10 Modern Home Must Haves for Your Interior and Exterior
How people construct, design, and decorate homes today differs from how they did it in the past. For example, less is more nowadays, unlike before when people filled their houses with as much as possible. The issue is trends keep changing, and trying to keep up can leave you feeling like it’s a never-ending cycle. To help you know where to start, here are ten modern home must haves to consider for your exterior and interior.
1. Declutter Your Space
Modern homes are known for their open and airy feel. So, before doing anything else, purge your space as part of your list of the modern home must haves. Even if you can’t remove everything completely, aim to reduce the amount of clutter in your house. This is the time to do away with the things that don’t serve any functional or aesthetic purpose. Remember to check your cabinets.
Make a list of the items you haven’t used in a while and the ones you’ll always need. If you can’t remember the last time you used something, but it’s still in good condition, consider donating. If you can’t let go of something for sentimental reasons, put your storage space to use.
The idea is to keep the areas that people interact with most free of clutter. Pay attention to the small items, as they’re likely responsible for most of the clutter in your home. If you leave such items lying around, they’ll make your space feel cramped and small.
2. Well-Maintained Roofs
Your list of the modern home must haves can’t be complete without a well-maintained roof. After all, it’s your home’s most visible design element. So you want it to make the right first impression.
Keeping up with your roof’s maintenance needs is key to preserving your home’s overall curb appeal. It will allow you to address signs of wear and tear as soon as they arise, ensuring your roof looks brand new. Besides enhancing the aesthetics of your home, there are other benefits to staying on top of maintenance.
When your roof has issues like gaps on the surface or damaged or worn-out insulation, your heating and cooling systems will have to work more to maintain a pleasant indoor temperature. This will significantly increase your home’s energy consumption. Regular roof maintenance will keep your house well-insulated and energy-efficient, lowering utility costs.
Water leaks are among the most common issues with a home’s roof. Even little leaks can cause substantial water damage, mold development, and structural problems if ignored. When you schedule routine roof maintenance checks with your local roofing services, they’ll inspect for missing or damaged shingles, seal any cracks or gaps, and clean the gutters. This way, you can identify leaks before they become more extensive, allowing you to perform effective repairs.
3. Energy Efficient HVAC System
No one needs to tell you how high energy costs are, and judging by recent trends, it doesn’t seem like they’ll be coming down anytime soon. That’s why an energy-efficient HVAC system should be on your list of modern home must haves. With such a system, you’ll enjoy optimal indoor comfort all year round while still enjoying lower utility bills at the end of each month. The good thing is you don’t necessarily have to invest in new air conditioning installations to realize the benefits. You can do a few things to make your current unit more energy efficient.
A great place to start is investing in programmable thermostats and controls with the help of an AC service. These will allow you to automatically adjust your home’s temperature settings according to the time of day, relieving the HVAC system of some of the workload. The simple act of changing the temperature when no one’s home can significantly lower your utility bills.
As you use your HVAC system, the air filter accumulates layers of dust, dirt, and other debris. The more the filter gets dirty, the more energy your system has to use to maintain the desired indoor temperature. You end up paying more on your energy bills than you have to. Ensuring your system’s air filters are always clean is key to keeping it energy efficient and functioning at its best. That’s why modern homeowners make it a point to change the filter regularly.
A clean drain line also contributes to an energy-efficient system. To clean yours, flush with a cup of chlorine bleach, followed by approximately a gallon of water so it rinses through. This will keep your drain clean all summer and help prevent basement flooding due to a clog.
4. Outdoor Deck
A deck will provide a fantastic gathering spot if you enjoy entertaining friends and family at home. Whether it’s an afternoon lunch or a cookout during summer’s hot months, this addition will ensure a cozy area where guests can sit down with their favorite drinks while enjoying the great outdoors. Add unique and comfortable patio furniture pieces to make the space conducive to eating, gathering, and conversing for hours.
With a deck as part of your modern home must haves, you’ll also have a space to showcase outdoor decor, including garden sculptures and potted plants. The flat surface provides plenty of room to create your dream backyard. When building the deck, consider incorporating built-in planters for adding your favorite greenery or flowers. You can also use the space to exhibit your garden tools and other fun decorative objects.
Modern deck designs are available in diverse finishes, materials, and styles. Adding one to your home will significantly transform the aesthetic appeal of your home’s exterior. Consider installing a pergola to make your deck even more welcoming. A seasoned local deck building firm can provide you with a ton of fantastic design ideas.
You also get great customization options with a deck. It doesn’t have to be a flat surface with a few steps. You can truly make it your own.
You also get great customization options with a deck. It doesn’t have to be a flat surface with a few steps. You can truly make it your own. A built-in firepit will make your deck a great chill spot for those chilly evenings. You can host s’mores nights or cozy up with blankets party without worrying.
5. Well-Maintained Plumbing
When you own a car, you schedule regular maintenance and safety inspections rather than taking it in for repairs when a problem arises. The goal is to keep your automobile in excellent operating condition while having a professional inspect it for any issues. You want to maintain the same energy with your home’s plumbing system.
As part of your modern home must haves, keeping up with maintenance will prevent major or catastrophic issues like burst water pipes, which can result in significant damage down the road. When the plumber visits your home, they will examine everything and let you know if there are any issues you should address immediately to prevent more damage. These include the hot water systems, water meters, laundry and bathrooms, and kitchen fittings.
If they notice anything suspicious, they will alert you and suggest a fix. For example, if water takes longer than usual to go through the drains, they may recommend drain cleaning to clear your pipes of any potential clogs. Once you accept the proposed solution, your plumber will repair or replace the fittings or pipes.
Your septic tank is also part of your home’s plumbing system. So, as you get your pipes checked, schedule a septic inspection. The last thing you want is the tank overflowing and the contents leaking onto the yard when you have guests you want to impress.
6. Custom Bathrooms
Homeowners are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of the bathroom in their daily lives. That’s why, with some research, you’ll find that bathroom remodels are among the most popular home improvement projects. So, when discussing modern home must haves, you must mention custom bathrooms. You have various customization options, and each will make your home’s bathroom feel more like a luxurious spa.
If you’re going for a sleek, streamlined look, installing tankless toilets is a great place to start. They get their flushing water from a supply line inside the wall they’re attached to. A tankless toilet can give you more bathroom space to work with than a bulky floor-mounted toilet. Its simple design gives the impression that it is floating in space, so it’ll introduce a minimalist aesthetic to your space.
There’s nothing like a bathroom that’s too spacious. If your home’s layout permits, consider adding a window or skylight. This way, you can enjoy your showers while taking in the view. That’s just one of the many great benefits of this project.
Windows will allow more natural light into the space, making it look brighter and more airy. Besides that, you won’t have to rely on your bathroom lights as much, translating to lower energy bills at the end of the month. They can also act as a humidity outlet to ensure your bathroom doesn’t look like a sauna after a shower.
Another great update is installing a custom shower door. Here, you can choose framed or frameless options, depending on your preferences. Most people opt for frameless doors for their sleek and modern design, but others prefer framed doors as they’re safer and more durable. Whatever you go with, ensure you hire a reputable shower door installation company.
7. Asphalt Driveway
Another great entry to consider in your modern home must haves list is an asphalt driveway. It reigns supreme over most other paving materials in the market and for a good reason. For example, asphalt has minimal maintenance needs and can last up to 30 years. It’s also stain-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about oil spills, moisture, rainwater, and skid marks.
An asphalt driveway’s clean, minimalistic aesthetic compliments a modern home design. You can always have professional asphalt companies customize asphalt according to your preferences. By adding aesthetic features like trees, bushes, pebbles, or pavers along the sides of the driveway, asphalt driveways may also work for a classic or traditional-style home.
If you plan to sell your home sometime in the future, an asphalt driveway can increase your property’s value. This is because it’s considered an attractive feature among potential buyers. It makes a home more appealing and will give you leverage during negotiations.
8. Metallic Accessories
A particularly recent trend in the modern home must haves is metallic accessories and accents. This is the way to go if you want to add some shine to your space affordably. Metallic colors like bronze, silver, and gold will add a silvery touch to your home. Choose the shades that best complement your home’s color scheme, style, and decor for a subtle effect.
The trick here is to use it sparingly. A single, simple piece should be enough for an entire room. Pair with a solid color to create a relaxing environment.
9. Marble or Tiled Flooring
Modern home designs are characterized by clean lines and smooth surfaces, and tile or marble floors offer just that. Too much texture can be hazardous, so you shouldn’t add too much to the flooring. Use neutral colors for your tiles, ensuring they complement the rest of your home’s color palette. You can always go for hardwood floors, but make sure the wood’s polish is slick and blends in with the fixtures, furnishings, cabinetry, islands, and other features. If you want something with some edge to add to your home design, vinyl flooring may just be your cup of tea.
10. Incorporate Geometric Patterns
Among modern home must haves are minimalist textures, clean edges, and straight lines in the design of bed frames, cabinetry, furniture pieces, etc. While these are the typical characteristics of modern designs, don’t let them limit you. You can play around a little.
Consider incorporating bold geometric patterns with clean lines on your walls. You can also get tablecloths, decor, and crockery with such patterns. The whimsical lines give your otherwise somber color palette more vitality.
Modern homes have a unique feel and aesthetic that many homeowners, particularly young ones, desire. The fact that you’re here means you’re likely among this group. If you’re struggling with where to start, use this read as a guide.