Making a change doesn’t have to come with a price tag
We all want to keep improving our homes, but with family commitments always at the forefront of our minds sometimes there just isn’t the time or the money. But don’t worry! Nobody ever said that home improvements had to be expensive, time consuming, or even take that much effort. So let’s get started with some key themes to help transform your home into your family’s personal piece of heaven.
Secondary glazing using acrylic
Your windows are more than just the eyes of your property and your view to the world – they can also make a huge different in how heat efficient your home is. Double glazing is increasing in popularity for that very reason – but the trouble with conventional double glazing is that it can be expensive, and rather invasive when you have to rip out and replace all of your home’s windows.
This is where acrylic sheeting comes in handy. It’s clear, transparent, lightweight, and affordable – which makes it perfect for secondary glazing. Secondary glazing differs from double glazing in that it’s an additional layer over your pre-existing window. This makes it more affordable and less of a headache to install. But it can still offer you all the benefits of helping to keep the heat in your home, taking some key pressure off those ever-present energy bills.
Homemade abstract art
A budget friendly way to improve your home is through adding inexpensive or homemade art. Did you know that you can use the same acrylic sheeting for all kinds of other things, such as getting your family’s creative juices flowing? It couldn’t be easier and is very affordable too. All you need to do is get yourself some acrylic sheets. They come in varying sizes and shapes, and they are even made in a range of different colours.
Once you have received your acrylic sheets, you just lay them out in the garden, get some paint, and let the magic happen. They can be painted on directly, or you can just let the paint drip in all manner of abstract ways to create something truly unique, for example if you want to put a modern abstract touch on your home but with the added sentimental value of the whole family being involved. As acrylic sheets are so lightweight, they’re very easy to hang on the walls – even on supporting walls.
Creating mood lighting
Mood lighting is one of the more popular interior design trends, and with good reason. The lighting of a room can drastically change the entire feeling of it in just a few moments, depending on the colour and placement of your lights. Multiple light sources placed strategically will cast different colours and shadows in a room that may be used for different purposes throughout the day, for example office during the day, TV room at night. Lights can make a room cosier or brighter as required. So, if your child has trouble sleeping, you could turn your kids bedroom into a relaxing space by adding calming lighting for the evening.
Mood lighting is an inexpensive way to improve your home. You can buy switch dimmers, wall lamps, table lamps or even strings of LED lights, which are very affordable and easy to install, meaning you can let your creativity guide your instinct. An example might be to string warm white fairy lights around your mantel piece. Whether you choose to try and hide them or leave them visible is up to you, but it can create a wonderful warming effect on the room. Another example could be to place them under the upper cabinets in your kitchen, or even dome lights, to create a whole new atmosphere. In many cases they can be rechargeable and can offer different colour lights from the same bulb.
Family dining area
If you don’t already have a family dining area, you should seriously consider considering creating one. We have all been there – after a really long day you all just crash out in front of the TV with your evening meal. If you have older kids, they might even have gotten into the habit of having their meals in their rooms. But there is something to be said for sitting down and enjoying favourite family meals together and talking about your day and spend time together.
Creating a family dining area, doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many affordable dining sets if you’re on a limited budget or dealing with a small amount of space. If you lack space, go for a table and chairs that can be neatly folded away – there are some rather snazzy sets available these days, even tables that hang on the wall looking like a piece of art when folded away! If you have the space, but not the budget, you could buy second hand. Many people donate used furniture to charity when they move house, and many pieces are still in a great condition – just be vigilant to check for any signs of woodworm in wooden furniture.
Personal spaces
Family time and family spaces where everyone enjoys coming together are incredibly important, but so is personal space. We all feel crowded sometimes and crave a bit of breathing space. Children also need their own room, or at least their own space, especially as they get older to establish boundaries and give them privacy.
If your home lacks space to give everyone their own bedroom, there are many other ways in which you can give every family member personal space. Room dividers, screens and plants can create a physical boundary. Personal touches can be added to those spaces to make them your or your kids’ own. If you have several kids who need to use one desk for homework, you could draft a schedule and allocate an hour a day to each child, so they have space and quiet to focus. They will feel like that space is their own during the time they use it which will improve their comfort and focus. If you are a mum working from home, you could create a dedicated workspace in any room that is quiet and preferably bright, and where you do not constantly get interrupted should you have to work during hours when your family is home. This could be your bedroom, the kitchen or even the space under the stairs. It’s all about what you do with it.
Getting ideas from the family
If you’re thinking about how you would like to improve your home, don’t forget to ask your family for their input too – often one of the biggest sources of inspiration are the children themselves. Of course, you will have to add a little bit of adult sensibility to their ambitions, but it’s a good compromise.
Budget is never a barrier and home improvements don’t require a lot of spare cash when you have creativity and ambition. Just add some stylish touches to your home and make it more suitable for your family’s needs. We hope our simple tips will help get you started, but really the sky is the limit.
About Single Parents on Holiday:
Single Parents on Holiday has offered single parent holidays in top accommodation in the UK and abroad since 2005. For our single parent empty nester and any solo skiers without kids, we also provide a range of single ski holidays for adults only.
