With more and more families stuck at home for the foreseeable future, your house must be both functional and comfortable. After all, you don’t want your everyday surroundings to be a source of stress, anxiety, or frustration. There are ways that you can take your home and turn it into a place of comfort and relaxation.
Whether you’re finally adding a pool to give your children some much-needed physical activity or you’re investing in a few quality of life upgrades, you want your home to feel like an oasis away from the stresses of the world. Here’s how you can do just that.
Build a pool.
If you want your home to feel like an oasis, shouldn’t it look like one too? Perhaps the easiest way to achieve this is by investing in a pool. Whether it’s an in-ground or above-ground pool, it can provide an escape from the hot summer months. Swimming is also great for children and adults alike. It exercises a number of your key muscles and gives you a nice backyard getaway. Between afternoons spent reading by the pool and hours spent splashing around, it’s a great idea for families of any size. Of course, pools are fairly large investments, so you need to do some research before you start signing any contracts.
When you’re looking for a contractor or a pool company, you should start on the internet. By using sites like Google, it’s easier to find the services you need. You also want to use locational phrases when you’re looking for search results. Phrases like “pool builders in Lakeland FL” or “pool companies near me” can help you narrow down your results to the relevant options. Once you’ve found a few companies, you should look at some of their online reviews. This is an easy way to see whether or not past customers are satisfied with their investments. It also shows if a company offers maintenance services, regular checkups, and warranties. These are paramount, especially if you don’t want to shell out for costly repairs after a few years.
Bring on the climate control.
If you’ve spent the past few years depending upon window units to cool your home during the summer, it’s a good time to invest in some upgrades. When you’re financing large home renovations like an HVAC installation, you need to way the expenses against the benefits. While a new HVAC system might seem particularly expensive, it can lead to more energy-efficient cooling that lowers your monthly bills. Also, if your new cooling system provides you more comfort, it might be worth some added monthly payments for the time being.
When looking up the various cooling technologies used in homes, you should consider products like smart thermostats. You can control a smart thermostat from your phone, program it to turn your air conditioning on when you’re home and off when you’re away and track your power usage. Some electric and power companies even offer discounts and rebates for smart thermostats and other green energy technology. It’s worth investigating if you’d like to save on some of the upfront costs.
If you’re also looking for some good deals on heating and cooling, you can talk to a contractor or company during the off-season months. As you’ve likely guessed, heating installations are highest during the winter, and cooling installations are at their peak during the summer. Spring and fall are great times to secure discounts. This is because many HVAC companies see less business during these seasons. That way, you can reduce your upfront costs. It’s also a good idea to consider haggling with your contractor to see if they’re flexible. While some may not change the down payment or full price, they may be willing to throw in maintenance packages, annual inspections, and warranties.
Invest in some comforts.
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to knock out some of the priority fixes before you start spending on some luxury items. Every house needs regular repairs and updates. While some of your money will likely go to common home repair jobs like roof patches and plumbing fixes, you should also set aside some of your money for the quality of life upgrades you’re craving. Household comforts go a long way towards making your house more of a home and making that home more of an oasis. Items like an espresso maker, a new fridge, or some smart lighting can revitalize your home and make you more excited about each day.
Even something as simple as a new water dispenser can make a bigger difference than you might think. When you invest in the best water dispenser, every glass you fill can feel like you’re drinking straight from the mountain stream. If you’re tired of drinking tap water, this might be the perfect purchase for you. Of course, you can even go further than investments like a water machine or bottle delivery service.
For instance, if you’re a movie buff, why not spend a little extra on your home theater? You don’t have to break the bank to get a quality TV and a soundbar to match. This can turn your movie screenings from pixelated messes into high-quality experiences. Likewise, while the new gaming consoles are selling out, buying yourself something like a Nintendo Switch is a worthy home investment. If you have children, the Switch is a great console for shared activities and quality time. Playing games together or watching your favorite movies makes your home feel more vibrant and fun.
Do what makes you happy.
If you need to take some time to Marie Kondo your home, you have the perfect window of opportunity during the next few months. Really find the things that spark joy and invest in them. It’ll make your house feel more like the paradise you’ve always wanted. Whether you’re making some small investments to improve your daily existence or a few big-ticket purchases that will completely change the look and feel of your home, it’s worth the time and money to make some important changes.
