Advances in technology over the years have slowly but surely made our homes more convenient and our lives easier. Whether we’re meal planning for the week, grocery shopping, cleaning, or working from our home offices, even the smallest of smart additions can make a huge difference.
A home renovation is the perfect time to add smart home devices and incorporate technology and modern convenience into your home. Keep reading and check out 8 of our favorite smart additions for your next remodel!
1. Pop-Up Kitchen Outlets
One of the biggest trends in kitchen design over the last few years is pop-up outlets. Pop-up outlets are totally retractable, and can be installed in strategic locations on your countertops to make using countertop appliances or charging your devices convenient and easy.
Here are a few of the benefits of including pop-up outlets in your kitchen remodel:
Your backsplashes can remain outlet-free.
Complying with specific kitchen-island and kitchen-peninsula electrical codes is easier.
You can avoid hazardous cords hanging off your countertops or island.
It’s easy to charge your devices while you eat or cook.
2. A Built-In Spice Rack
3. Baseboard Vacuums
If you’re looking for ways to make life simpler and keep your home cleaner and healthier, baseboard vacuums are a no-brainer. Once you’ve fitted baseboard vacuums, all you need to do when cleaning the kitchen or other area of your home is to sweep dust or debris close enough to the baseboard unit so it can suck everything up.
Baseboard vacuums can either connect to your home’s central vacuum system (if you have one) or a dust bag. A central vacuum, also called a “whole-house vacuum,” is a system of interconnected pipes that can be built into the interior walls of your home and is connected to a main unit, generally in a garage or basement space.
4. Outlets Near Toilets for Bidet Attachments
Although they’re historically associated with fancy European hotels, bidets (or bidet attachments) aren’t just luxury items. In fact, washing yourself with a bidet after using the bathroom can help prevent rashes, urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids, and a range of other medical issues. It also limits toilet-paper use, which minimizes your home’s environmental impact.
If you’re renovating a bathroom, consider installing a small bidet if you have the space for it, or simply add outlets near your toilet to allow for a bidet attachment, which is a simpler, less expensive, and space-saving solution.
5. A Smart Thermostat
There has been a huge uptick in the popularity of smart thermostats over the last few years, and for good reason. Installing a smart thermostat in your home during a remodel can add comfort, convenience, and reliability to your home by allowing you to adjust the temperature remotely with an app or with your voice through Amazon Alexa or another smart-home assistant. That means even if you’re out of the house, you can make sure your home is at a comfortable temperature by the time you return.
You can also set timed routines on most smart thermostats, so you can make sure you wake up to a comfy 68-degree bedroom whether it’s winter or summer.
6. Arrival Sensors
7. USB Outlets
Installing USB outlets in your home — especially in rooms or areas where you frequently charge your devices — is one of the simplest things you can do to make your home smarter. Say goodbye to the need to hunt down a charging block or drain the battery on your laptop so you can charge your phone. Since USB outlets also typically include regular outlets, it’s possible to charge more devices at once!
8. Home Office Organization
If you’re remodeling or adding a home office as part of a remodel, think about including space-saving and convenient organization solutions to your space. Whether you’re working from home or setting up a hobby or craft room, staying organized in your office space is much easier when you incorporate smart organization. Here are a few ideas:
- Built-in shelving or bookcases
- File cabinets
- Desk drawers
- A paper shredder
- Labels
- A wall-mounted dry-erase calendar
Include Smart-Home Gadgets and Solutions in Your Next Home Remodel Project
At L. Evans Design Group, we take the extra time needed to ensure we understand not only your design preferences and aesthetic vision but also your lifestyle needs. This allows us to prioritize things that will make your life and home simpler, more beautiful, and more fun. We’ll work with you to ensure your space combines modern convenience, innovative solutions, and a design you truly love.
Want to incorporate these or other smart-home features in your project? We can’t wait to hear about your ideas and discuss a few of our own!
Call at (971) 404-1241 or contact us online to set up your project consultation.
