8 Home Items That Will (Almost) Change Your Life
Okay, so life-changing might be overdoing it, but these smart finds will certainly make things easier
Amanda Pollard
11 March 2017
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Have you ever come across something you never knew you needed until you’d seen it? The following items are just that – things that could improve your everyday life by adding a little effortless luxury. You don’t absolutely need them, but the time-saving benefits they bring might just make them worth the investment.
Throw away the kettle
For the tea drinkers among us, a boiling-water tap is the ultimate luxury. No more waiting around for a kettle to boil, and if you’re cooking pasta there’s no need to wait for the water to heat up before throwing in the spaghetti. In fact, any culinary activity that involves boiling water can be achieved in half the time.
For the tea drinkers among us, a boiling-water tap is the ultimate luxury. No more waiting around for a kettle to boil, and if you’re cooking pasta there’s no need to wait for the water to heat up before throwing in the spaghetti. In fact, any culinary activity that involves boiling water can be achieved in half the time.
Cool it under the counter
Fridge-freezers take up an unfeasibly large amount of space in our kitchens. However, the alternative is an under-counter version that requires you to squat uncomfortably in order to see what’s inside. There is a solution – the fridge and freezer drawer. These neat appliances integrate snugly among your base units, and the pull-out drawers give easy access to the contents.
Fridge-freezers take up an unfeasibly large amount of space in our kitchens. However, the alternative is an under-counter version that requires you to squat uncomfortably in order to see what’s inside. There is a solution – the fridge and freezer drawer. These neat appliances integrate snugly among your base units, and the pull-out drawers give easy access to the contents.
Light a fire in a flash
Glowing flames give a home an instant cosy feel, and nothing beats relaxing near a roaring fire on a chilly day. The only downside is the whole rigmarole of lighting one – buying the logs, storing them, lighting the fire and then remembering to put it out at bedtime, not to mention the mess. You could ditch all this though and invest in a gas fire instead. There are plenty of stylish versions on the market that will give you all the benefits of a real fire without any of the faff.
Glowing flames give a home an instant cosy feel, and nothing beats relaxing near a roaring fire on a chilly day. The only downside is the whole rigmarole of lighting one – buying the logs, storing them, lighting the fire and then remembering to put it out at bedtime, not to mention the mess. You could ditch all this though and invest in a gas fire instead. There are plenty of stylish versions on the market that will give you all the benefits of a real fire without any of the faff.
Take control of your technology
How many times have you got halfway to work only to suddenly wonder if you’ve left the iron on? Or the hair straighteners? Home technology is getting so smart that it’s possible to turn plugs off remotely. You can have your heating, electricity and lighting connected to a system that controls everything from your mobile phone or tablet.
Innovations are moving so fast in fact that voice-controlled gadgets can organise shopping lists, read out instructions, play any music you fancy, or even tell you a joke.
How many times have you got halfway to work only to suddenly wonder if you’ve left the iron on? Or the hair straighteners? Home technology is getting so smart that it’s possible to turn plugs off remotely. You can have your heating, electricity and lighting connected to a system that controls everything from your mobile phone or tablet.
Innovations are moving so fast in fact that voice-controlled gadgets can organise shopping lists, read out instructions, play any music you fancy, or even tell you a joke.
Provide a perch for your tablet
You can’t beat flicking through a recipe book for inspiration, but it’s often easier to find meal ideas on the internet. The trouble begins when you have to avoid ingredients spilling onto your tablet, or when you have to keep moving your gadget around to gain access to the counter. Prop it up on its own stand and you’ll never have to worry about these things again. You can buy wall-mounted versions, or install one on a pull-out rack below a wall unit, as has been done here.
You can’t beat flicking through a recipe book for inspiration, but it’s often easier to find meal ideas on the internet. The trouble begins when you have to avoid ingredients spilling onto your tablet, or when you have to keep moving your gadget around to gain access to the counter. Prop it up on its own stand and you’ll never have to worry about these things again. You can buy wall-mounted versions, or install one on a pull-out rack below a wall unit, as has been done here.
Invest in a steam oven
Healthy eating is something that actually could change your life. So wouldn’t it be nice to have a gadget to help? A steam oven might be the answer. These nifty cookers use a reservoir of boiling water to steam food, so there’s no need for oil or cooking fat. Steaming retains more vitamins and nutrients than dry heat, and your food is less likely to be overcooked.
Check out this essential guide to buying a built-in oven
Healthy eating is something that actually could change your life. So wouldn’t it be nice to have a gadget to help? A steam oven might be the answer. These nifty cookers use a reservoir of boiling water to steam food, so there’s no need for oil or cooking fat. Steaming retains more vitamins and nutrients than dry heat, and your food is less likely to be overcooked.
Check out this essential guide to buying a built-in oven
Streamline your hallway
Leaving the house can be a chaotic experience. By the time you’ve found your keys, located a matching pair of shoes and gone back to pick up your forgotten phone you’re probably stressed out and ready to come home. Make life easier by installing a super-organised system in your hallway. This one has storage for everything to keep it all in one place. Get sorted with a similar piece of furniture and you’ll never mislay your keys and gloves again.
Find ideas for small hallways
Leaving the house can be a chaotic experience. By the time you’ve found your keys, located a matching pair of shoes and gone back to pick up your forgotten phone you’re probably stressed out and ready to come home. Make life easier by installing a super-organised system in your hallway. This one has storage for everything to keep it all in one place. Get sorted with a similar piece of furniture and you’ll never mislay your keys and gloves again.
Find ideas for small hallways
Shower with ease
You know that interminably long moment when you’re waiting for the shower to reach the right temperature? Well, you can avoid that. Invest in a digital shower and the water will run at exactly the right heat in a matter of seconds. You can even control the pressure. Some ultra-luxurious versions have a music facility too, so you can play tunes while you shower.
Which items have you brought into your home to make life easier? Share your experiences in the Comments below.
You know that interminably long moment when you’re waiting for the shower to reach the right temperature? Well, you can avoid that. Invest in a digital shower and the water will run at exactly the right heat in a matter of seconds. You can even control the pressure. Some ultra-luxurious versions have a music facility too, so you can play tunes while you shower.
Which items have you brought into your home to make life easier? Share your experiences in the Comments below.
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This is the Amazon tablet holder/cookbook holder - there are also extra mounts, a standard and one which swivels, but doesn't 'flip' away when not in use. Perfect if you have a permanent spot for it, but I definitely like the idea of pushing it up under the cabinet when not in use! Along with Aaron's suggestion to find a plastics fabricator, you could DIY by adding a piano hinge (and possibly a small latch to hold it in place...) https://www.amazon.com/Original-Patented-Kitchen-cookbooks-SuperClear/dp/B004HE65OA
Nancymiller48 the heater for my boiling water tap is a flat design to fit behind the skirting board beneath the sink cupboard. For some unknown reason my builder put it on the floor of the sink cupboard instead. It makes my sink cupboard like a mini airing cupboard which is quite handy for drying clothes, wet trainers, etc.