From London to Melbourne and everywhere in between, it’s clear to see that the world has well and truly fallen in love with period homes. But with all the class and style that accompanies these gorgeous abodes, comes a healthy amount of upkeep alongside a few specialty alterations to ensure your home stays fresh. Here’s all you’ll need to consider when modernising your older home.
1. Electrical and plumbing upgrades
First thing’s first, you’ll need to ring up a qualified electrician and make an inquiry regarding domestic installation. Depending on the age of your property, it’s quite likely that your home’s electrical wiring and power outlets may be a touch outdated. At best, this situation can be quite inconvenient for you and your family or any tenants in the form of regular power outages. And at worst, outdated electrical wiring can be downright dangerous. It’s not uncommon for the use of faulty or damaged electrical power points to end in nasty electric shocks or potentially even cause fires.
Making sure that your property’s plumbing is up-to-date should also be a top priority here. Not only will keeping your plumbing and facilities up to date maintain your home’s overall water efficiency, but it can also keep you and your family protected from the subsequent headaches that will inevitably accompany burst or leaking pipes. Be sure to find yourself a plumber who holds a current registration with your state government by consulting a government-operated registry.
2. Mindful renovations
Renovations can be a fantastic way of freshening up a stale space. For renovating period homes in particular, you want to try and renovate with the intention of enhancing your home’s current unique architectural style rather than adhering to modern trends. This means keeping your cornices, windows, and other particular designs consistent and on-theme with your home’s pre-existing style. This isn’t to say that you can’t introduce contemporary spaces into your period or federation home through renovation, but that you should most definitely always consider the ratio between your contemporary additions and your home’s original character.
3. Contemporary decor
Alongside contemporary renovations, you may be keen to decorate your home using contemporary elements. And this is a superb instinct to follow! When it comes to modernising homes, contemporary decor boasts a great variety of pieces with ties to a number of different popular period styles, from traditional romantic styles to art deco and beyond. It’s all about identifying the contemporary elements that compliment both your home’s architectural style, as well as you and your family’s own personal tastes.
4. Smart home technology
Nowadays, upgrading the functionality of your home isn’t just achieved through upgrading your home’s electricity and plumbing. Your household’s overall functionality has always been shaped by technological advancements, and we’re currently in an age where these advancements are becoming increasingly attainable through the use of personal technological products. With smart home technology, you can integrate virtually all your in-house tech to your phone or centralised home ‘hub’, essentially allowing you and your family to have total remote control to features like house lights, TVs, speakers, security systems, and even heaters and air conditioners. Even your internet connectivity can be controlled to ensure that your kids don’t spend too much time on their screens! It’s all about taking some time to assess all the smart home tech that’s available to you so that you can make well-informed decisions surrounding your tech purchases.
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Modernisation is never an easy feat, but when handled with care, the benefits can quite honestly be astounding. If you’re able to follow these four little tips, chances are high that you’ll find yourself with a perfectly modern, highly functional home without having to sacrifice any of your property’s pre-existing charm.
Loves home. I am here to provide how to make your home a much better place. 🙂 Blogging about HomeDecor, Home Improvements and more.
