Home of hacks.
At Brabantia, we believe it’s the little things that make a big difference. Smart, practical design helps turn a house into a home.
Forget pools and cinemas—today’s dream home is all about function: clever storage, roomy worktops, and thoughtful design. Brits now prioritise kitchen upgrades (40%), bathroom makeovers (34%), and outdoor refreshes (31%).
While cost remains the biggest hurdle—many are £50,000 and months away from their ideal home—we believe there’s a smarter way. With creativity and practical solutions, you can hack your way to the home you’ve always wanted.
What Brits really want!
Optimising Storage
- Storage and space, it seems, are also uniting factors, with having nowhere to hang all coats and bags (19%); struggling to find worktop space in the kitchen (29%); and not knowing where to put shoes and wellies (14%) all also ranking highly in people’s current property concerns.
Luxury vs necessity
- The majority of Brits deemed ‘luxury’ unnecessary in turning their home into the perfect one, with just 6% saying it would need a cinema room, while only one in five (6%) said a swimming pool would need to be installed.
- Instead, they’re seeking practical solutions to make their lives easier with as many as one in seven (16%) claiming an additional fridge freezer would be top of their list, while one in 10 (11%) dream of one more washing machine.
Home Hackers
- Almost half (45%) Brits are turning to ‘home hacks’ to change the look, feel or function of their home - two-fifths (39%) are being experimental with colour schemes; a third (33%) have completely changed the set-up of their rooms; and three in 10 (31%) have even attempted to upcycle their furniture. A quarter (23%) have found ways of creating more storage, a fifth (22%) found solutions to use dead space and one in 10 (10%) have ‘recreated’ expensive items through crafting.
Meet Reena.
Reena Simon, Interiors and Design Expert.
Reena Simon a UK-based designer, stylist, and author, celebrated for her brand Hygge for Home, which celebrates Scandinavian-inspired design that seamlessly blends comfort with minimalism. Reena’s journey into design was deeply influenced by a challenging childhood spent in Women’s Aid refuges and social housing. These experiences instilled in her a profound commitment to creating nurturing, calming spaces that offer calm from the chaos of the outside world and family life.
Tips from Reena to simplify your daily routine with easy hacks.
Hack your way to you best kitchen and bathroom.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most used spaces in the home, and you don’t need a full renovation to refresh them. Small, intentional updates, like changing cabinet handles, switching up brassware, or introducing layered lighting, especially with modern pieces like rechargeable lamps, which more readily available, can make a big impact. I also love incorporating natural textures like wood, linen, or stone accessories to bring warmth and balance into these spaces. And if you can squeeze in a cosy rug or sheepskin into your bathroom, even better!
Make the most of storage solutions.
I think the way we manage storage in our homes is one of our biggest shared bugbears, but it’s also one of the most transformative design opportunities. It’s not about having more space; it’s about making better use of the space you have. Think vertically: wall hooks, shelving, storage benches, and slimline cabinetry can help reclaim areas that are often overlooked. When storage is considered as part of the design, it improves both the look and function of a home.
Utilise textures to transform your space.
Texture is one of the most powerful, yet underrated tools in interiors. A room instantly feels more inviting when you layer contrasting materials: soft linens next to polished wood, warm ceramics against cool metals. It creates depth and a sensorial experience that goes beyond just how a space looks, it’s about how it makes you feel. Even in the most practical spaces, texture brings a sense of softness and calm.
