Extending your home is an exciting project. Whether you want a bigger kitchen, a brand new extra bedroom or some extra space to set up a home office, extending your property is a great way to create extra living space without having to up sticks and move. Not only is a home extension far less expensive than moving, but it’s also a convenient way to make sure you can stay in the home you love with a little extra space.
If a home extension is on the cards for you this year, it’s time to get planning. You can never over-plan for a home renovation or extension; in fact, the more you plan, the smoother the project will go. One of the most exciting parts of the planning process is deciding and designing the interior of your brand new space, from the windows right through to the colour scheme.
To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a list of our favourite interior design tips for your home extension this year. 2021 is all about letting in as much light as possible and exploring ‘broken plan’ rooms. Read on for more!
Over recent years, interior designers have been all about open plan designs. The idea of knocking through walls to create bigger spaces that flow into each other has taken the interior design world by storm; the concept of merging living spaces and creating a home that flows from room to room without bulky, intercepting walls has been one that many have welcomed.
However, open plan design is about to get a makeover – say hello to ‘broken plan’ layouts. Broken plan layouts don’t mean that we’re reverting back to separate rooms blocked off by doorways, but it does mean we’re leaning towards creating private, cosier spaces in our homes while maintaining the appearance of a spacious property.
Broken plan designs are ideal for those who wish to have more privacy in their homes, yet want to maintain the appearance of space and openness. Rooms can be separated with glass partitions or extra-wide doorways to create pockets of privacy in the home, allowing you to enjoy your own private space while still being in sight of your family.
When it comes to your home extension, you want to welcome in as much natural light as possible. Natural light will brighten the room and make your space look bigger, not to mention boost your mood too. This year, we’re all about bright, modern interiors – forget dark or cramped rooms in the home, we want to see lots of natural light and bright, airy spaces.
There are lots of ways you can experiment with natural light and welcome it into your home, with one of our favourites being a skylight installation. Skylights are a great way to increase the amount of natural light in a room and can help to reduce your energy bills too. There are plenty of different designs and styles to choose from to complement the aesthetic of your home – and there truly is nothing better than working in your home office or sitting at the dining table with bright blue skies above you.
This year, it’s all about becoming one with nature – and we don’t mean transforming your home into a jungle; we’re talking about exploring earthy tones and nature-inspired colour palettes. Even Dulux’s colour of the year for 2021 is a warm neutral called Brave Ground. Working natural textures and materials into your home’s interior has long been popular (from oak tables to slate tiling), but 2021 is going to see more and more homeowners experimenting with natural colours and tones too.
Whether you choose to add a splash of earthy terracotta to your bathroom or a soothing shade of pine to your bedroom, there are plenty of colours and tones to choose from – and they’ll all have you feeling relaxed. Think comforting shades of deep reds and warm greens. As many of us have spent more time in our homes than ever before over the last year, it’s important we still feel connected to nature, which is why nature-inspired palettes and earthy tones are expected to be a huge hit in 2021.
Our home is somewhere we should be able to relax, rejuvenate and reset, and that means it should be somewhere we feel comfortable both mentally and physically too. As most of the UK has been told to stay at home for weeks at a time over the last year, it’s all about incorporating comfort into your home and creating a space that feels personal and comfortable.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different textures in the home; some of our favourites include fresh linen sofas, armchairs draped with woolen throws and warm oak tables. The idea is to make your home feel welcoming and lived in – somewhere you can relax and unwind in comfort.
While underfloor heating has been popular for years now, we’re expected to see more underfloor heating installations over the next twelve months to further support that feeling of comfort we all crave every now and then.
With a heavy focus on health and cleanliness over the past year, all-white kitchens are set to return. While other rooms in the house are getting bolder and more colourful, you can expect to see a lot of all-white kitchens, reflecting people’s desire to achieve a clinical, clean-looking cooking space. There has always been an association between white and cleanliness, and therefore the idea of a bright white kitchen area is extremely appealing in 2021.
All-white kitchens look fresh, bright and new – plus, they never looked dated and always remain in style, meaning you won’t have to fork out on a kitchen refurb anytime soon. One of the great things about opting for an all-white kitchen is that it goes with anything and will instantly complement the aesthetic of your home, whether the interior of your property is traditional or modern. Bright, all-white cabinets combined with light marble counters and light flooring is one of our personal favourite interior design trends for 2021.
Whether you’re planning to extend your home or you’re taking the first steps towards a new-build, the experienced and professional team at Below Ground specialises in performing the highest-quality piling construction, underpinning and pile foundation work. When it comes to your home’s foundation piling, you simply can’t take any risks which is why it’s crucial that you employ an industry expert you can trust.
We complete jobs of all sizes, whether you’re looking for a full design and construction service or you just need us to construct the foundation piles of your building. Our experienced and dedicated team have a huge range of experience and will always go above and beyond to offer you the best service possible.
All of the work we carry out is in compliance with relevant building regulations and in accordance with the Institute of Civil Engineers Specification for Piling and Embedded Retaining Walls 2007. To learn more about us and our services, visit our website today.