Ready to up the ante on your renovation game? We’ve got you covered.

If you’re embarking on a renovation, you’ve probably thought about the bigger and more aesthetic items in play. Things like your overall design look, the bathtub, your kitchen appliances and paint colour selections.

However, there are some other items you might have missed that can have a big impact on your ease of day-to-day living, how your home functions and the safety of your newly renovated home.

From smarter features to light switches and charging points, there are some simple, yet highly functional and effective additions to your home that could improve your lifestyle to bring a whole lot of ease and simplicity to your life.

Planning for these upfront can help to ensure you have the end result you truly crave for your project.

Here are five ways you can take your reno to the next level.

1. Incorporate smarter features

If you’ve been thinking of transforming your home into a smart home, a renovation is the perfect time.

“The goal of a smart home is to simplify busy lives so we can enjoy more comfort at home, the way we want to enjoy it,” Tim Fant, Offer Manager at Schneider Electric says.

Constantly chasing after your kids reminding them to turn off the lights or checking you’ve turned off the hair straightener will become a thing of the past.

“Talk about your vision for your smart home early on with your electrician so they can incorporate it into your electrical plan [for your renovation],” Tim says.

“They can make suggestions on how to optimise your home and ensure you don’t miss out on opportunities to integrate what is important to you.

“The all-new Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home can integrate your garage door opener, lighting, heated towel rails, extractor fans, blinds, split system air-con units — basically anything that is wired in — through one single app.

Have greater control over lighting, heating/cooling and security with smart home features and Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home. Picture: Clipsal

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“[The Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home functions] can be set up by the homeowner to control multiple devices or appliances all from one wall switch, tap or voice command,” Tim adds.

So, you could have an ‘all off’ command and, at the end of the day, all lights would turn off and the blinds would close. Simple!

The system is also scalable and flexible, meaning you can add new rooms, devices, appliances and features to it as you need. So, even if you don’t have electric blinds right now, you — or even your home’s next owner — can adapt the system should you get them in the future.

2. Gear up for busy bathrooms

The bathroom is one of the most-used rooms in the home – especially if you have kids! 

When undergoing a renovation, think about what features will make your life that little bit easier.

If your house is freezing in winter, bathroom heat lamps and heated towel rails are no brainers. Plus, if you’re installing a product like Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home, you can integrate it in the app.

Heat lamps can be run on timers so they’re never left on (especially by your little ones!) and towel rails can come on just before your household likes to shower, and off again once you’ve finished so you can save on power.

3. Plan for multi-functional spaces

With so many of us now working from home, there’s a never-ending need for power sockets. How many times have you been caught out trying to find a spare charging point for your laptop or phone?

Changing your power sockets is a small inclusion that can have a large impact on your day-to-day life.

Firstly, if you have an older home, don’t make the mistake of simply replacing ageing power sockets and not adding additional points to suit your needs. While many older rooms may have only one or two power sockets, modern homeowners need more. Way more!

You can also consider installing sockets with USB A+C ports to help charge all those extra devices. This is a really easy improvement to include, yet it can make life so much easier for a growing and busy home.

4. Spend time thinking about lighting

From the switch, to the lights and bulbs, now is the time to make a few small changes to your lighting.

Firstly, consider energy savings.

“Changing your home to LED lighting can not only have a massive impact in terms of the level of lighting in the home, but they are also a much more efficient lighting option,” Tim says.

“Consider what kind of light you need in each room and where. Is it task lighting, ambiance or feature lighting?”

Light switches don’t have to be basic. Upgrade to more efficient lighting and stylish switches. Picture: Clipsal

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Incorporating light motion sensors can also ensure lights are never left on when a room isn’t being used — saving you running around turning switches off whenever you leave the house.

Sensors or timers can also be used for security lighting around the exterior of your home. Instead of leaving indoor or outdoor lights on for long periods of time, you can cut your energy use by only having them on when necessary.

Furthermore, when it comes to switches, think about the functionality and aesthetics of the switches themselves. There are now so many choices available, so you can venture beyond a plain white light switch or power point.

The Clipsal Iconic range for instance, offers on-trend black, matte, metallic or timber-accent covers, with stylish buttons to boot. Whether you are looking for switches to blend in or stand out, there is a style to suit you and your home.

5. Consider sustainability features

Renovating is also a good time to consider sustainable features which can not only save you cash over time but will reduce your impact on the environment.

Sustainable smart home options are good for the environment and your bills. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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Here’s a few to consider:

• Water-efficient taps and shower heads
• Water tanks
• Double glazed windows
• Windows or doors suited for cross ventilation (just don’t forget fly screens — this is Australia!)
• High star-rated, energy-efficient appliances
• A solar energy system
• Wall and floor materials with thermal mass
• Better insulation
• Establish energy saving moments through products like Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home

Thanks to technology, the possibilities for your next renovation are almost endless so explore your options with research and think of practical and functional future-proof solutions when making decisions.