The last 18 months haven’t been easy for anyone, and COVID-19 has put a halt to almost all our plans and intentions. Many of us haven’t been lucky enough to jet off on holiday for a long time, and Summer 2021 is set to follow this trend. With the UK government putting quarantines and other travel restrictions in place, planning a trip abroad is certainly not an easy task. Thousands of families have been forced to put their travel plans to one side and turn their focus closer to home. A recent survey by HouseBuyFast has found that 78% of those surveyed had their holiday plans affected by COVID-19.
The average family of four in the UK spends almost £2,500 for a trip away according to a survey by Expedia. This kind of investment means that most families are saving up for many months in order to enjoy a well-earned break in the sunshine. Now that we can’t simply jet off to the Costa del Sol for some sun, sea and sand, many of us are left with these holiday savings burning a hole in our pockets.
Many homeowners are also finding themselves with more annual leave than they know what to do with, and with nowhere to go for a getaway, spending even more time at home isn’t very appealing. Throughout the last few months, the UK has been through three lockdowns, and families have spent more time than ever at home. Many spaces around the house have had to be repurposed into home offices or spaces for homeschooling, and a large number of homeowners have quickly realised their properties have some room for improvement.
Spending so much extra time at home can make it clear what needs to be done around the house. Whether you are sick of the sight of your current décor, or your requirements have changed, and you need to repurpose a space, there is no better time to make home improvements. With holiday savings going unused, more free time than ever, and a long to-do list of alterations to make your home Insta-worthy, this Summer is the perfect opportunity to transform your home.
10 Easy Ways To Transform Your Home With Your Holiday Budget
Putting your unused holiday savings into your home is a sure-fire way to make some impressive changes. £2,500 can go a long way in giving your property a substantial boost and creating a home you can be proud of. We’re sharing our top 10 easy home improvements, which you can make without going over your budget.
A New Lick Of Paint
You will be surprised what a lick of paint can do to transform any area of your home. Washed out and tired walls can be given a new lease of life with a fresh colour, and you can completely change the style and vibe of any room. It doesn’t take a pro to paint a room, all you need is a bit of free time, some paintbrushes and your chosen colour of paint.
We love the trendy Sulking Room Pink from Farrow and Ball, which comes in at £82 per litre. This dusky, muted rose is ideal for bedrooms or adding a touch of colour to a hallway. If clean white is more your style, we recommend Classic Chantilly Lace White from Benjamin Moore. This delicate yet crisp white will leave any room feeling silky and soft, and will only set you back £71 for a large 3.79 litres. If you have a specific colour in mind or need to match to existing décor, you can mix your own paint colours for £40 for 5 litres at B&Q.
Transform Your Bathroom Floor
If you are bored of your bathroom floor tiles, you might be thinking your only option is to rip them up and start again. The truth is, you can give your bathroom flooring a new lease of life without breaking your budget, by installing vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring can be fitted over the top of existing tiles and comes in a huge range of colours, patterns and styles.
Create a Mediterranean vibe in your bathroom with Pilatos Carlos Sheet Vinyl Flooring which comes in at just £13.99 per square metre. Throwback to the good old days with vinyl flooring from this Retro Range, the ultimate in chic, bold designs. For £59 per square metre, your bathroom can look better than ever! For something a little more classic and minimalist, we love this Solid White Vinyl Flooring which is a bargain at just £6.13 per square metre. There are loads of bathroom trends to explore if you don’t like any of these.
Splash Out On A Sofa
Not all home improvements mean you have to get your hands dirty, and if you have to stay at home instead of jetting off on holiday, you might as well be comfortable. A new sofa can effortlessly transform a living room, especially if you opt for a statement piece. Freecycle your old sofa to help out someone else on their home improvement journey, and use some of your holiday budget to treat yourself to a plush new one.
As with all home furniture, you can’t go wrong with IKEA. They stock a huge range of designs and styles which will suit any interior, like the EKTORP 3 seater sofa at just £329 and available in a variety of colours. DFS is another great option when you are looking for a new sofa, and the chances are they will have a sale on to help keep your spending to a minimum! If you are looking for a new sofa for somewhere upstairs, such as a study or bedroom, then check out SWYFT. They offer sofas in a box for £995, so you don’t need to worry yourself with pivoting on the staircase.
Look At Your Lighting
You will be surprised just how much of a difference your lighting can make to your interiors. From ceiling lighting to lamps around the home, the illumination options you choose can beautifully transform almost any room quickly and easily. Natural lighting is key, so make sure you are making the most of all of your windows. Consider rearranging furniture to avoid blocking natural light, and ensure the focus of your rooms is the window.
When it comes to artificial lighting, there is so much you can do to make a change. A new lamp shade might not seem like a big deal, but something like this KUNGSHULT lamp shade from IKEA for £35 can effortlessly modernise and add warmth to a room. For a statement piece, consider this Antique Gold Palm Leaf Floor Lamp for £367 which beautifully combines luxury, quirkiness and an antique vibe. If you are more of a gadget-lover, then consider the hi-tech Philips Hue starting from £69.99. This clever system gives you total control over your lighting and allows you to customise your options for each room of your home.
Renew Your Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings can instantly accentuate your living space and bring a new lease of life to your current décor. A stylish stair runner can make a big impact on an area that is usually the first to be seen. Your lounge can be effortlessly revamped with some new cushions, a stunning throw or new lush curtains. Especially if your interior décor is neutral and minimal, you can quickly and easily change up the style with new soft furnishings.
The best part about soft furnishings is that there is something to suit every budget. Bargain supermarket ranges are a great place to start if you are watching the purse strings, and many of their home products are super cute and high quality, like this Forage Living Room Collection at Asda which starts at just £7. For something a little more upscale, you can choose handcrafted items made from an array of luxurious fabrics.
Go Green
If you spend your time scrolling through house-inspo on Instagram and Pinterest, then you will notice all the most luscious homes all have one thing in common: greenery. Bringing a bit of the outside in is a great way to brighten any space and breath some life into your home.
House plants in the living room, bathroom or bedroom are great for brightening up a dull space and also freshening the air you breathe every day. If you do have some outside space, such as a patio or window box, pick some plants that give you that holiday feeling every time you step outside. The greenery around your home doesn’t need to be expensive, and if you care for them properly, it can last a lifetime.
Declutter Your Kitchen
The kitchen is generally considered the heart of the home and is an area where you likely spend most of your time. All of us are guilty of having some utensils and appliances that we never use and just take up precious space. Have a proper declutter and get rid of anything that you use rarely. This can help you clear space on your countertops and make your kitchen feel sleeker and more minimalistic.
Once you have removed all the clutter from your kitchen, consider the things you use the most and treat yourself to an upgrade. If you are set to be the next Great British Bake Off competitor, brighten your kitchen with a bold KitchenAid Artisan Mixer for £499. Can’t get up in the mornings without your beloved cup of coffee? Invest in a Moccamaster for £185 and enjoy a perfect cup every time.
Deep Clean Your Carpets
Carpets can quickly start looking worn and dull, especially in a busy home with children and pets running amuck. Replacing carpets is an expensive home improvement and if you aren’t prepared to part with that much cash, then investing in professional carpet cleaning is the next best thing. You will be amazed at how new and revitalised your carpets will look after a proper deep clean.
Professional carpet cleaning starts from just £20 per room, so you can give your entire home a refresh for just a fraction of the price of a new carpet. If you are considering putting your home up for sale soon, then getting the carpets cleaned before viewings is an absolute must to show off your property in the best light.
Refresh Your Bedrooms
Considering we should be getting 8 hours of sleep every night, it is no surprise that we spend a huge amount of time in the bedroom. As parents, our bedrooms often fall by the wayside as we are so focused on redecorating and refurnishing children’s bedrooms as they grow. Mattresses should be replaced every 8 years, and if you can’t remember the last time you bought a new one, then it is probably long overdue.
Modern mattresses are not cheap, but they will leave you feeling on top of the world compared with an old, run-down bed. Give your bedroom that luscious hotel feeling by investing in a fluffy duvet and rich cotton covers. You might not be on holiday this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t sleep like you are.
Power Through Those 10 Minute Jobs
Every homeowner has a long list of small jobs that need doing around the home, but they have never got round to. This Summer is the perfect time to work through your to-do list and get your home in tip-top shape. Whether you’ve got some chipped paint, photos that need framing and putting up, or you haven’t deep cleaned your washing machine in a while; you will feel so much better in your home once you’ve cleared these 10-minute tasks.
Taking the time and money you would usually spend on a sun lounger in Spain and using it to re-evaluate your home is a great way to improve things for yourself and your family this Summer. Take a walk around your property and make note of what you love and what you don’t. Sometimes, these dislikes are easy fixes and can be resolved with a lick of paint or new furniture. Other times, these downsides to your home might be a big change, and it could be the right time to take the dive and move to somewhere you can be truly happy.
At HouseBuyFast, we are experts in getting your property sold quickly. Just two weeks of annual leave is enough time for us to get your home sold, so reach out today to find out more.
