Home design is where function should meet beauty, allowing us to create spaces that are as practical as they are visually appealing.
If you’re a new homeowner, you’re probably trying to figure out how to balance your personal taste with ongoing appeal—a challenge, to be sure.
Proper planning is key, but even if you’re upgrading your home rather than building it from the ground up, these tips will come in handy and ensure that you’re both stylish and secure.
Invest in a Smart Home Security System
Smart home technology is more easily available than ever and is becoming less of a luxury and more of a standard feature nowadays.
Your smart home security system should include cameras and an app that allows for:
- Real-time monitoring from anywhere via live video feed on your smartphone or tablet.
- Motion detection that detects unusual movement and sends instant alerts to your device.
- Smart door locks that lock and unlock doors remotely and allow you to set up unique access codes for family, friends, or service providers.
- 24/7 professional monitoring that connects to a security company monitoring your home around the clock and alerts emergency services if necessary.
- Smart alerts and notifications for events like door openings, window breaks, or unexpected activity at strange hours.
- Integration with smart assistants that allow you to control security features via voice commands with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.
- Trigger lights, cameras, or alarms when certain conditions are met, such as when you leave home or at a specific time.
- Detect smoke, carbon monoxide, gas, and water leaks to prevent property damage.
- Video doorbell features that allow you to see, hear, and speak to visitors at your door, even when you’re not home.
In terms of keeping your home security system as stylish as possible, you can relax knowing that most of the equipment you need is unobtrusive. Smart security system manufacturers don’t want intruders to spot the devices about as much as you want to ensure they don’t take over the visual aspect of your home.
Additionally, smart security systems can also positively impact your home insurance. Many providers consider your security setup when assessing coverage and risk, encouraging you to invest in a reliable system.
Choose Lighting for Maximum Effect
Lighting all the entry points to your home creates a welcoming aesthetic and enhances your security.
While installing lights at the front and back of your home is the obvious start, don’t skip over other entrances, like those on either side of your house, be it a sliding door in the dining room or a separate entrance to other buildings on your property. Making these lights motion-activated can reduce their impact since they’ll only be lighting up the designated area when needed.
Install your light fixtures at differentheights, ensuring that some are in places that are high up and more difficult to reach.
Would-be intruders will try to tamper with the ones they can reach, so it’s your job to make them more difficult. Opt for lights that complement the outside of your house, highlighting architectural details and alerting you of any danger.
While you’re at it, don’t overlook landscape lighting. While you don’t want your garden to light up like a nighttime parade, you need to ensure there aren’t pools of darkness for burglars to hide in. When your pathways, walkways, and areas with deep bushes are well-lit, it makes the space more challenging for criminals to conceal themselves in.
If you put your lights on a timer or connect them to your smart home, you can create the impression that someone is home, even when this isn’t the case. This feature is useful when you’re on vacation or simply returning after dark.
Reinforce Your Doors and Windows
Your doors and windows are prime entry points, but you don’t want to have to barricade yourself in or live life behind thick iron bars to stay safe. There are other more stylish options, such as reinforced tempered glass.
Tempered glass is stronger than its conventional counterpart and doesn’t crumble as easily, which will heavily deter break-in attempts. It will also lend a stylish, modern look to your facade, and it’s very easy to keep clean.
Door access control systems are another great way to make your home safer, and they don’t require replacing beautiful doors to address your safety concerns.
Rather than throwing away your current door because it has an antique lock that’s incredibly easy to pick, you can simply stop using the lock. Systems that control door access generally use a door reader, allowing you to decide who can enter.
Use Furniture For More Than One Function
When you’re choosing furniture for your home, consider getting pieces that have multiple functions. For example, a coffee table with built-in storage compartments could be a useful way to tidy your belongings and keep valuables out of sight.
If you have a safe or box of high-value items, you can hide it in an ottoman or behind books on a bookshelf to keep it out of view.
Properly placed furniture can also create a visual barrier. By positioning sofas, tables, or other large pieces close to windows and doors, you can prevent intruders from peeping in while creating a visually appealing interior.
Stay Stylish, Stay Safe
By implementing these tips, you can transform your home into a fashionable and practical haven. Each one offers a unique way to enhance not only the functionality but also the aesthetic appeal of your house.
With a little bit of consideration and some good planning, you can transform your home into a space that not only reflects your personal style but also meets your needs for protection and safety.
Meta Title: Combine Style With Security With These Tips | Opplehouse
Description: You don’t need to sacrifice style to ensure your home is safe. Use our simple tips to design a home that’s stylish, secure, and suits your needs.