How Architects Can Add Value to Your House

Whether you’re trying to sell a house or make smart investments and renovations that will help increase the overall value of your property, there’s a variety of architectural features that can help achieve this.

NORclad are one of the UK’s leading providers of sustainably sourced timber cladding. We have over 40 years of experience in the supply of timber product solutions, working on projects big and small to help home owners and property developers transform their properties.

Interior décor, cladding installation, and changing windows or doors; this blog post will explore a variety of different architectural and interior design techniques that can maximise the value of the home, offering six of the best methods to achieve this.

1. Maximising Space

Maximising the existing space in your house is a common way for homeowners and architects to add value to a house and make the most of available space.

This can be achieved in a variety of ways, some of the most popular techniques including:

• Turning a spare room into a bedroom.
• Converting a bedroom to an ensuite room.
• Adding a utility room.

These are all seen as the most profitable additions to a home.

There are, however, more creative ways of maximising space that add additional value. Although some of these could be seen as a big investment, they will add a lot of value to your home – if you’re not planning on moving out soon, they will also be useful while you’re living there.

Loft conversions and extensions are becoming increasingly utilised as more space is needed for home offices and young families. You can undertake loft conversions to increase space or add an extra bedroom in smaller homes, and extensions can be added on the sides and rear of most properties to maximise the living space.

Cladding an extension is a great alternative to standard brick or render, and it also adds a brilliant aesthetic to almost all properties.

Which is better: cladding or render? See our blog post where we discuss the benefits of each >

Maximising the existing square footage of your home without any sizeable renovations is also an option. Making social areas more open plan can help to increase the appeal of certain rooms like the living room and kitchen which in turns adds actual value to a house. It’s important to not affect the structural integrity of the house as this would be counterproductive.

2. Custom Woodwork

Whether it’s bespoke shelves on the wall or specifically designed wooden shutters, there are a variety of ways architects and carpenters can work with interior designers to create custom woodwork that enhances the aesthetic and monetary value of a house.

Woodwork can be incorporated quite easily in a home office where bookshelves would help elevate the room and make it more purpose-built. It can also be used in rooms like the living room which could have features like a custom TV cabinet or reading corner.

Incorporating more natural elements like wood into furniture or high-quality timber cladding can help bring warmth into a home. It can also help improve your mood; studies suggest having wood or natural material furniture around your home can improve your emotional state compared to other materials.

These benefits are believed to occur because our bodies are used to working with natural fibres which absorb much more UV light than artificial materials, meaning our eyes are not as strained when looking at them.

Explore more ideas for wellness interior design >

3. Decorative Ceiling Beams

Decorative ceiling beams are another way an architect can really elevate a home and give it a whole new identity. They are also more modern than other options like decorative mouldings which tend to give off a more dated, sophisticated look.

Exposed ceiling beams with decorative designs are becoming increasingly popular among architects and homebuyers, so they’re a valuable renovation that is worth considering. These types of ceiling beams are common in more luxurious homes and are often added later by the buyer if they are not present.

Decorative ceiling beams don’t necessarily have to fit the current interior design of your home; more often than not, the idea is to provide contrast with the existing colours and materials used in the room. This helps achieve a more rustic or real aesthetic which adds a lot of architectural value to the house.

4. More Light

Adding more light is a good idea when considering how you can add value to a house because buyers will immediately notice when a room is dark which can leave a lasting impression. Rooms with plenty of light also help highlight good architectural features and can emphasize other valuable parts of the house.

It’s quite tricky to create more light without any drastic changes such as widening the threshold for windows or doors and installing new ones. A sky light or slanted windows in an extension or in a loft conversion can be a quick way to add more natural light to a space and make it more welcoming.

Door and window casings can be a more affordable and less risky way to accentuate windows and doors that are already large and create a lot of light. By opting for thicker casings, these features become more visible when the house is being appraised or viewed and this can increase the perceived value of the house.

5. A Fireplace

A functioning fireplace is a great addition to any home, especially in the winter, but it can also add a lot of value to a house as it is attractive to both real estate agents and homebuyers. The fireplace doesn’t have to be particularly ornate or fancy; it just needs to work, so a more modern fireplace could also be considered. However, the more unique the fireplace, the more value it adds.

The mantel and how well it fits into the design of the rest of the room is the most important part so make sure that it is the focal point of your new fireplace in order to maximise the value it can add.

6. Install Timber Decking and Cladding

Adding external or internal timber cladding is a brilliant way to add value to your home which is important not to overlook.

Timber cladding has a number of benefits for homeowners to add value to their property:

• Timber cladding is incredibly popular for its look and feel on properties of all shapes and sizes. Whether you choose to completely clad your property, partially clad it, or just cover a façade, there’s a style for everyone. Learn more about how to use decorative timber cladding >
• Timber cladding is incredibly versatile, and in most cases can be adapted to suit any project. The different treatments and wood options available in timber allow you to choose the right aesthetic for your project. Learn more about black painted timber cladding >
• Great Insulator. Timber cladding is an additional skin to your property; this helps trap heat escaping from your home and retains it. Not only does this mean you are spending less on your electricity bills, but you are also reducing your property’s carbon footprint!
• All UK timber must be either FSC or PEFC compliant. These organisations help control and regulate the production of timber to ensure the woodlands they come from are well managed locations. Choosing timber cladding can offer a greater increase to the sustainability of your home renovations when compared to more conventional means. Learn more about the specifics of sustainable timber >
• Timber cladding, when properly treated, offers great protection to a property. Whether your home is subject to heavy rain, deep snow, or intense heat, well-maintained timber cladding can last for 50+ years. This makes it a great option for home owners looking to protect the exterior condition of their property.
  Learn more about the durability of timber cladding >

Cladding is probably the easiest way to add value to a house, both internally and externally. External timber cladding adds character and aesthetic value which enhances kerb appeal and can impact the overall value of the house due to visual modernisation and energy efficiency.

Internal cladding can be used to elevate the interior design of your house, tying together other aspects of a room such as furniture and colour schemes.

Similarly, timber decking can help add value to outdoor spaces and give a more modern look to garden areas. This is great for homeowners who love the outdoors and want to maximise their living space both inside and out.

Learn more about timber decking >

How to Increase the Value of Your House with NORclad

We work with architects, designers, specifiers, contractors, developers, and self-builders nationally, offering a professional service to cover your needs. You can rely on us to supply you with high-quality timber cladding solutions that will help elevate any architectural design and add significant value to your home.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help you transform your home or outdoor spaces.

Learn More with NORclad