If it were possible, our homes would function like the houses in a cartoon. There would be no trailing wires; no ugly dials on the wall – it would just be smooth, clean lines that would look perfect in an Instagram photo. The reality is somewhat different. For functional living, we have to give over certain space. We have to make particular choices regarding the designs we select. We’re always going to have to make room for light switches, pipes, vents, and fans. Even if they do somewhat spoil the aesthetic that we’ve otherwise so carefully curated.
When you’re struggling with balancing the desire for a stylish home and needing it to be a functional living space, here are a few tricks you can keep in mind.
#1 – Get The Right Installation
It’s going to be easier to blend in all those functional aspects that you can’t do without with good workmanship and installation. Companies like Kaiser Air Conditioning and reputable plumbing firms are going to be far more skilled in choosing pipes and vents that can be hidden in unobtrusive ways. I don’t recommend DIY. If you decide to DIY then you’re probably not going to have as good a chance blending them in with the rest of your home. A good installer is going to know you don’t want trailing pipes, ugly dials, or vents. So it’s worth investing upfront in the right company.
#2 – Boxing In Is Your Friend
Boxing in is a fairly simple concept. It’s surprising how much of a difference it can make to the overall appearance of your home. Erect a wooden surround that hides exposed pipes or electrical leads. This is fairly simple to do if you have a few basic carpentry skills, and there’s plenty of videos online that can help you create a solution that works for you.
#3 – Use Trunking
Unless you hide all of your electronics cables behind a wall, then the best option is to use cable trunking. Trunking is a plastic, hollow strip which can usually be attached to walls via a self-adhesive backing. You then open it up, place your wires inside, and cover them over. It attaches directly to the wall and can be cut to fit the space you need. It’s perfect if you don’t have many wall outlets. Perhaps you want to run devices across a room without the need for trailing wires.
#4 – Install More Wall Units
Hire an electrician to install more wall sockets if the above is a problem you want a permanent fix for. It’s a relatively simple job that shouldn’t cost a fortune. You can choose to hide the sockets where you need them. They’ll fit in with where you’re going to be arranging furniture.
If you follow the advice above, style and function are not necessarily enemies, especially !
This post is a collaborative effort and may contain relative and relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes.