It can be difficult to create a home that has the future in mind and that will not look worn or outdated in a few years. When designing a future-ready home, it’s important to ensure that your home designs have longevity and that the homes you plan will not have to be renovated before too long. With that said, here is a guide to designing a future-ready home.
Flexible Floor Plans & Universal Design
A future-ready home should have a flexible floor plan that involves an open layout that allows for easy reconfiguration of spaces. This design approach ensures that walls are strategically placed to accommodate changes in family dynamics and evolving needs. With this flexibility, you can adapt rooms for various purposes over time, such as converting a guest room into a home office or a playroom into a study area.
Universal design ensures that your home is accessible and comfortable for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Wider doorways and hallways accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Zero-step entries eliminate tripping hazards and make the home accessible to those with mobility challenges. Universally designed bathrooms with grab bars and curbless showers offer safety and convenience.
Adaptable Furniture
Adaptable and multipurpose furniture serves as an investment in both space optimization and functionality in a future-ready home. Sofa beds, extendable dining tables, and modular seating arrangements enable rooms to transform according to your activities. This approach ensures that your living spaces remain versatile and efficient, catering to various needs and preferences.
One of the furniture options that are coming back into fashion and are not likely to fade out of it anytime soon is bean bags. Bean bags can both look creative and stylish while supporting the posture of those sitting in them. Now that the advantages for adults have been discovered, they are also now starting to be made out of materials such as memory foam, which negates the previous issues with them, such as bean spillages and the fact that they could easily get out of shape. Not only this, but their covers are now often removable, meaning that when they get dirty or torn, it is possible to replace these Many businesses now sell bean bag replacement covers, and that can ensure that your bean bags still have life in them for many years to come.
Create a Tech-Savvy Space
When designing a future-ready home, it is vital that you keep technology at the forefront of your planning, as technology is now starting to become an integral component of home living. Not only should you consider the use of smart devices, such as voice assistants, smart lighting, and smart ovens, which can make life easier for many, but you should also consider installing more outlets in these homes. Doing this will be ensuring that a lot of technology can be plugged into the mains at once. You should also try to find the best place for a strong Wi-Fi router and look at high-tech televisions and speakers that can help make every corner of this home as tech-savvy and exciting as possible.
Make it Sustainable
The next priority on many homeowners’ minds is making their houses as sustainable as possible, which should be incorporated into your design. For instance, you should look around for sustainable and long-lasting materials, such as bamboo, that you can use for furniture and fencing. You should also choose electric or bioethanol fireplaces rather than woodburning options. Many people also try to make their homes more sustainable by using energy-saving shower heads and lightbulbs and by improving their windows and attic insulation to prevent heat from escaping from their abodes.
Be Mindful of Resilience
Climate resilience ensures your future-ready home can withstand extreme weather events and changing environmental conditions. Design with durable materials, reinforced foundations, and storm-resistant windows and doors. Elevate critical utilities like electrical systems and HVAC units (see more below) to prevent flood damage. Consider implementing green roofs, rain gardens, or permeable pavement to manage excess water during heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, as remote work becomes more prevalent, create dedicated home office spaces that are ergonomically designed and well-equipped for productivity. Consider adjustable sit-stand desks, ergonomic chairs, and proper lighting. Implement soundproofing and acoustic panels to reduce distractions and create a conducive work environment.
Incorporate an HVAC System
As the climate continues to change and threaten life and easy living, you should make sure that your home design reflects this. For instance, you should put much more importance on HVAC systems, ensuring that the temperature in homes can both be made warmer and cooler, depending on the weather outside. This can help homeowners live comfortably in their houses without turning on numerous fans or getting a fire going.
Choose Classic Furniture and Paint Colors
However, to make sure that homeowners remain happy with your layout and blueprints for years to come, you should choose classic furniture and paint colors that do not go out of fashion. You might decide to invest in dark wood furniture, four poster beds, chandeliers, and rocking armchairs that can give the house in question a sense of timelessness. You might also choose paint colors that are relatively neutral or that are beautiful regardless of what is in fashion, such as pale blues and sage greens.
Collaborative Spaces
When designing a future-ready home, think about approaching the design of communal areas that encourage interaction and connection among family members or housemates. A shared kitchen island or dining table can be a hub for meal preparation and conversation. Cozy reading nooks or game areas provide spaces for bonding and relaxation. Consider multipurpose furniture in these spaces to maximize their utility and versatility.
Health and Wellbeing
A future-ready home should have dedicated spaces for health and wellness promote a balanced lifestyle. A home gym equipped with exercise equipment, mirrors, and proper ventilation makes it convenient to prioritize physical activity. A meditation or mindfulness room provides a serene environment for relaxation and mental well-being. Incorporating spa-like features in bathrooms, such as soaking tubs and steam showers, elevates your daily self-care routine.
Meanwhile, indoor air quality affects your health and well-being. Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials, proper ventilation systems, and air purifiers contribute to cleaner indoor air. Integrating plants not only adds aesthetics but also naturally filters the air, creating a healthier living environment.
