30 Ways to Upgrade Your Home in 2025

Looking at how to upgrade your home? This guide will look at the 30 best ways to upgrade your home in 2025 whether you’re looking for garden landscaping, a house extension, kitchen renovation work, a refurbished living room, new bathroom or otherwise.

Let’s dive in!

Note: Many home upgrades require the work of professionals. Usually still applies to extensive, challenging enhancements (e.g. having an extension added). That said, it can also apply for smaller jobs. For instance, having a new light switch installed must be done by a qualified electrician for legal and safety reasons alike.

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Kitchen Upgrades

1. Opt for a Smart Kitchen

As we’ll explore further in this guide, smart and efficient technology is growing in popularity since it can increase convenience while often saving money.

To upgrade your kitchen with smart tech, consider having options added like motion-activated lighting, voice-controlled appliances or/and a smart thermostat for your heating system (though this doesn’t always have to be installed in a kitchen).

2. Multi-functional Kitchen Layout

A multi-functional kitchen layout means using an open plan approach to include various zones for your kitchen.

This, of course, is an extensive upgrade that will be expensive and require the work of professionals.

A multi-functional kitchen might include a central kitchen island, zone for food prep and cooking, dining/entertaining area, work-from-home office nook, play zone, or/and coffee/beverage zone.

Of course, how many zones you might want to include and what types of zones will depend on a range of factors and your preferences.

3. Striking Kitchen Worktops

Next, consider visually stunning kitchen countertops as a way of upgrading your home in line with the growing trend of dramatic, intricate patterned kitchen worktops.

Some striking kitchen worktop designs include:

• Bold and striking marble countertops
• Dark dramatic worktop surfaces (e.g. charcoal finish, featured next to dark cabinets)
• Earthy tones with stunning visuals
• Terrazzo kitchen worktops

Outside of the patterns and visuals used, waterfall worktops are on the rise, which involve (where possible) a visual design that covers the top and then ‘flows’ down along the sides. For example, this would work for a breakfast bar or kitchen island.

Alternatively, or in addition, this approach can work for the kitchen splashback area too, where the design ‘flows down’ from the splashback and onto the worktops.

4. Personalised Design Based on Timeless Features

Combining your preferences through a tailor-made upgrade with timeless features can go a long way to improving the look and feel of your kitchen.

This might include using natural materials with unique, trendy approaches including recycled terrazzo, reclaimed wood with matte finish, tailor made furniture,

5. Matte Kitchen Finishes

Matte finishes can offer a bold, sophisticated look. This would make sense for a kitchen predominantly consisting of dark and mid-toned features. Some contrasts to this rule of thumb include doors with a pale shade in matte.

Unlike glossy kitchen features, matte finishes absorb light (i.e. matte is non-reflective). Matter has the added benefit of hiding imperfections, finger marks etc.

Some ways to include matte finishes in a kitchen include:

• Matte black cabinetry
• Matte pale doors

Of course, you may want to look at just opting for a matte finish in the case of some features. Balancing these with glossy features will require a careful approach, meaning it would usually be best to hire a professional in cases like this.

Enhancing your Living Room

Let’s now move onto ways you upgrade your living room in 2025. From custom art pieces to ultimate cosiness to deep Earthy tones introducing nostalgia, here are some top trends to consider for the coming year.

6. Custom Art Showcase

Display your artistic preferences with a collection of art works to show off your styles and individuality.

This could include family photos, art pieces you like that suit your preferences, family photographs or your own creations.

One way or another, this approach can help you to put together a collection of art pieces that introduce a certain theme or mood, display certain colours (including those that work well together) and show off your preferences and tastes.

7. Biophilic Design Enhancements

It’s also worth looking at how to include nature-inspired elements in your living space that can improve the look and feel of the room and even improve wellbeing.

Some ways to include nature-inspired elements are:

• Natural wood furniture (e.g. coffee table, sideboard, ottomans, bookshelves and console tables)
• Use of Earthy colours whether for the wall colours, furniture, curtains etc.
• Botanical-theme prints such as on rugs, cushions or armchairs
• Nature-themed wall art (e.g. botanical, oceanic, wild animals or abstract)
• Allow in sufficient natural light during the day time

8. Comfortcore and New Cosy Trends

A popular trend in recent years, comfortcore is set to remain a significant force in the world of interior design next year.

Comfortcore involves features and fittings (especially furniture) that can add a cosy, warm and welcoming atmosphere, while also being physically cosy to the touch.

Prominent comfortcore materials include cotton, linen, wool, velvet and chenille. The last example, chenille is a composite of various materials (e.g. it may use silk, rayon or/and cotton among other materials).

Rugs, throws, armchairs, overstuffed sofas, cute and simple side lamps, poufs and coffee tables can all contribute to a comfortcore-inspired living space. Though the best materials will differ from one option to another.

Plus, sofas and oversized cushions are more specific examples expected to well in 2025 as far as cosy trends go.

9. Deep Earth Tones for Nostalgia

Deep Earth tones were especially popular in the 1970s and are emerging while making a comeback for the year ahead.

Some deep Earth tones include golds, olive green, burnt Sienna, slate grey, browns, deep teal and mustard yellow.

While you could use deep Earth tones as the predominant shades in the space with painted walls or even wallpaper, you may want to consider opting for a contrasting paler colour for the background, helping deep Earth tones to standout such as with furniture, the flooring, a rug, etc.

10. Curved Furniture incl. Statement Furniture

Curved furniture is in vogue at the moment, as are statement furniture pieces. Curved furniture offers a sleek, relaxed and flexible look and feel to a living space, contrasting more rugged, conventional styles of furniture.

Likewise, statement furniture is in too. While somewhat unassuming, it’s still possible for curved furniture to act as a statement piece in the room, even if more subtly than other options might offer.

The colour scheme chosen for the space and furniture will also affect how and to what extent it stands out (e.g. a deep blue sofa will stand out more if the walls are painted in say cream or light yellow).

Statement furniture obviously extends beyond curved furniture, whether in the form of a sectional couch, Mid-century modern sofa, round coffee tables or otherwise.

However, combining curved furniture with being a statement piece can merge two trends for 2025 in one to make an impression. Just be sure to opt for the right example for your living room (including how it looks compared to the background) and your preferences.

New Bathroom Space

There are also tons of ways to spruce up your bathroom in 2025 based on new and timeless trends alike. Here are some examples of how to enhance your bathroom in the near future.

11. Freestanding Bathtub or Luxurious Walk-in Shower

Each of these options have the potential to totally revitalise your bathroom space and experience.

For one, a freestanding bathtub being unattached to the wall makes for an aesthetically pleasing centrepiece that can also be moved (once done safely and a suitable spot in the bathroom) to your pleasing. They are also quicker to have installed by a professional, although they are generally more expensive than built-in tubs.

12. Upgrades to Lower Costs and Increase Sustainability

There are also ways to upgrade your bathroom on a budget and in ways that are also sustainable and tend to be better for the environment.

Water-saving fixtures to improve cost-efficiency and sustainability include low-flow showers, flow-reducing mixer taps, tap aerators and dual-flush toilets.

Other ways of making your bathroom more sustainable or/and eco-friendly include:

• Using a small suitably placed recycling bin
• Utilising a dehumidifier when needed*
• Opting for eco-friendly cleaning products one suitable and effective

* Just ensure it is plugged in safely and watched if needed to limit any fire hazards while plugging it out and keeping it somewhere else that is suitable for storing it when not needed.

13. Standout Bathroom Tiling to Revitalise the Space

Among the most striking bathroom tiling options to enhance your bathroom this coming year are bold tile patterns and large-format tiles.

Some great tile patterns you’ll want to consider are:

• Zellige tiles - Moroccan-origin tiling design for an intricate and opulent look
• Victorian encaustic tiles - Colourful patterns and shapes with a decorative style
• Art deco tiles - Wide-ranging category of tiles with an artistic aesthetic including patterns such as chevron, zigzag and herringbone style

As for large-format tiles, these are sizeable tiles generally starting from 80cm x 80cm, though may increase to around 1.5m x 3m or more.

Large-format tiles, often as square or rectangular tiles can make the room seem larger if it is a medium or large bathroom, although they may not be well-suited to smaller bathrooms.

This is because, while they can offer visual value to larger bathrooms, they may take up too much room with not enough space for a sufficient number of large tiles in a small bathroom.

14. A Few Spa-like Additions

Some touches to consider for something of a spa-like feel like are with a towel rail or even heated flooring.

Obviously underfloor heating won’t work for every bathroom, so it’s important to consider if it’s safe and suitable, plus it must be installed by a qualified professional. Likewise, a towel rail must be installed professionally though it’s a cheaper and quicker job. That said, either of these steps can enhance your bathroom in 2025.

15. New Bathroom Storage Ideas

Some top storage ideas for your bathroom include mirrored cabinets and a sleek vanity unit. Simple storage improvements like this can help make it easier to organise storing toiletries or/and other items while potentially offering less cramped storage that is both easier on the eye and less of a concern in terms of toiletries falling or storage getting messy.

Extension Ideas

Adding an extension is a particularly extensive but effective way of upgrading your home. Along with offering a new space and increased function/purpose, an extension can increase the value of your home.

16. Loft Conversion

Firstly, a loft conversion lets you convert your attic into a liveable or otherwise functional space. Popular examples include an added bedroom, craft room, home office, games room, playroom and hobby space.

As with most types of conversions, loft conversions often cost tens of thousands of pounds. The design of a loft conversion can also vary depending on your preferences and what options are suited to your loft.

17. Extending the Back of Your Home Outward

By extending your home outwards, you can create new space for a wide range of potential uses too. Extending at the end of your kitchen or/and the other rooms found here might involve a conventional rear extension.

However, other options include side-return extensions (extending out to the side of your home using up the side entrance space of your property if available) and wraparound extension.

A wraparound extension involves extending outwards at the end of the property and then wrapping around, using up the side return space too, as a hybrid or combination of the two forementioned options.

18. Conservatory or Orangery

Having a conservatory or orangery added can provide additional living space, including somewhere to enjoy the sunlight, grow plant life or/and for a leisure space.

An orangery is a brick structure that comes with large windows whereas a conservatory is a glass structure that features a brick base. Conservatories are also defined by their pitched glazed roofs.

19. Open-plan Kitchen by Combining Rooms

While already discussed, an open-plan kitchen can come in the form of an extension too. More specifically, you can get this design of kitchen by having two rooms combined with internal walls removed.

As you might imagine, to have internal walls removed, you’ll need to hire suitable professionals to perform this work as it is not DIY-friendly. For example, it must be determined whether or not a wall being removed is load bearing and to what extent RSJ beams may be required. All in all, be sure to hire professionals with the right skills and experience for this work.

20. Garage Conversion Ideas

A garage conversion can greatly enhance the use and functionality of your garage, while likely raising your property’s resale value.

Some ways to use a garage conversion include:

• Home gym
• Living room
• Remote office
• At-home cinema
• New bathroom
• Guest bedroom

Enhance Your Garden

There exists a wide range of ways you can also improve your garden space in 2025, whether to improve its appearance, functionality, atmosphere or otherwise.

21. Multi-Zonal Garden Space

Zoning a garden space (i.e. creating a multi-zonal garden) involves separating a garden into distinct areas based on different uses.

Some ways of zoning a garden include a lounging area, dining area and a zone for planting. Moreover, you may want to zone based on different colour schemes and layering your landscape.

With work like this, you may want to hire a landscaper or designer to help come up with the right multi-zonal design for your garden. If taking it on DIY, just be sure to proceed with caution and ensure you know what’s involved including all safety requirements.

22. Garden Cabin for Home Office or Leisure Space

You might want to look at having a garden cabin installed, whether for a home office, leisure space or otherwise.

Often priced at under £20,000, with many options costing just a few thousand pounds, garden cabins act as a more affordable alternative to costlier and more extensive upgrades. Some other potential uses for a garden cabin are a guest room, hobby space or home gym.

23. The Value of Garden Lighting

To make the most of your back garden all year long, invest in garden lighting to improve the functionality, aesthetic and atmosphere of your garden throughout the seasons.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind for home garden lighting:

• Opt for solar lights as a low-cost and effective way of automatically lighting up your garden space at night in the summertime but to an extent in the spring and autumn also
• Considering having pathway lights installed to help guide walking through the garden in the wintertime especially
• Floodlights are well-suited to the darker months of the year, heavily illuminating the garden space, making it easier to navigate
• Whether in the form of floodlights or other types, motion-activated lighting can also help during the winter, however, they are also simply a great addition for security and peace of mind throughout the year
• Garden lantern lights can provide added aesthetic value with their decorative, ambient look.

24. Eco-Friendly Features as a Win-Win Enhancement

Including eco-friendly features can make your garden a more appealing place for wildlife while limiting hazards for potential furry or feathered visitors.

However, environmentally friendly gardens can be a win-win by offering visually appealing and often affordable features and fixtures.

Here are some great ideas to have in mind for an eco-friendly garden:

• Native planting to attract pollinating insects
• A small pond or/and other suitable water feature
• Bird feeder that is designed to attract bird species*
• Making a wildlife garden in general can be super helpful
• Rainwater collection system (a.k.a. Rainwater harvesting system)
• Solar-powered garden lighting for free and zero-carbon lighting
• Sustainable mulching (adding a material layer over your soil and around plant life) by ensuring to use sustainable materials as the mulching material

* If you or your neighbours have a cat, it’s a good idea to set up the bird feeder safely in an area that is difficult or impossible for a cat to reach, just to avoid any National Geographic-style hunting scenarios in your garden!

25. Landscaping for a Refurbished Outdoor Space

It’s important not to overlook the value of landscaping. You may want to hire a landscaper to add new flower beds, a patio, garden pond, new lawn or/and decking.

Whatever the case, be sure to weigh up what types of landscaping work you might prefer while keeping your budget in mind too.

Bedroom Upgrades

To spruce up your bedroom, it’s worth looking at a mix of decorative, customised or/and high-end enhancements. Here are some top ideas to consider for 2025.

26. Built-in Fitted Wardrobes for More Storage

Built-in tailor made or Bespoke wardrobes can be designed and installed to make the most of storage space. With increased storage efficiency, integrated fitted wardrobes can allow you to declutter your bedroom and potentially other spaces with new storage.

It’s important to note that built-in fitted wardrobes generally cost somewhere in the region of £2,000 and £4,000. That said, their potential long-term storage value combined with a design tailored to your needs, preferences and bedroom design can make the cost worthwhile over time.

27. Soothing Redecoration for a Calming Bathroom Space

If you aspire to have a calming, warming and comforting bedroom look and atmosphere, consider a ‘soothing redecoration’.

To achieve this, you might want to look at steps such as:

• Opting for relaxing paint colours (e.g. warm neutrals like beige, clay, putty, greige, sand and taupe or Earthy tones such as Earth brown, slate blue, forest green, terracotta and desert sand)
• Likewise, you might want to consider wallpapers with calming tones
• Include textiles such as pillows, duvets and bedspreads with similar colour

28. High-Quality Bedding for an Opulent Vibe

If you want to go with high-end bedding for an opulent look and feel, consider options such as silk sheets, Matelassé bedspreads, Egyptian cotton bedding, velvet quilts and percale cotton.

High-end bedding can introduce a fancy, lavish look and feel to your bedroom. Of course, high-quality bedding can be expensive, however, this is not always true.

For example, standard cotton, microfibre and polyester are often relatively affordable while many products using these materials still offer an appreciable standard that can add value.

Beyond that, consider affordable examples such as some products from M&S and John Lewis and, in general, look out for good deals from reliable providers.

29. New Lighting Solutions to Enhance Your Bedroom

If you want to improve your bedroom’s lighting, consider options such as dimmable lighting fixtures or/and bedside pendants. Most lighting must be installed by a qualified electrician. That is, unless we’re talking about lighting fixtures that simply need to be plugged in.

Dimmable lighting switches and fixtures can allow you to set the ideal mood. If suitable and safe, you could have an electrician even add a smart dimmable light that can adjust based on your preferences.

30. Reading Nook or New Seating Area

Having a reading nook is perfect for creating a cosy corner to unwind and indulge in stories of fantasy, crime, romance or a fascinating autobiography or the stranger-than-fiction events and narratives of history.

You might alternatively want to turn a nook/small section in your bedroom into a new seating area instead for relaxing and unwinding.