Home Expert Advice Future-proof your home with our expert guide

Future-proof your home with our expert guide

Is your home geared up to support the needs of you and your family in the coming years? Find out how to future-proof your home with our expert guide.

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What is future-proofing a home?

To ‘future-proof your home’ means to create a flexible home design that meets the needs of you and your family both now and in the future.

But how do you build a future-proof home?

To build a future-proof home, we need to understand what the future might bring and the impact it could have on how we live. It’s thought that:

Multi-generational living will become more common as property prices rise and people live longer
Our homes will need to become more multifunctional
Smart technology will be even more commonplace
Eco-improvements will become standard features

With these in mind, in this post, we outline some expert advice to future-proof your house within four key categories:

Ensuring a sound structure
Flexibility
Smart technology
Eco-improvements

How to future-proof your home

When considering how to future-proof your home, bear in mind that your home is also an investment. Therefore, balance your needs with what is likely to add value to your property.

An extension or conversion could add up to 20% to the value of your home and a new kitchen could add up to 10%. Keeping up with home and garden maintenance could also add up to 10% if done well.

This brings us nicely to the first of our four categories to future-proof your home: ensuring a sound structure.

Ensure a sound structure

There’s little point investing in smart tech and eco-improvements to upgrade your home if the basics have not been met.

Future-proofing your home starts with a sound structure that will last for many years.

With that in mind, begin with maintenance and upkeep in the following key areas:

Roof – create a warm and weathertight seal that’ll last 20-30 years with a new roof
Gutters and drains – avoid water damage and maintain the structural integrity of your home with effective, and clear, guttering and drains
Brickwork – keep moisture outside (and avoid damp and mould inside) with repointing
Windows and doors – avoid costly and uncomfortable draughts and increase security with new windows and doors
Electrical wiring – make sure your wiring is safe and meets modern standards with an electrical safety check
Plumbing and heating – make sure your gas appliances are safe and your plumbing is sound with a gas safety check and plumbing inspection

Find trusted and approved tradespeople

For all your home repairs and improvements, look no further than the Checkatrade website. All our members are checked and approved by us, so you know you’re getting the real deal. Enter your postcode below to start your search.

Create a flexible home

With a solid structure, the next step in future-proofing your home is to make sure it can be flexible to meet your needs, both now and in the future. You need a home that can evolve as needs change.

In practical terms, this means a home that has the potential to accommodate the needs of multigenerational living, that can offer versatility and accessibility. Here are four popular ways to do this:

1. Broken-plan layouts

The open-plan layout is hugely popular in the UK. However, as property prices rise and people live longer, more families will likely come together under one roof. A broken-plan layout helps to accommodate the needs of a multigenerational family in the same home.

While cooking and dining together in an open-plan kitchen-diner is great, older generations might appreciate a quieter living area to relax. Similarly, many family members might crave a calm, tech-free zone.

Broken-plan layouts help to create zones within an open-plan setup, offering a sense of separation within a shared space. This can be done with structural elements such as partition walls or sliding, moveable walls. It can also be done with distinct features such as furniture or different flooring.

2. An extension

With the potential to house more family members under one roof in the future, an extension could be a worthy investment.

A well-designed extension will typically add value to your home while also making the most of unused space. A side-return extension is a good example of this.

Side return kitchen extension — AI-generated side-return extension concept

Consider how your family will use the newly extended space and build these factors into your plans.

For example, in a kitchen extension, make the layout as spacious as possible to give everyone plenty of room to move around. You could also build accessible elements into your kitchen design.

Take a look at our:

Series of house extension ideas to showcase the potential of your existing home
Complete planning guide to building an extension, to help you prepare for your project
House extension cost guide to help budget for the work
House extension hiring guide to help you choose a trusted firm for the job

If a home extension is not possible, why not consider a garden room?

A garden room offers tremendous versatility, extra space (outside of the main hubbub of the house), and they tend to add value to your property.

Related content: Find out more about garden rooms and the planning permission needed in our expert guide.

3. A conversion

Remember, your home setup doesn’t have to remain static. Rooms can be converted to service different requirements as the need arises.

Many of us will appreciate how our homes adapted during the pandemic to allow working from home.

Going forward, you may wish to consider conversions that offer greater accessibility.

For example, a second reception room could become a ground-floor bedroom, and a downstairs WC could be changed into an accessible wet room.

Or perhaps you’re able to consider more major changes such as a loft, garage, or basement conversion.

Make the most of unused attic space with these 30 loft conversion ideas
Learn how to unlock usable space with these 15 garage conversion ideas
Find out all you need to know about converting your cellar or basement with our helpful cellar conversion cost guide

Top tips: The finer details can have a big impact. For example, if converting a room into a home office, think about soundproofing. Choose multifunctional furniture for your home that can evolve with your needs, install some mini routers to for good WiFi connectivity, and upgrade to plug sockets with charging points to keep the peace!

Find experienced conversion specialists near you

Find reliable conversion specialists for your project using the Checkatrade website. When you contact a trade through Checkatrade, our guarantee could cover you for up to 12 months. You can claim up to £1,000 (exclusions and T&Cs apply).

Just enter your postcode below to start your search.

4. Exterior landscaping

It’s not just the inside of your home that might need to offer greater flexibility in the future. The outside of your property may also need some consideration.

Younger family members will enjoy space to play and run around in the garden. However, older family members may appreciate a paved area in a sunny corner for a morning coffee, and a raised bed to plant some veggies.

Pathways and gentle slopes are good forward-planning moves as an alternative to steep steps. Meanwhile, careful planting will make sure your garden design brings everyone joy with the desired amount of maintenance.

And remember, your garden is a natural extension of your home – the perfect space to enjoy as a family. Outdoor seating, lighting, and even heating can help everyone to make the most of what it has to offer.

Finally, if three generations (or more!) all inhabit the same home, where will they all park their cars? If you don’t have a driveway, consider adding one. It can add between 5-10% to the value of your home as well as being more convenient than on-road parking.

Incorporate smart technology

Smart home technology includes a range of internet-connected systems that we use in the home on a daily basis. This includes our heating, lighting, security, home entertainment systems, and more.

Smart technology is becoming increasingly popular, offering greater control, versatility, and cost savings to homeowners. And with multiple generations in a household, smart home tech can offer peace of mind and help to make life easier.

For example, being able to turn the heating on and off remotely to help lower your heating bills, setting reminders on smart devices, checking who’s at the door with a video doorbell, or installing a smart lock for keyless entry.

Understand all about smart home technology in our easy-to-read guide
Find out more about the costs involved with our home automation cost guide

Find expert smart home consultants near you

Search our directory to find knowledgeable and reliable smart home technology consultants in your local area. Simply add your postcode below to get started.

Make eco-improvements

Future-proofing your home with eco-improvements does require an initial investment. But you will save money on your energy bills in the long run.

If you have multiple generations in one home, this decision will pay dividends in the future. In addition, a sustainable home is environmentally friendly and a major draw for home buyers, no doubt adding value to your home.

There are various ways to future-proof your home with eco-improvements:

Outside, install solar panels to generate your own energy, a solar battery storage system to store and use any excess electricity, and an EV charger
Inside, major eco upgrades include renewable heating systems, underfloor heating, retrofitting insulation, and double-glazing
Less disruptive options include choosing energy-efficient appliances, low-flow sanitaryware, LED lighting, and a boiling water tap

Find a renewable energy consultant near you

Read our guide to help find experienced renewable energy engineers for your eco-home improvements. And search our leading directory to hire the best firm for the job in your local area. Add your postcode below to get started.