New Year New Décor for homeowners
Monday, 19 January 2009 10:25 AM
By Sarah Garrod
While the New Year move you had planned may have been put on hold thanks to the economy, some property experts are advising home owners to invest in what they've got to stay afloat in the current market.
With property purchases at a record all time low, the advice from those in the know is not to rush into selling up, but to consider investing some time and money into your current home. A lick of paint and a few small touches could be just the ticket for ensuring your property is first to sell when the market recovers, and what better time to pick up some household bargains than the January sales?
If you're keen to add to your existing property, then renovation and extension might be on the cards and according to architect Chris Martin, of the thehouseplanner website, there has been a marked increase in homeowners choosing to improve their homes over the last year.
Chris says: "Modern standards of performance are making older houses look expensive in terms of both maintenance and energy use. The popularity of TV shows like Grand Designs has brought an awareness of what is possible in terms of good modern design, and sustainability now ranks high on many people's agendas.
"The effect of all this is likely to be an increase in the relative value of new and modernised homes against their older, less well maintained counterparts. Coupled with more people staying put because of economic uncertainty, we are seeing a growing number of people looking to improve and extend their home. What is interesting is how many are prepared to take on the work themselves.
"It is a daunting prospect to renovate a building, but it can be the most rewarding thing you do. The secret is in getting the right support and advice. Find yourself a good architect and get as much information as possible before you start."
But for many homeowners at this time, the prospect of spending large sums on home renovation might be an unattractive prospect. So is it a wise investment, and can it actually add value to your existing property?
Chris says: "Certainly value can be added in any market. This is doubly so if you do a significant amount of the work yourself. The big question is what adds value? Clearly making a building larger is a good start, but it has to be done well, and in proportion to the original property. Think long-term when doing work and you can't go far wrong -is the work going to make the property easier to maintain and is it going to make it cheaper to run? Buyers are going to become increasingly inquisitive about energy performance and sellers need to respond.
"People want to see what is possible -they want ideas and inspiration. The audience is much more knowledgeable now too -we find that lots of people are looking for detailed information on environmentally friendly construction -using recycled materials, low impact paints, renewable energy, grey water use, green roofs, straw bale construction and so on. In fact according to a recent survey by the Royal Institute of British Architects and Autodesk, almost more than 50 per cent of clients enquire about greener design and its benefits."
Adding an extension to your home could give you the extra space you need, and add value, but if you don't have the time or funds up front it might not be a viable option. Also, the capital gains tax you may have to cough up when you sell on could make it an unwise investment, whereas interior design on the other hand affords no such concern, and as long as you invest sensibly, there is no reason why you can't take your design investments with you when you move on.
This week, the Interiors Birmingham trade exhibition is being held at the NEC. Spokesperson Samantha Fisher told us how the credit crisis had affected the industry, and what changes manufacturers were making to reel in new custom.
Samantha says: "Exhibitors [at the Interiors exhibition] are ensuring that the products they offer are good quality, because if consumers are less likely to move house, they are more likely to improve their homes with long-lasting products.
"There has been a lot of bad news during the last few months, with big interiors and furniture companies going into liquidation, MFI being one, but having said that, there are many who are still thriving. Like all industries the ones who will survive are cutting overheads and offering a better service and better value product. A lot of innovation will come out of this period we believe.
"We have seen an increase in the accessories side of things, such as rugs, which backs up the idea that people are starting to improve their homes with the smaller purchases.
"I think Grand Designs, as well as other interior improvement programmes, have influenced consumers to do more with what they have. They show that even on a small budget, a room can be transformed into a unique and individual setting with its own personality. People are starting to use their interior as a scrapbook of their tastes and experiences."
Of course, for many of us the prospect of redesigning our homes is fairly daunting and can take up valuable time and money. We asked Iris Dunbar, president of the British Interior Design Association (BIDA), to give us some tips on how to get started, and her key advice was "don't rush into it"!
Iris says: "Professional interior designers can bring a well rounded approach to your home. They will analyse the building first and foremost. When getting started, you have to understand that the type of building, the bones of the building, have to be understood first. If it's a red brick building don't ignore that base, this means that there will be a holistic approach to the property.
"For example, if you're painting around a window, then the view from the window will have an effect on the colour. You have to look at the ingredients you are working with.
"It's also important for people to address a life cycle with something. Ask, how long will I use this for? And don't just find a quick fix, look for things that will last.
"One of the main problems is that people don't ask enough questions of themselves, about what they want and what they like."
Iris suggests that if you are considering interior design at home you stick to two core principles:
1) Let the building talk to you, as what kind of building you live in will be integral to the whole process.
2) Work on a design brief of what you want each room to do/what its use will be.
January is one of the most popular times of the year to re-paint your home, and painting in general is often a good place to start when thinking about designs and colour schemes. Although wallpaper is very fashionable at the moment, experts advise you stick to paint if you're thinking of moving on any time soon, as it's often difficult to take wallpaper down once it's up, which may put off potential buyers.
Crown Colour consultant, Judy Smith, says: "It's really popular going up to Easter to think about re-decorating and the New Year is a time when people take stock of what they've got. In terms of trends we're still going for lots of neutral colours and I think there will be some softer colours staying with us. I also think blue will be important this year because of its calming affect.
"It's very important that people's houses look interesting and like homes. Painting is a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up your home and create some interest, and it can often disguise bad features."
Here are Judy's top five budget-busting tips to transform your home this January.
1. Bright colours open up enclosed spaces - so try revamping a fading hallway or stairwell by painting it in a striking, confident colour such as bold red or cheerful yellow.
2. For a simple but chic touch, paint the whole room with a bold block colour, then add a large geometric shape in a bright contemporary colour, such as warm orange.
3. Make a feature of shelves by painting alcoves with a neutral tone such as white, alongside a colour, which gives contrast, such as sky blue.
4. To pack a stylish punch, experiment with some free-hand painting - it's guaranteed to lend a new lease of life to a room.
5. Don't be afraid to experiment with colour - if it's confined to a small area it can always be seasonally repainted and won't cost you the earth.
But if it's a total interior design renovation you're going for, then a 'trend forecaster' might be what you're looking for. Victoria Redshaw founded Scarlet Opus trend forecasting in 2002. Her highly successful company forecasts trends for the home industry two years ahead of release.
But how can trend forecasting be used in your own home?
Victoria said: "We're not about driving desire. What we try to do is look at events and make a forecast based on how they will affect society. All world events have an impact. For example, because of the Beijing Olympics, people may have a desire for the Eastern style.
"People are now starting to live with their products for a lot longer. As an industry we are trying to slow down the trends because instead of buying cheap and often, people will now buy for the long term.
"I think the industry is ready for something different, something that is more personal. This will allow people to make their house their home again, rather than trying to create a 'blank canvas' of magnolia walls and wooden floors.
"When it comes to selling your home it's more about the house having character. It has to be done tastefully, but we all know that simple solutions like having a focal wall can achieve this.
"Making an occasion of dining is something that is quite key at the moment. We're moving away from dinner in front of the TV and making an occasion of dining without the expense of going out to a restaurant."
So what does the trend forecaster predict for 2009? "Don't be afraid of grey and something with a pearl essence. Coral is a big colour coming through, as is indigo blue, but just be careful how much you use. There's also a move back towards fabrics and carpets, as opposed to leather sofas and wooden floors."
Victoria's top tips for interior design:
1) Mount a big picture on the wall, especially horizontal pictures above the bed, as this will make the room feel bigger.
2) Use a good strong colour on one wall as a focus for the room.
3) Invest in a good quality rug, which you can always take with you if you move.
4) For some really unique household items look on etsy, which is particularly good for wall decals.
And if you were any in doubt about who's in charge when it comes to home design, Victoria points out that some 80 per cent of consumer decisions are made by women (according to A.T. Kearney). Sorry boys, but it looks like the 'feminine touch' is here to stay.
