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A new report cites six indoor home improvements that improve well-being

A new report cites six indoor home improvements that improve well-being

The weather has cooled in many regions of the country and homeowners are looking at projects to improve their indoor spaces this season. The online home improvement platform thumbtackwhich refers consumers to professionals for home maintenance, repairs and upgrades, compiled a list of the top 10 trending interior projects leading to winter. Six of them have the potential to improve the health and safety potential of your living space.

1. Installation or Remodeling of the balustrade

This trend is increasing by 60% year-on-year, the report shows. While it may just indicate a desire for updated style, new railings can add security to your space. APA Medical Equipment of Minneapolis noted on his blog that about two-thirds of all mobility-related accidents involve falls, the fifth leading cause of death for those with mobility problems. “Those numbers are pretty eye-watering, so it makes all the sense in the world that we should make difficult areas easier for those with mobility issues to cross. One of the easiest ways to do this is with your home’s railing.”

They can go to places where older users and those with mobility or balance problems may need help getting up, such as beside beds and in bath and shower areas, along hallways and on the stairs. (Although this report covers indoor projects, installing and remodeling rails can also be extremely useful outdoors, especially on outdoor stairs that can become slippery or icy.)

2. Repair or replacement of carpets

That trend is up 57 percent year over year, according to the company. As with railings, new carpet can be just for show, but it can also enhance health potential, depending on what the homeowner chooses. For example, wool carpeting offers some health and safety benefits to users. Based in Portland, Oregon Floor factors shared on his blog in a May 2024 post, “The wool rug is fire retardant, mite and allergen resistant, naturally regulates moisture, repels dirt and is manufactured without the use of chemicals” (which some users may had sensitivities).

3. Floor repair

This trend is growing 44% year-over-year, according to Thumbtack, and can increase home safety. “Falls on the floor occur in various ways and for various reasons,” he reports National Safety Council on his website. While the national nonprofit was referring to commercial premises, the same issues can motivate homeowners, especially if there is a family member who would be exceptionally affected by a fall.

Among the leading causes of trip hazards, the NSC reports, are height differences, poor maintenance, holes or unevenness in the floor, torn, curled or loose mats or carpeting, and inadequate floor surfaces or treatments that create low slip resistance. The latter can be addressed in some cases – for example, stone floors – with non-slip coatings on the market.

4. Home modification for accessibility

This trend is up 42% year-over-year, Thumbtack reports, in an unsurprising finding. Home improvements to make homes more affordable have risen in nearly every recent survey, including latest AIA study shared here last month and will continue to grow more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day.

5. Cleaning tiles and grout

This trend is up 39% year-over-year and could be due to increased awareness of health issues related to mold and mildew. Grout, which is porous, can be a breeding ground for these unsightly and potentially dangerous problems. “In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma,” he noted. WebMD in a post from October 2024. “Whether or not you’re allergic to mold, it can irritate your eyes, skinnose, throat and lungs,” the writers added. (A similar trend on the list was upholstery and furniture cleaning, which can tackle dust mites and other allergens that hide in fabrics and cause problems for some with respiratory problems.)

6. Home Theater Repairs

This trend is up 43% year-over-year and may not strike readers as a well-being-enhancing factor. It may be though. Home theater experiences can bring families together in a positive way, sharing a comedy, adventure or drama, which can improve their time together, togetherness and well-being.

Purdue University wrote in a article from December 21 titled “A New Year’s Resolution to Spend More Time with Loved Ones Can Boost Health,” that meeting this goal can provide a variety of physical and mental health benefits. One of the writer’s tips was “Let’s have fun together doing enjoyable activities.” Winter weather can limit what you would normally enjoy outside. A fun movie at home can be just the ticket for family fun on those nights and weekends.

Home theaters can also create social opportunities for people living alone or empty nesters with friends and neighbors during the long, cold months. Social isolation can increase depression, illness and even death, according to the CDC. One Post March 2024reported the agency, “Social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke; type 2 diabetes; depression and anxiety, dementia, suicidality and self-harm and early death.”

Last Words

To arrive at the conclusions of its report, Thumbtack analyzed its database from September 2023 to September 2024 to identify projects with the highest year-over-year growth, both by trend and volume.

The inside section of the report concludes: “We are also seeing an increase in projects that allow people to stay in their homes long-term, with handrail installations and home modifications for accessibility year-on-year. All of these improvements, whether for functionality or style, can help homeowners feel comfortable and safe this winter.”