In a post-pandemic world, get ready
They say we’re starting to put a global pandemic behind us after two long years.
A couple of cold, isolated winters are now history. And with the warmth of the sun comes the possibility of guests – real, live guests, not on a screen but guests we can hug and house and feed.
And you know what that means. It’s time to get ready. Company’s coming.
The renovation industry is bustling with the demand for new spaces, and it feels like a celebration, because in many ways this year, it is.
If you want a fresh start to celebrate and welcome people to your home, here are some tips from renovators and designers:
- Updating the outside of your home, even in simple ways like changing its colour, gives a home a fresh new look. Choosing a palette can be fun but tricky. You might want to use three colours, but they have to be right. (This is where a good designer comes in.) You can also update with a great front door, landscaping, paving, and stonework.
- Be sure to demand beautiful workmanship and guarantees so you can expect safety and long durability.
- If you’re updating the inside, here are a few things you can do to make sure your guests are comfortable and happy.
- If you’re adding a bathroom, consider making it ultra-luxurious, with amazing showerheads, heated flooring and benches, big sinks and towel warmers. (Of course, when your guests go home, you then have that great space for yourself.)
- Remember to include the most current means of charging devices throughout your home. As technology evolves, this will change, of course, so it’s wise to stay on top of future trends so you can adjust. But for now, if your guests are able to charge wherever they are in your house, it makes life simpler and easier for them.
- Quiet time alone is something everyone likes, and your guests will cherish this especially if they’ve travelled a long distance to get to you. You might consider adding a small kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave to your guest room and a couple of comfy chairs.
- Suitcases are not always clothes-friendly, despite how good the suitcase or how “unwrinkleable” the clothes. Your guests will welcome a good system for hanging clothes, a built-in ironing board and well-designed cabinetry in guest bedroom and bathroom.
- A heated floor is a lovely touch no matter the season, and so is a fireplace. You might ask your renovator to include these things in designs of your guest room or suite.
Some people say the best thing about winter is that it ends. But this might be the sweetest springtime of all.
Francie Healy is Editor and Art Director of Ottawa Renovates Magazine.