The start of a new year is a great time to refresh your style, so renovating your home is an ideal resolution to make. This is especially true given that we’re still spending more time at home than we used to, so it is important to live in a space that makes you feel comfortable and happy. That’s why we’ve created this 2024 New Years Resolution Renovation Guide.
We’ve broken things down into two sections – general renovation inspiration and room by room advice – to help you easily locate information that aligns with the projects you’re looking to take on. We’ve also included a whole bunch of extra resources to help you create the space of your dreams so consider this your complete guide to levelling up your home in 2024.
2024 New Years Resolution Renovation Guide Quick Reference:
General Renovation Resolutions
It’s always a good idea to start any renovation off by thinking about what your goals are for your home. For example, if your focus is adding space for a growing family, you probably don’t want to spend too much money upgrading existing zones before getting your budget and design locked in for new zones.
If your aim is to improve the function and flow of current spaces, however, you’ll want to make your decisions based on practical improvements, and those who simply want to switch up their design will do best to focus on the look and feel that they can create without making too many structural changes.
Because everyone’s goals and situation are unique, we’ve kept the advice in this section fairly general to ensure that you can apply the tips you prefer to almost any room of the home.
Design Spaces That Make You Feel Good
Regardless of what else you need your rooms to do, every space within your home should make you feel good. What this means exactly will differ from person to person, but it’s a good idea to think about what brings you comfort and joy and how you can work this into your design. This can be done with specific elements (like candles in scents that you love) or through the use of more abstract concepts such as decorations that remind you of a holiday you loved.
We suggest brainstorming things that you could focus on to enhance positive emotions, and then adding the ones that will work for your space to your design mood board so you can get a feel for how these elements will align with the rest of your choices.
Focus On Function
As much as we all want our homes to be beautiful, a gorgeous space can quickly be ruined by impracticality. For this reason, it is important to focus on function first – especially if you’re completing a major renovation such as building a zone onto your home or gutting and refitting an existing room. In order to achieve this, we suggest placing emphasis on how elements can offer practicality as well as aesthetics so you can be sure that things are serving their purpose properly. Positioning of elements (like your fridge and oven for example) and transitions between spaces should also be a priority at this stage, so be sure to have a copy of your floorplan close by when making design decisions.
Add More Storage
There’s no such thing as too much storage. The more storage that your home has, the more flexibility you’ll enjoy in terms of organisation, so it’s always a good idea to see how you can add additional storage to any design you’re considering.
For example, bedrooms with built-in wardrobes are far more functional than those that need to have a wardrobe or cabinet added to the space once it is constructed, and a walk-in pantry in your kitchen is always going to offer more functionality than simply storing your food in cupboards.
Make Life Easier With Smart Home Technology
It makes sense when renovating to include smart technology in your home wherever it is within your budget. Those with limited funds left over after their main renovations can keep things small with the addition of a Google Home / Alexa or similar voice assistant technology and some smart lights, however, the sky really is the limit with this kind of thing.
For example, your blinds, coffee machine, vacuum cleaner, home sound system and more can all be integrated into a smart home set up (and controlled seamlessly if they follow the Matter protocol) so it’s worth looking into what IoT systems can benefit you in your new and improved spaces.
There are plenty of emerging trends in this area for 2024, with functionality always improving, so now is a good time to join the smart home party.
Select Sustainable Materials
Focusing on sustainability in your renovation is great for both your budget and the planet, so it’s certainly worth considering how you can create eco-friendly spaces. We’ve outlined five fairly universal options below, but we suggest looking into the sustainability of all materials you’re looking to use and seeing what your options are on this front.
Choose Recyclable Floors
Regardless of what else you include in your space, every room needs floors. While this element is certainly a long term investment, installation always creates offcuts, and if you change your design in the future, you’ll want to know that you’re not contributing to landfill. For this reason, we suggest selecting recyclable flooring such as Laminate and Luxury Vinyl Plank floors.
Laminate flooring is ideal for those with children and pets as it’s incredibly durable, and Luxury Vinyl Plank floorboards are ideal for those who want a quieter environment or are looking to install one type of flooring throughout their entire home, as Luxury Vinyl Planks are suitable for installation in bathrooms and other wet areas.
Note: It is also important to select a floor that is FloorScore certified, as this will help you create a healthier indoor environment. All Imagine Floors by Airstep flooring achieves this certification, so you can shop with confidence.
Thermal Properties Are Just As Important As Acoustics
Speaking of a quieter home, while most people simply let their retailer decide on their hard flooring underlay or select it based on the acoustic benefits it can offer, thermal properties are just as important when you’re looking to create a sustainable home.
While underlay isn’t insulation (and should never be used as such) it can provide benefits in terms of insulation, and given that homes gain and lose a significant amount of heat through the floor, this is definitely something to be aware of when making your flooring decisions.
Consider Quartz
Marble can be crafted into many fashionable elements that can create a timeless look when designed and installed correctly, but it’s also quite expensive and resource intensive both in terms of creation and maintenance. Instead, we suggest considering quartz as your chosen material for elements that you are thinking of using marble for. You’ll be able to achieve the same aesthetic, but quartz is both cheaper and better for the planet.
Plus, thanks to the fact that it isn’t a porous stone, quartz is beautifully low maintenance and naturally resistant to bacteria in addition to being a sustainability superstar.
Select Sustainable And Luxurious Underlay
If you’re including carpet within your home, it is a good idea to select underlay that is both recycled and recyclable. Our sister company, Airstep Australia, manufactures residential foam underlays such as the luxurious StepSupreme right here in Dandenong Victoria, and they do this with 90% recycled (and 100% recyclable) materials.
Not only does this help keep things like RipCurl’s wetsuit offcuts out of landfill, but it also means you can help the planet while creating a comfortable interior design, so everybody wins.
Switch To LED Lights
Finally, switching from fluorescent to LED lights within your home can greatly reduce your energy consumption. While this may not seem like a big deal, the lighting in your home adds up – both in terms of your power bills and environmental impact – and every step in the right direction is a good one. Plus, LEDs are far better for your health than fluorescent lights, so this small change is beneficial to your body as well as the planet.
Bring Colour Into Your Home
Unless you’re specifically going for a design style that excludes colour from the menu, it’s a good idea to add some pops of colour throughout your space. Not only will it help brighten things up, but colour also adds interest and can evoke certain moods, so it’s a great design element to play around with.
If you’d rather avoid large bold choices, consider bringing colour into your space through cushions and other soft finishings that can be easily swapped out if need be.
Comfort Is Key
While function is still the most important aspect to consider when selecting elements for your renovation, comfort should be a close second. Much like how your space should make you feel good, it should also be physically comfortable so you can be at ease.
We love plush furniture and finishings for achieving that cosy vibe but finding the right elements is going to be a process of trial and error. We suggest shopping for these types of elements instore so you can get a feel for whether you’ll enjoy having them in your space. Online shopping is great for design features that you won’t be interacting with all of the time as it allows you plenty of options and you can easily compare, but things such as furniture are very much a try before you buy situation.
Blend Indoor And Outdoor Spaces
Blending your indoor and outdoor areas can help your home feel larger while also making entertaining easier. The best spaces to create this indoor/outdoor flow tend to be your kitchen and/or your lounge areas and they are the places where you’ll be able to maximise living space.
You can also, however, create this type of flow from your master suite if the configuration of your home allows for this. A private deck area or outdoor bathroom facilities can really level up the luxurious feeling within a master suite and allow for an enhanced sense of intimacy.
Select A Statement Piece For Each Room
Finally, while your space should certainly match your personality, it’s also a good idea to give it a personality of its own. The best way to do this is to select a statement piece for each room and allow it to really take centre stage by selecting the other elements within the space to compliment it.
People often think that statement pieces need to be large, but that isn’t necessarily the case. A vase that you love can just as easily be the focal point of the room if you design your space accordingly, but it is important to select your statement piece before other elements in order to achieve this.
Fun Fact: Statement floors are a great way to add interest to a space where you’re looking to keep your design minimalistic.
Room By Room Renovations
In this second section of our 2024 New Years Resolution Renovation Guide we’ll be looking at each room individually to explore which renovations can enhance style, comfort and value in each space.
Make Your Bathroom An Oasis
When thinking about which rooms to upgrade first, your bathroom is always a solid choice. Many outdated bathrooms don’t offer very much functionality (especially if your bathroom was created in the days where people thought it was a good idea to put carpet in there) and upgrades in this area also offer significant improvements for comfort and enjoyment.
A Bath Is Never A Bad Idea
Taking a bath every night isn’t practical, but if you have the space, having the capacity to have a bath every night if you want one is always a good idea. Not only do baths enhance the luxuriousness of a bathroom, but they also increase the value of your home and make getting small children clean a whole lot easier.
Heated Floors Are A Game Changer
Stepping out of a bath or shower onto cold tiles is arguably even less fun than swinging your feet out of bed onto a cold floor in the morning. The good news is that there’s an easy fix to this issue – simply install underfloor heating within your bathroom and you’ll never have to step onto cold tiles again (unless you choose to in Summer of course).
Consider Alternatives To Tiles
Speaking of heated floors, if you’re looking to create a space that differs from the traditional tile flooring configuration, both our Luxury Vinyl Plank floorboards and Hybrid floors are compatible with underfloor heating and suitable for installation in bathrooms and wet areas.
High Grade Finishes Can Make A Massive Difference
If you haven’t got the budget to completely overhaul your bathroom but still want to make an impact, focus on your finishes. You’d be surprised by how much difference simply changing out your tapware can make, and a new heated towel rack adds an instant sense of luxury. We also suggest switching out your shower head, as even the smallest shower will feel more inviting if you focus on creating an experience rather than just getting clean.
Living Spaces Are Great For Design And Your Health
Bathrooms are the perfect environment for creating a living space and this opportunity really shouldn’t be overlooked if you’re into plants. The humidity of a bathroom makes it an ideal living situation for many types of indoor plants (especially those that prefer tropical areas) and the lushness that comes with this type of design really takes the home spa vibes in your space to the next level. Plus, many types of indoor plant are great for air quality which means in addition to being beautiful, they’re also good for you.
Give The Heart Of Your Home Some Personality
Alongside bathrooms, kitchens are the other space within your home that can make a massive difference on how everything feels (and what your house is worth). They’re considered the heart of the home for a reason, and really do deserve some extra love in 2024 if you’re looking to undertake major renovations this year.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when renovating a kitchen is that functionality must be maintained above all else. It doesn’t matter how beautiful a kitchen is, if you can’t easily cook in it, you’re going to end up hating it. We recommend the addition of hanging storage for pots and pans, plenty of task lighting and hidden bins for those looking to undertake minor renovations. Those looking to complete a larger project will do well to consider a butler’s or walk-in pantry and the addition of a dishwasher if your kitchen does not have one already as it will make your life easier and uses less water than washing dishes by hand so it’s kinder to the environment.
If you have a closed off space, it’s also worth considering removing the wall between your kitchen and living area and installing an island bench instead. This may not be possible in all homes as the wall in question may be loadbearing, but if this is not the case, opening your space up can make it feel much larger. It will also improve functionality as you’ll have extra room on the bench and can even make cooking more fun – especially when you’re entertaining – as you can still interact with those in the lounge area when you have this type of set up.
In terms of design, kitchens are a great place to play with colours as they’re meant to be a vibrant and inviting space. Colourful cabinetry works particularly well when done right and you can even use coloured appliances as part of your design if you feel so inclined. We also recommend that you start a little indoor herb garden. This isn’t vital for functionality but will add a pop of colour and life to your space while also making your meals more delicious as fresh herbs tend to have stronger flavours.
Scrub Up Your Laundry
The other main wet area in your home, the laundry, is a good room to express your creativity in as they’re generally quite private and therefore allow for full creative freedom as long as functionality is maintained. Depending on whether you need to change the layout or not, however, laundries are either some of the easiest, or hardest, spaces to renovate.
If your laundry is currently configured in a way that suits your needs, you get to enjoy selecting colours and textures to create a space that makes doing the washing fun (or at least beautiful).
On the other hand, if you need to reconfigure your laundry the process becomes far more complex and costly due to the need to move plumbing around.
For this reason, we do recommend seeing if you’re able to work with what you have, as it will save you a decent amount of time and money. As a general rule, we suggest ensuring that your laundry fits the following five criteria:
- Ventilation is adequate to ensure your laundry doesn’t end up muggy when you run the dryer
- It’s easy to move towels and other items from the washing machine to the dryer
- You have a decent sink for if you need to soak items
- There’s plenty of storage for cleaning items and other things you’d rather are kept out of sight
- You have an appropriate amount of bench space for folding
Design Bedrooms For Better Sleep
While the styling of your bedrooms doesn’t tend to offer the same returns as making major improvements to your bathroom or kitchen in terms of home value, it is arguably more important for your comfort and health. Good sleep is a must for keeping your body in top shape, and there are no other spaces in the home where everything needs to be as comfortable as in a bedroom.
Create A Calming Vibe
The most important factor in any bedroom renovation is whether the changes you are making will help you feel calmer and sleep better within the space. For example, while inbuilt wardrobes are great storage, they’re also ideal for helping the environment within your bedroom feel calmer as they remove clutter. By the same token, a nice quiet and warm floor such as Luxury Vinyl Plank or carpet reduces noise pollution in the home and helps the space feel more soothing.
Blockout Curtains Are A Must
There are very few people on this planet who perfectly align their sleeping schedule with the sun at all times. Because of this, blockout curtains in the bedroom are a must. By removing the ability of light to enter the room when you don’t want it to, you’ll create a much better environment for sleeping and your body will thank you for it.
Craft Your Own Personal Sanctuary
Bedrooms are private spaces often only shared with partners (if shared at all) which makes them the ideal space within your home to turn into your own personal sanctuary. While you don’t want to end up in a situation where your space is cluttered, your bedroom is the perfect area to really display your personality and set everything up exactly how you want it. We do recommend focusing on ensuring that you’ve got a top quality bed and plenty of storage space, but other than this, you can design this room however you please.
Build A Cohesive Master Suite
If you’re the type of person who likes everything to match nicely, a cohesive master suite is definitely the way to go. In order to achieve this, you’ll want to select a floor (such as Luxury Vinyl Plank or Hybrid flooring) that is suitable for installation in wet areas. This will allow you to carry the same design foundation throughout your bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and master ensuite, therefore creating a much more seamless space.
A Quick Note On Children’s Bedrooms:
Although your children probably won’t want the same sense of luxurious calm in their space as you do in yours, it’s still important to tailor their bedroom to their interests. By allowing your child to select some of their own design elements they’ll feel more in control of their room which in turn helps it feel like a comfortable, calming and safe space.
Create Multifunctional Spaces
If you’re adding space to your home, it is a good idea to design at least one multifunctional room. Not only does this allow you to have more features within your home without having to further increase the footprint of the house, but, more importantly, it also means that you’ll have enhanced functionality within the space.
Some ideas for the type of function that this space could offer include:
- Home office
- Home library
- Spare bedroom
- Home gym
- Secondary living area
Good examples of how these rooms can be blended together include spare bedrooms that function as home offices the majority of the time, or home libraries that can also double as a lounge room or living area if needed.
Home gyms are harder to work into a multifunctional space, but if you have plenty of storage and equipment that isn’t too hard to pack up, you could add a murphy or wall bed that allows the space to be transformed into a spare bedroom when needed. Regardless of what you choose to do with your multifunctional space, we suggest adding an adjoining powder room if possible to make the space even more versatile.
Ensure That Your Entryway Is Inviting
Finally, first impressions matter, so if you’re going to put a significant amount of work into the rest of your home, it’s also worth giving your entryways a bit of love. Entryways welcome guests when they arrive (and you when you get home from work), so you want them to feel warm and inviting.
Focus on durability here as you’re going to have high levels of mess and traffic given that this space is where your home meets the outside world. Because of this, we suggest selecting tough flooring such as Laminate. You’ll want to create a design here that carries people through the space and into your home so Chevron or Herringbone flooring can be a good choice as these options can act as arrows that point interest in the direction you want it to go.
Storage is key in entryways, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough space to tuck shoes and other belongings that often live near the door out of the way (open shoe racks are good for everyday shoes, but can look cluttered if all of your shoes are displayed here). This can be done with a closet or stylish cabinet if you don’t have the space to add a closet. Remember, It’s a good idea to keep your design simple and minimise the amount of breakable objects within your entryway, especially if you have pets or small children.
Finally, seating is often overlooked in entryways as they’re usually a place that you’ll be spending a lot of time. A small bench seat, however, is a wonderful, multipurpose addition. Not only will it make getting shoes on and off a whole lot easier, but it also provides a space where you can place objects while you take your shoes off and lock up when you first get home from the shops.
Renovating is a great way to make your space feel more like your own, and it can also add value to your home. Having said that, the process can be stressful, time-consuming and expensive, so it’s important to ensure that you’ve planned everything properly and gotten the right advice before you lock in your elements and start with demo. If you’d like to include Imagine Floors by Airstep flooring in your next project, head down to your local flooring experts to discuss installation. Or, if you’re not quite sure what design style you’d prefer to create, browse our Inspiration and Education Hub for ideas.
