The Top Home Improvement Trends for Spring 2021

With spring right around the corner, you may be wondering how best you can improve your home. Spring is one of the most popular seasons for home improvement projects and taking care of business now can set you up for a successful year. If you’re wondering where you should begin, here are the biggest and best home improvement trends sweeping the nation this spring.

Getting Into The Garden

With the warmer weather setting in, there are numerous seasonal upgrades that you can take advantage of. Typically, fall and winter are the best times to transplant shrubs, bushes, and trees provided the ground isn’t frozen; however, the beginning of spring is also perfect for planting. Getting a jump on landscaping first thing can help you cultivate a healthier landscape and garden. This year, there are a couple of interesting trends that are worth considering if landscaping is a priority for you.

Vertical Gardening: Vertical gardening has grown in popularity and is now a go-to for those looking to creatively utilize space. Gardens like this can be planted outdoors or indoors and can contain edibles, flowers, or a mixture of both. A versatile way of planting, gardens like this can thrive in smaller homes, apartments, and anywhere there is ample light and water. To take advantage of this gardening style, it’s important to plan out your space beforehand to ensure you get the design and layout that is most pleasing to you.
Xeriscaping: Xeriscaping is designed with local plants and water conservation in mind. This makes it both environmentally friendly and incredibly easy to maintain. Typically found in dryer, more arid climates, the addition of bluegrass turf can save homeowners up to 20-40% in water depending on the plants and density. For those living in wetter, more temperate climates, you can still benefit from the addition of local flora. Because they are acclimated to the region, they are predisposed to lasting longer. In general, they should require less intervention than imported plants and flowers.
Planting for the Bees: It’s no secret that the bees need some help. The bumblebee population has been notably dropping in recent years due to climate-related troubles; however, you can do your part to help by planting native flowers and avoiding the use of pesticides such as neonicotinoids. The addition of shrubs that offer cooling from the summer heat can also benefit the local bee population by sheltering them
Planting Strategically: Planting strategically can also help you out this spring and it is something that many more homeowners are starting to invest in. Planting like this can help reduce cooling costs during the summer as well as the heating costs in the winter. This is one way to tie together energy efficiency with your landscaping.
Outdoor Living Spaces: Adding outdoor living space is also becoming increasingly popular within the new decade. Patios, outdoor kitchens, and pergolas are all something to consider depending on how much space you have to work with. Outdoor kitchens, in particular, saw a generous uptick in popularity in 2019. Cooking spaces like this are usually constructed with everything you would expect from a traditional kitchen such as countertops, cabinets, sinks, and stoves. Typically contained within a permanent structure that’s meant to withstand the elements, an outdoor kitchen is something to consider this spring.

Spring is the perfect season to start on outdoor landscaping projects. Whether you’re replanting from last year or completely overhauling your outdoor living space, there is no better time to get started.

Needed Repairs

After winter your home may require some TLC. Roofs, in particular, require inspection at least once a year, preferably during the spring. A spring inspection gives you an idea of any repairs that might be needed to help get your home ready for summer storms and the following winter. As many as 65% of homeowners said that weather damage was their main motivation in undergoing roof repairs. While some damage may be noticeable, other problems might take longer to catch without an inspection. This means your first sign of damage could be water leaking through your ceiling from a storm.

Take advantage of the warming weather to undergo an inspect, many of which may even be free of cost. And, if you need a new roof, consider the benefits of investing in materials that will help conserve energy. The right roofing can result in as much as a 30% decrease in energy needs as it helps keep cooling and heating from escaping.

Likewise, spring is also the best time to check your home for exterior and siding damage that could result in energy loss of water damage. Some signs that you should inspect your siding include:

High energy bills (due to energy escaping)
Cracked, loose, or fading siding boards
Holes in siding boards
Peeling paint or wallpaper inside (due to moisture getting in from outside)
Soft spots appearing in wood either indoors or in siding itself (a sign of dry rot)

Old siding can increase energy loss from inside the home by providing insufficient insulation. Likewise, cracks, holes, fading, and loose boards can allow moisture to enter into the home causing damage. Damage like this can present itself in many ways, from visible water spots to peeling and flaking paint. Give your home a thorough inspection this spring to help avoid these problems, and consider seeking repairs for any issues so that you can better protect your home this year and beyond.

Energy-Saving Upgrades

Energy-saving upgrades are possible one of the most popular home improvement investments homeowners are making in 2021. While this benefits the environment, it can also benefit your wallet in the long term. Let’s take a look at the most popular energy-saving upgrades that are sweeping the market this year.

Energy-Saving Windows: Over 30% of a home’s energy can be lost through old inefficient windows. Replacing your old windows with Energy Star rated ones can save you up to $340 every year in cooling and heating alone. If you don’t want to replace all your windows this spring, check that all are sealed around the edges and install insulated curtains to help prevent energy loss.
Entry Ways: Yes, even entryways can be made more energy-efficient. Replacing old doors with Energy Star rated ones can also help mitigate energy loss. If you’re not up to replace your doors this spring, consider placing draft guards under your doors and likewise sealing any cracks around the frame.
Programmable Thermostats: Installing a programmable thermostat this spring can benefit you largely come summer and winter. By being able to control the temperature throughout the day via smart technology you can help cut back on energy costs and keep your home more comfortable overall.
Ceiling Fans: You might not think of ceiling fans as energy-saving, but they can help reduce energy by making air conditioning more efficient. This is because ceiling fans help circulate the air around the house making it cooler during the summer months. energy-efficient fans can cost only cents a day to power making them a great choice for those looking to save overall.
Improved Lighting: Both indoor and outdoor lights can be made more energy-efficient. Outside, you can make use of both LED and solar-powered lights that can help save you money and keep everything neatly illuminated. Inside, CLF and LED lights can help you cut back on energy consumption and save you from having to change bulbs as frequently. LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours, if used eight hours every day this means one bulb can last up to 17 years. Changing your lighting both inside and out is one thing to keep in mind this spring.

The Best Time to Get Started

With springtime right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about all the home improvements you need to get done. From needed repairs to functional updates, now is the time to get started building a plan of action. Consider scheduling a home inspection to ensure that no damaged areas exist that could cause a problem later in the year. This is possibly one of the biggest things to knock out during the spring, as it helps you understand everything that needs to be done. From there you can look into making additional upgrades to make your home more enjoyable and more energy efficient.

If you’re thinking of getting started on home improvement projects this spring, keep in mind the above trends and tips so that you can get the most out of your projects.