The home is where the heart is; a person’s home is their castle, etc., etc., etc.! While these platitudes look great on a plaque hanging above the bathroom door, in reality, most folks are always on the lookout for ways to make their homes more comfortable and easier to manage.
If you want something to make your life easier or simply add a touch of luxury to your current home, chances are there is something out there that can do it…and more importantly, at an affordable price. This article will explore all kinds of home improvement equipment that will enhance your living standards to levels only imagined by the most feverish minds of those of yesteryear!
Enjoy Peace Of Mind With A High-Quality Water Filtration System
Although you might not think that water filters are on;y for those living in less developed parts of the world, the fact remains that your water might not be as fresh as you previously thought. While this is more obvious in certain places more than others (Flint, Michigan coming to mind), it’s still a good idea to conder installing one if you are worried about the quality of your water.
When it comes to filters, you have many options, but if you live in a large household with lots of people continuously using water, a Y strainer might be your best opinion. These devices are more commonly found in larger applications, but the function of a Y strainer is such that it can fit into almost any setting where you need fresh, clean water.
However, while a Y strainer will keep out the larger particles, you will still need to research options that keep your drinking water free of dangerous microorganisms that might pose a risk to your health.
Moreover, a robust filtration system also helps to protect against contaminants like lead and other heavy metals that can leach into your tap water as well as the usual array of bacteria that can make your family sick. Additionally, if you’re concerned about chlorine and its nasty smell and taste or even the overabundance of fluoride in the water system, many systems are designed to address this problem.
Get A Smart Speaker For Fun And Convenience
Smart speakers have been all the rage recently, and with Apple bringing out a new version of its HomPod (that some report is not really much different from its previous iterations, but hey… Apple!), you have more choice than ever to pretend as you live in the year 2040.
While most people only ever use these devices to play music, they actually have tons of valuable features that can make your life and that of your family much more convenient. Some of the top reasons to invest in a HomePod, Google Assistant, or Amazon Echo (depending on which ecosystem you’re trapped in) include:
• You can have music playing as you float about your house
• You can use it to set up alarms and appointments that will get added to your digital calendar.
• They usually connect to other devices that access the internet, like smart thermostats, discussed later.
• They can answer any queries that have been bugging you throughout the day.
• Some can play snippets of news and keep you updated on current events (but this is probably best avoided these days!)
Upgrade Your Kitchen With Professional Grade Appliances
This option isn’t about a specific product; instead simply discusses upgrading various appliances to make your life easier and cooking more fun. Professional-grade appliances are usually more energy-efficient than standard models and will last longer as they tend to be much sturdier in design and will do you well if you class yourself as a bit of an amateur chef.
Many professional models also come with extra features, such as variable temperature controls and timers, that help make meal preparation easier and faster. When selecting new appliances, it’s vital to choose pieces that both fit the size of your kitchen and look good together to create a cohesive aesthetic.
Also, consider buying higher quality cookware items such as pans or pots since these will last much longer than cheaper alternatives. You don’t need to spend a fortune unless you want to, but investing in s a few decent items will save you money and make your cooking more enjoyable.
Improve Your Home’s Efficiency With A Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat might sound like the dullest thing you can add to your house, but it will arguably improve it the most in the ways that count. Smart thermostats can automatically adjust the temperature of your home based on the climate outside, meaning that you won’t be overheating or under-cooling your house in extreme temperatures, and you’ll save money in the process, which is something everyone is looking to do these days more than ever.
Plus, many smart thermostats come with voice control technology built-in or can hook into a home speaker, as mentioned earlier, so you can control the temperature of your house with simple voice commands!
Another advantage to installing a smart thermostat is that they often come with home automation features, like remote access. This means you can change the temperature settings from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. That way, if you’re away from home and need to turn up or down the heat or air conditioning, you can do so from virtually anywhere!
Make Cleaning Easier With A Robotic Vacuum
This device isn’t for everyone and might not have made this list if it wasn’t for the fact that no sane person enjoys vacuuming, and anything that can reduce the pain even a little is a worthy addition! These devices come in a plethora of shapes and abilities, with the higher-end models offering decent performance.
However, beware of the low-end options as they tend not to pick up the dust and dirt as well as other models, and you could be left with an expensive, ugly paperweight!
Keep Your Home Secure With Smart Surveillance Cameras
If you ask most Americans about what they fear the most, a home invasion is likely very high on the list. Consequently, intelligent surveillance cameras are one of the best investments you can make for the security of your home and family. They provide a layer of reassurance and really help to deter potential threats, and also allow you to bring a perpetrator to justice if the unthinkable happens.
With motion detection and night vision capabilities, these cameras offer the ultimate protection from would-be criminals and vandals. Moreover, with doorstep theft increasing as people shop online more and more, they can deter this kind of petty crime as long as they make it clear they are being watched.
When it comes to updating your home, you have so many options that it can become pretty costly if you’re not careful. However, the idea of this post isn’t to advise you to get everything but instead to look at what might improve the quality of your life depending on your circumstances.