Game changer home ideas

[TheSilentSister]

Self closing kitchen cupboard doors. I'm in awe. Just had a kitchen makeover. You push the doors like you normally do but they then just pull themselves to close, silently. Ok, I'm easily pleased. Tell me your game changer home things. Anything for an easier life or just pure amusement.

Having a Shnuggle light for when I need to get up in the middle of the night, it’s a portable light but it’s really low level lighting, absolute game changer for me.

Lazy Susan’s in the fridge to store all the condiments!

App for our boiler so I can turn the heating on/off from my phone, great when we’re out and about and plans change!

A microwave, where the bottom does not 'spin'. Suddenly you can warm up that lasagna again in its rectangular oven dish, without it getting stuck against the microwave's sides on turning.

A hot water tap outside on my patio to wash my dog. It's temperature set to a nice warm 36*c. I also use it for all those crappy jobs like cleaning the bins and football boots.

Recent development for me is telling Alexa to put the lamps on and all the living room lamps go on. But seems lame compared to self closing kitchen doors!

Dishwasher.

Pan drawers
A larder

You remind me of Pete on Gavin and Stacey!

Google Gavin and Stacey Oven Gloves!

Two dishwashers. No I’m not joking. Bloody brilliant

I agree! Thought it was ridiculous when we moved in but now I wouldn't be without them! We do entertain quite a bit though.

We have that in every room. And we have it set up so that the living room lights come on at dusk. Also we have a bedtime routine set up. We just tell it bedtime and it turns all the lights off downstairs and puts our bedroom light on.

Self cleaning windows

My disappointment is with self closing cupboard doors as you do have to at least give them a nudge. I need cupboard doors which are similar to a fridge and bleep at you if left open for more than a few seconds. Actually, the cacophony from that would give me a migraine. I just need doors which sigh to themselves and then completely close themselves after a few seconds.

Water softener. We live in a very hard water area.

Motion sensor plugs plugged into plug sockets. We have one on the landing so when you need the loo in the night, no fumbling round. But it is also gentle enough light to not be harsh

Adding to @Wigtopia we have battery motion sensor lights on the stairs and in the bathroom. Low level light to see where we are going.

Window privacy film.

Hue lighting, including that you can ask Alexa turn any light on for x number of minutes.

Pan drawers.

Electric throws for WFH in winter and not wanting to put the heating on.

Vax spot wash. Amazing

Katcher window vac

A phone charger port in a wall socket in my new kitchen, should have had one years ago! Also 6 deep drawers instead of floor cupboards and a full height larder cupboard.

Upstairs laundry

Some good ideas.
How much are Alexa bulbs?
Self cleaning windows - tell me more!
Gavin & Stacey - lol - I'm actually going to get some. Plus I must admit I've been opening and closing the doors for no reason, just to see them do their magic ✨

I've just thought of another one - keep seeing an ad on FB about the frame that goes over microwaves so you can safely put things on top. I'm going to get one.

I’d love self cleaning windows! I’ve got rid of Venetian blinds that forever needed dusting/wiping, so windows that sort themselves out would be the icing on the cake.

A side gate with a key pad number lock, so no having to unbolt it from the inside when bringing the bins back in. Also good when have fogotten front door key to get in round the back and retrieve secret 'hidden' back door key!

I actually did my voice controlled lamps with Ikea Tretakt smart plugs and a Zigbee-enabled Echo. The plugs were £6 a piece and I’ve plugged two lamps into each. The lamps have normal LED bulbs so they just go on and off, no jazzy dimming or colour adjustment that you get with the smart bulbs.

Recently renovated:

-Soft close toilet seats
-Toilets at comfort height. Only a few cm's taller, but much easier on my knees to sit/stand (only 40's, but ex dancer!)
-DH installed a home assist system and all lights, heating etc are connected. I can use my phone or laptop to turn on/off lights, dim them, set a scene etc. I WFH and its handy to be able to the turn things on/off whilst sitting in another room/ in a meeting etc.
-Water softener. The shower screen remains crystal clear, no furred up shower heads and the pop up sink plugs still work
-Curtains/blinds connected to the mains, not a battery like many are. Again, I can open/close from another room or set it when we are away to give the illusion someone is inside
-Drawers in both the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. No more bending down and foraging at the back
-A 1m wide cutlery drawer
-A herb/spice drawer

Things we couldn't do due to layout:
-I wanted the washing machine and dryer both raised on plinths
-Kitchen windows prevented the oven being raised to hip height

Ooh, I like the idea of drawers in the bathroom cabinet, I’m planning to have a new bathroom this year so need some good ideas. I already have a slightly higher toilet so that will definitely be replace like for like! I’m currently looking at shower cubicles without a tray or at least without an edge that is a trip hazard.

I don’t want a wet room but I do want to future proof my bathroom for my old age!

@JC03745 What happens in a powercut? Sounds fab but too complicated for me!

Internet of Things.

I have been able to install central heating in a house which had none, by putting electric radiators on smart plugs, and automating them via a smart thermostat.

I've moved light switches and / or made them two way without doing any drilling or re-wiring (bar wiring in the smart switches to the existing loads).

I've added kitchen counter lighting where there was no hard-wiring before.

Smart bulbs and scenes / automations that dim the lights when I need to wind down for bed—has improved my sleep.

All manner of automations for everything from the immersion heater to the Christmas lights.

The actual internet is largely shite now, but IoT is so much fun.