4 Home Features Pros Say Will Make Your Life Easier
These touches punch above their weight class.
Everything you put in your home is a decision. It’s likely you bought a mattress or sofa because it was on sale. Often, you’re buying lots of decor for its style. Other times, the items you add to your space simply make your time at home easier.
At Good Housekeeping, we’re big believers that your personal quarters should be pretty and practical—and incorporating the best, hardest-working features is a huge part of that equation. To help, we tapped a few home improvement pros to share the items they swear by to simplify your space.
When you already have a home full of stuff, adding even more can feel unnecessary. But upgrading your home doesn’t have to cost a small fortune.
“Spending more money doesn't always mean the quality or look is better,” says Elmer Mayorga, a home repair professional in Southern California. “Sometimes, the affordable choice not only gets the job done, but also performs and looks just as well.”
From investing in the right smart home appliances to streamline your routine to accessible storage, the items below are poised to make the everyday oh-so-easy.
Smart Appliances
Consider this your sign to boost your home’s IQ. “The ability to turn your house into a smart home has changed the way we interact with our homes on a regular basis,” says Mayorga. “From blinds and doors to lighting, you can control everything remotely.”
Admittedly, there’s a lot of home tech out there: bluetooth speakers, smart lightbulbs, virtual personal assistants. However, a digitized doorbell with a camera is a “very convenient” addition many homeowners overlook, says Mayorga. “There are times no one is home, but your contractor needs access or a package needs to get delivered safely,” he says. “With a simple touch of a ‘button,’ you have the ability to control access remotely on your phone.”
RELATED: 5 Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers That Can Help Lower Your Water Bill
Recessed Lighting
Whether dodging classic mistakes to breaking down the most common bulbs, we could spend all day talking about lighting. While many interior designers enjoy sconces, pendants, and flush mount, recessed light is the most sensible move, according to Mayorga. “The newer lights not only provide better lighting but are also much more efficient,” he explains. Want to make your lighting design even easier? Install dimmers for an instant glow.
Accessible Storage
Great storage is non-negotiable, but it’s time to think beyond the basic cabinets and drawers. Zero in on setups that make items you use regularly “easier to see, reach and put away,” says Nicholas Lundback, closet operations manager at ShelfGenie, a Neighborly company.
“In the kitchen or pantry, glide-out shelving brings the contents of lower cabinets forward,” he says. “Items no longer disappear in the back or require homeowners to bend, kneel, and unload the cabinet to find what they need.”
It’s a small tweak, but one that will make setting the table or locating that jar of sumac easier.
RELATED: 18 Clever Ways to Organize Your Kitchen and Eliminate Clutter
Updated Outlets
In a time when phones, tablets, and computers are extensions of ourselves, staying connected has never been more important. Translation: Your home needs places to power up—and lots of them. Though your home might be rife with wall plugs, Ben Kolo says upgrading your setup will make charging your devices simple.
“Many homes were built before the electrical charging demand we see today,” says Kolo, who is the owner of Mr. Electric of Central Iowa, a Neighborly company. “New outlets have charging ports built in, which can add to the convenience of daily life.” And, just like that, you can juice up your devices without navigating a jumble of cords and cables.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance journalist who has over a decade of experience in print and digital media. She covers interior design and lifestyle content for a breadth of publications, including Good Housekeeping, Country Living, House Beautiful, Veranda, and more. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
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