New Year new home projects: home renovation ideas

New Year, new you, new home!

New Year is a fresh start and the perfect time to channel your energy into your home.

Whether you’re looking to update your home, welcome in the latest trends, or sorting out those odd repairs and niggles that have been bugging you for months… or for the past year!

If you’re ‘umming and ahhing’ about what jobs you should add to your to-do list, check out our 24 home renovation ideas for 2024.

1. Update your kitchen

Updating your kitchen is almost always a sensible home renovation move, as an old kitchen can quickly make your property look dated. But if you don’t have the budget for a new kitchen, don’t panic. Instead, why not simply give it a makeover by painting your kitchen cabinets, switching out the door handles, and replacing your kitchen worktops?

If you’re scratching your head for inspiration, consider granite worktops. According to our recent survey, they’re a top home improvement trend of the last 25 years, loved by 28% of homeowners. They’re durable, versatile, and don’t look likely to go out of fashion any time soon – plus, they’re a lot cheaper than marble!

2. Declutter

Minimalism is another home improvement trend topping the charts. To create a minimalist aesthetic in your home, invest in plenty of storage and spend time properly decluttering your space.

This Japandi-style kitchen boasts a sleek look with its wood-and-black colour scheme and not a single object out of place. It’s a fantastic way to create a calming environment for you to achieve everything you want in the New Year.

3. Embrace hygge

Beat the January blues by embracing the hygge mindset and creating a cosy environment at home. We’re talking soft rugs, comfy throws, plush cushions, and more. Think of everything you need to curl up on the sofa, or in bed with a mug of hot chocolate and a decent book or film.

This cosy bedroom is nailing it with its woolly rug, fluffy rocking chair, and oversized throw. Not to mention that beautiful gas fire and of course, the stack of logs providing the perfect focal point for a cold winter’s day.

4. Paint your walls earthy tones

Here’s another home renovation idea that puts cosiness front and centre. Instead of painting your walls bright white or grey, why not opt for earthy tones that create a sense of warmth? Neutrals such as fawn or beige are proving more and more popular, as are saturated shades of warm colours such as orange, red and gold.

Here, the homeowner has opted for earthy beige walls teamed with orange accents. It’s a natural look that’s warm and inviting, perfect for getting into bed on a chilly night.

5. Put up floating shelves

Floating shelves are both a stunning interior design feature and a handy storage solution, making them a top home improvement trend for 17% of homeowners. Without clunky brackets and visible fixings, they offer a streamlined look that’s understated and effortlessly elegant.

The floating shelves in this cream kitchen are sporting practical items that have been arranged in a visually appealing way – from glass jars full of dried foods to stacks of bowls and a jug holding wooden utensils. It’s a great way to make your essential kitchen equipment into an attractive design feature.

6. Add an eye-catching feature wall

A feature wall can help you to create a focal point in any room – whether it’s panelling, wallpaper, colour blocking or even a painted mural.

We love the midcentury modern feel of this kitchen wallpaper. Not only is it rich in colours and textures, but it also serves to pull together all the colours from across the space, creating a sense of cohesion.

7. Create a home office

Whether or not remote working is here to stay, building a home office can give you a dedicated space to focus away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This might involve a garage conversion, building a garden office, repurposing a spare room or simply squeezing a desk into a nook or alcove. Whatever you choose to do, it’s all about maximising the space you’ve got.

Just remember, removing a bedroom could devalue your home. So, if you’re hoping to repurpose a guest bedroom, consider keeping it as a multi-purpose space, or making changes that would be easy to reverse if you decide to put your home on the market in the future.

8. Invest in eco-friendly home improvements

Climate change is still very much on everyone’s minds. Investing in eco-friendly home improvements can help you to make a positive impact on the environment and may even increase your home’s saleability if you come to sell it in the future.

A few popular ways to make your home more eco-friendly include installing solar panels, adding an air source heat pump, or even simply investing in cavity or solid wall insulation. After all, the less heat can escape your home, the less energy you’ll waste. Just remember to check whether you’re eligible for any grants or funding before you crack on.

9. Ditch the artex

Textured ceilings are amongst the most hated trends to have hit our homes in the last 25 years. If you’re renovating an older property and you have those artex swirls and dimples gracing your ceilings – or walls – it could be an idea to replace your artex with a smooth, plastered finish.

However, if you’re contemplating artex removal, be sure to check first whether your artex contains asbestos. If it does, you’ll want to be extra careful and get the professionals in to remove the asbestos safely.

10. Modernise your bathroom

Just like kitchens, bathrooms are another room of the home that can feel dated very quickly. You’ve probably heard that well-known piece of advice that ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell houses.’

With that in mind, remodelling your bathroom is a great home renovation idea for the New Year if yours is looking tired or in need of modernisation. In particular, if your bathroom is sporting outdated design elements like carpets, it’s time to rip them out and replace them with something more modern and practical. For instance, this black-and-white bathroom is sophisticated and timeless.

11. Uncover a fireplace (or install a new one)

Nothing says winter quite like cosying up in front of a crackling fire. And with several months left before spring rears its head, opening up an existing fireplace or building a new one could be a worthwhile investment.

This gorgeous log burner is set in an exposed brick chimney breast, bringing this living room unbeatable character. Plus, aside from the aesthetics, installing a log burner can be a great way to reduce your heating bills.

12. Install a hot tub!

You might be surprised to see a hot tub make its way onto our list in the heart of winter. But hear us out.

Hot tubs are one of the most-loved home improvement trends of the last 25 years, after seeing a revival during the pandemic. By adding a hot tub surround such as a gazebo, you’ll be able to use it all year round – even in wet weather! Plus, it’s a fantastic excuse to make use of your garden throughout the year.

13. Bring the outside in

While older homes often feature small windows and dark rooms, modern houses tend to include as much glass as possible, serving to increase natural light in your home and bring the outside in.

This New Year, consider how you can better connect your home to the outdoors. This might mean replacing a window with French doors, adding extra windows, or even just creating an indoor garden. It’s been shown that people who are more connected with nature tend to be happier in life – so, your mental health will surely thank you!

14. Go broken plan

Many modern homeowners dream of open plan living. But there is an in-between that allows you to connect your spaces while maintaining a sense of separation – often known as broken plan. To create a broken plan layout, consider dividing up your open plan space using zoning techniques, furniture, or room dividers.

This open plan kitchen living room is a great example. The homeowner has chosen to create a double doorway between the living room and kitchen diner instead of removing the wall completely. This allows the living room to maintain its separate identity at the same time as enjoying greater connection to the rest of the home.

15. Convert your loft

If you’re in the market for a larger home renovation project, why not set your sights on a loft conversion? This can be a great way of increasing your usable space, as well as adding value to your home. In fact, estimates show that a loft conversion could add a whopping 20% to the value of your property.

Aside from anything else, a loft conversion can help you to unlock some of the best views in the home! Some sensible ways of utilising a loft conversion include making it into an extra bedroom and en suite, or using the space to create a home office.

16. Refresh your flooring

It’s hard for your home to create a decent first impression when it’s sporting tired or damaged flooring. In particular, flooring choices such as linoleum have gone out of fashion and are being favoured by more modern technologies such as LVT and laminate.

The best-loved flooring trend amongst homeowners, however, seems to be parquet flooring. Luckily, if your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, you can get parquet-effect LVT and laminate flooring options that can help you to unleash this flooring option’s unique charm at a fraction of the price.

17. Finish those odd jobs!

Not every home renovation project you add to your list has to transform your home in groundbreaking ways. Instead, make it your New Year’s resolution to quit putting off those repairs you never seem to get around to – like sorting out that wobbly handrail, broken skirting board or sticky kitchen drawer.

Not only will ticking these jobs off your list put an end to all those niggling annoyances you live with every day. But it can also increase your property’s selling potential.

18. Replace your front door

Your front door is one of the first things that visitors will see when they approach your house. So, if your current front door is looking tired or simply doesn’t match the rest of your property, replacing it could massively increase your property’s curb appeal.

Choosing a composite, aluminium or timber front door will help to give your property a high-end look to impress your neighbours with. Take a look at our front door ideas for some all-important inspiration.

19. Upgrade internal doors

On the subject of doors, don’t neglect your internal ones! Upgrading your internal doors so that they’re in keeping with any house renovation projects you’ve carried out can help you to create a consistent aesthetic.

In fact, they can change the look and feel of your home so much that upgrading them could even add between 3% and 5% of your home’s value, depending on the type of door you go for and the final look!

20. Get built-in storage

Investing in custom built-in storage will help you to declutter your home and create a more pleasant living environment. It will also help you to give your home a bespoke feel and allow you to make use of every awkward nook and cranny!

This homeowner has opted for a wall of built-in cabinets and shelving. We love how the design blends in seamlessly with the property’s original character, giving it a sleek and put-together look that’s beautifully understated.

21. Find a use for awkward spaces

While we’re on the topic of using every nook and cranny, why not be creative about how you put these awkward spaces to good use? Of course, storage is always an option, but we also love the idea of creating a mini home office, gym or even music room in an underutilised alcove or corner. After all, you don’t need a whole dedicated room to enjoy these luxuries – it’s all about making the most of what you have.

This area underneath loft stairs has been used to create a work-from-home space. By choosing shelves, a desk and a chair that match the stairs and handrail, the homeowner has managed to create a cohesive space out of what would once have been a forgotten corner.

22. Improve your lighting

Your lighting design will massively affect how a space looks and feels but it often gets neglected. Consider how your current lighting is affecting the way you use and enjoy a space, and take steps to improve it if there are issues. For instance, many rooms will benefit from bright downlights so that you can carry out practical tasks, as well as the option to switch to dimmer mood lighting for relaxing in the evening.

We love how this open plan kitchen living room also uses lighting to zone areas of the space. The homeowner has incorporated a chandelier above the dining table, pendant lights above the kitchen island and spotlights above the lounge area.

23. Expose original features

Lucky enough to live in a period property? Then a lot of your home renovation can be spent stripping back instead of adding. Nothing gives a property charm quite like exposing original features!

This vintage bedroom boasts exposed stonework, vaulted ceilings and original beams. The homeowner has complemented these features with simple decor to let their unique character take centre stage.

24. Build a window seat

A bay window seat is one design feature that’s guaranteed to fill anyone with joy – no matter what your age. They make a great hideaway spot to enjoy views of the big wide world. Plus, they make good use of a space that can’t be used for much else.

This homeowner has built a window seat in their lounge. It’s a clever move that allows the seat to function as an extra sofa when guests visit, as well as a reading corner on quieter days.

Home renovation ideas key takeaways

• Prioritise getting rid of any old or tired features and decor that date your home
• Consider ways that you can upgrade rooms of your house for less. For instance, you could paint your kitchen units instead of replacing them
• Choose home renovation ideas that will both improve your enjoyment of your property and add value

Ready to turn your home renovation ideas into a reality? Find a quality tradesperson near you to help you tick off your New Year new home projects in 2024.