchen tiles, as well as seeing what’s under the now tired-looking carpet - you may get lucky and find some stylish floorboards or even some criminally covered-up parquet flooring! What we think will be the primary consideration for many home improvement projects over the next year though will be the environment, and saving on heating bills. Surging energy prices this year have left millions struggling to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature, and many homeowners with the means to make improvements could focus their investments onto making their properties more energy efficient. Expect a big increase in loft insulation, as well as more major projects too like swapping out old gas boilers for heat pumps. At Sagars, we’ve seen a big increase in interest for homeowners with conservatories wondering how they can make them more energy efficient. Most traditional conservatories are poorly insulated and a lot of the heat you pump into them quickly escapes! Our tried-and-tested conservatory roof insulation has helped customers not only transform their conservatory into a space that feels more like a proper extension to their home, but also save 25% on their energy bills in the process!
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