The weather has turned cold in many parts of the country and homeowners are considering projects to improve their indoor spaces this season. The online home renovation platform Thumbtackwhich directs consumers to professionals for home maintenance, repairs and improvements, has compiled a list of the 10 best trendy interior projects leading to winter. Six of these have the potential to improve the health and safety potential of your living space.

1. Installation or renovation of guardrails

This trend is up 60% year over year, according to the report. While it may simply indicate a desire for an updated style, new railings can add safety to your space. APA Medical Equipment in Minneapolis noted on his blog that about two-thirds of all mobility-related accidents involve falls, the fifth leading cause of death among people with mobility impairments. “These figures raise eyebrows, so it makes perfect sense that we make it harder to cross areas more easily for people with reduced mobility. One of the easiest ways to do this is to install a handrail in the house.

These can be placed in locations where older users and those with mobility or balance issues may need assistance getting up, such as near beds, in bathtub and shower areas, the along the corridors and on the stairs. (While this report covers interior projects, rail installation and renovation can also be extremely useful outdoors, especially on exterior stairs that can become slippery or icy.)

2. Carpet repair or replacement

This trend is up 57% year-on-year, according to the company. As with railings, new carpet may be just for show, but it can also improve wellness potential depending on the homeowner’s choice. For example, wool carpets offer certain health and safety benefits to users. As based in Portland, Oregon Floor Factors shared on its blog in a May 2024 post: “The wool rug is flame retardant, resistant to dust mites and allergens, naturally regulates humidity, repels dirt, and is made without the use of chemicals” (to which some users might be sensitive).

3. Floor repair

This trend is up 44% year over year, according to Thumbtack, and can certainly improve home security. “Falls to the ground occur in a variety of ways and for a variety of causes,” reports the National Security Council on its website. While the national nonprofit was referring to commercial spaces, the same issues can also motivate homeowners, particularly if there is a family member who would be unusually impacted by a fall.

Among the leading causes of tripping hazards, the NSC reports, are elevation differences, improper maintenance, holes or irregularities in the floor, torn, curled or loose rugs or carpets, and floor surfaces or unsuitable treatments which create a reduction in slip resistance. These can be solved in some cases – for example, stone floors – with aftermarket anti-slip coatings.

4. Modifying the house for accessibility

This trend is up 42% year over year, reports Thumbtack, in a very unsurprising finding. Home improvements aimed at making housing more accessible have increased in almost all recent surveys, including the latest AIA study shared here last month, and will continue to grow to more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day.

5. Cleaning Tile and Grout

This trend is up 39% year over year and could be due to increased awareness of mold-related health concerns. Grout, which is porous, can be a breeding ground for these unsightly and potentially dangerous problems. “In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma,” noted WebMD in an October 2024 article. “Whether or not you are allergic to mold, it can irritate your skin. eyes, skinnose, throat and lungs”, added the writers. (A related trend on the list was upholstery and furniture cleaning, which can combat dust mites and other allergens that hide in fabrics and cause problems for some people with breathing difficulties.)

6. Home theater repair

This trend is up 43% year over year and does not necessarily seem beneficial to readers’ well-being. But that may be the case. Home theater experiences can bring families together in a positive way, sharing comedy, adventure or drama, which can improve their time together, cohesion and well-being.

Purdue University wrote in a Article from December 21 titled “The New Year’s Resolution to Spend More Time with Loved Ones Can Improve Health” that achieving this goal can provide a variety of physical and mental health benefits. One of the writer’s tips was to “have fun together doing enjoyable activities.” Winter weather can limit those you would normally enjoy outdoors. A fun movie at home can be the perfect way to have family fun on these evenings and weekends.

Home theaters can also create social opportunities for people living alone or for people living alone with friends and neighbors during the long, cold months. Social isolation can increase depression, illness and even death, according to the CDC. In a Article from March 2024the agency reported: “Social isolation and loneliness may increase risk of heart disease and stroke; type 2 diabetes; depression and anxiety, dementia, suicidal tendencies, self-harm and premature death.

Last words

To arrive at its report’s findings, Thumbtack examined its database from September 2023 to September 2024 to spot projects with the largest year-over-year increase in trend and volume.

The interior section of the report concludes: “We are also seeing an increase in projects that allow people to stay in their homes long term, with railing installations and home modifications to improve accessibility year over year. year. All of these improvements, whether functional or aesthetic, can help homeowners feel comfortable and safe this winter.