Lifestyle: Tech Tips to Bring Your Period Home Into the 21st Century
Even if you live in a period property, you don’t need to be stuck in the dark ages. Check out these tips on ways to update discreetly
If you own an older property, you’re probably keen to preserve its historic qualities. But maintaining the period features in your home doesn’t mean your lifestyle needs to be stuck in the 19th century.
The discreet integration of mod cons can be a great way of bringing a touch of contemporary luxury into your house, and period properties are full of alcoves and niches where technology can be tucked away without disturbing the original design. Check out these integration tips for ideas on how you can update your household without upsetting the traditional aesthetic.
The discreet integration of mod cons can be a great way of bringing a touch of contemporary luxury into your house, and period properties are full of alcoves and niches where technology can be tucked away without disturbing the original design. Check out these integration tips for ideas on how you can update your household without upsetting the traditional aesthetic.
Bypass light switches
Your smartphone can now do the work of every switch in your home. In an automated lighting network, your phone acts as a remote control, feeding information to a central hub. The hub then passes this information on to each of the smart bulbs in your home wirelessly.
If you want to dim the light in the living room, but keep it burning brightly in the kitchen, say, you can manipulate these separately from a smartphone app. Not only is this energy efficient, it also bypasses the need for physical switches. Because the hub is only a single unit, it can easily be stored out of sight, minimising the technology on display in your home.
Sometimes the internet connection can be weaker in certain areas of a property, so it’s important to test the strength of your connection before you begin installing any remotely controlled devices.
Your smartphone can now do the work of every switch in your home. In an automated lighting network, your phone acts as a remote control, feeding information to a central hub. The hub then passes this information on to each of the smart bulbs in your home wirelessly.
If you want to dim the light in the living room, but keep it burning brightly in the kitchen, say, you can manipulate these separately from a smartphone app. Not only is this energy efficient, it also bypasses the need for physical switches. Because the hub is only a single unit, it can easily be stored out of sight, minimising the technology on display in your home.
Sometimes the internet connection can be weaker in certain areas of a property, so it’s important to test the strength of your connection before you begin installing any remotely controlled devices.
Build bespoke cabinets for your screens
Not all appliances can be disguised in the same way as the humble light switch. Screens are far more conspicuous and can take up a lot of space, plus it would be counterproductive to have them permanently hidden.
One way to get around this is to have cabinets built that can house your TV without looking out of place. For instance, you might go for traditional panelling or some bookshelves in an alcove.
See decorating tips for gently modernising a Victorian home
Not all appliances can be disguised in the same way as the humble light switch. Screens are far more conspicuous and can take up a lot of space, plus it would be counterproductive to have them permanently hidden.
One way to get around this is to have cabinets built that can house your TV without looking out of place. For instance, you might go for traditional panelling or some bookshelves in an alcove.
See decorating tips for gently modernising a Victorian home
Go incognito
If you have the budget and permission to build into your walls and ceilings, there are ways to do so without damaging original features.
Stud walls can be build on top of the existing structure. They consist of a simple timber frame and a plasterboard finish, and are perfect for running wires across your room. You can also conceal your speakers between the stud and real walls, with a little soundboard covering them. In this way, the original walls are kept intact and you are able to enjoy high-quality sound from speakers that can be heard but not seen.
Browse 9 ways to conceal your gadgets
If you have the budget and permission to build into your walls and ceilings, there are ways to do so without damaging original features.
Stud walls can be build on top of the existing structure. They consist of a simple timber frame and a plasterboard finish, and are perfect for running wires across your room. You can also conceal your speakers between the stud and real walls, with a little soundboard covering them. In this way, the original walls are kept intact and you are able to enjoy high-quality sound from speakers that can be heard but not seen.
Browse 9 ways to conceal your gadgets
Accentuate period features
If planning permission and structural issues aren’t a problem, you can use the period features themselves to integrate technology. Imagine a projector screen dropping down from a wooden beam, or you could even go for something that isn’t structural but accentuates a period feature. In this photo, the mirror above the fireplace is actually a cleverly disguised TV.
If planning permission and structural issues aren’t a problem, you can use the period features themselves to integrate technology. Imagine a projector screen dropping down from a wooden beam, or you could even go for something that isn’t structural but accentuates a period feature. In this photo, the mirror above the fireplace is actually a cleverly disguised TV.
Think acoustically
Period properties were never designed with hi-fi speakers in mind. This can often lead to poor sound quality in spaces with high ceilings and wooden floors. In order to reduce the echo in these areas, you need to think about the size and position of your speakers, as well as the layout of your room.
High ceilings tend to reduce bass, producing tinny-sounding playback. Installing speakers with bass-boosting capabilities will help to mitigate this. Place your speakers high up in a bookcase or wall to counter the effects of the elevated ceiling.
A rug or upholstered furniture will act as sound anchors for your stereo, preventing sound from bouncing off harder surfaces. However, too many objects can dampen audio quality, so it’s important to strike a balance between the two.
Period properties were never designed with hi-fi speakers in mind. This can often lead to poor sound quality in spaces with high ceilings and wooden floors. In order to reduce the echo in these areas, you need to think about the size and position of your speakers, as well as the layout of your room.
High ceilings tend to reduce bass, producing tinny-sounding playback. Installing speakers with bass-boosting capabilities will help to mitigate this. Place your speakers high up in a bookcase or wall to counter the effects of the elevated ceiling.
A rug or upholstered furniture will act as sound anchors for your stereo, preventing sound from bouncing off harder surfaces. However, too many objects can dampen audio quality, so it’s important to strike a balance between the two.
Adapt your existing heating system
Keeping your home cosy is essential, and older houses can often feel draughty. If your current heating system is still working to conquer the cold, then automating it could save you both time and money. By controlling when and where your heating is applied, you can minimise the amount of energy you use.
A smart thermostat allows you to customise which rooms are heated and for how long, so as not to overexert the boiler. Use your smartphone to remotely set up a heating routine and let your thermostat do the rest of the scheduling for you. This could save you having to replace the boiler and radiators, which can be a costly affair.
Keeping your home cosy is essential, and older houses can often feel draughty. If your current heating system is still working to conquer the cold, then automating it could save you both time and money. By controlling when and where your heating is applied, you can minimise the amount of energy you use.
A smart thermostat allows you to customise which rooms are heated and for how long, so as not to overexert the boiler. Use your smartphone to remotely set up a heating routine and let your thermostat do the rest of the scheduling for you. This could save you having to replace the boiler and radiators, which can be a costly affair.
Control everything from one source
Home automation has reached a point where virtually all your systems can be controlled from one central screen. In period properties, this can be a godsend, as it means fewer interfaces to tarnish the traditional décor.
This control panel can either be wired into your home, in much the same way as your speakers or TV, or come in a more mobile form, connecting wirelessly to every automated device.
Home automation has reached a point where virtually all your systems can be controlled from one central screen. In period properties, this can be a godsend, as it means fewer interfaces to tarnish the traditional décor.
This control panel can either be wired into your home, in much the same way as your speakers or TV, or come in a more mobile form, connecting wirelessly to every automated device.
Use your features
Finding harmony between old and new is key to bringing a historic property into the 21st century. The right solution for your home is often one that uses the existing features as a mask to seamlessly disguise the updated elements.
TELL US…
Have you brought technology into your period property? Please share your tips and experiences in the Comments below.
Finding harmony between old and new is key to bringing a historic property into the 21st century. The right solution for your home is often one that uses the existing features as a mask to seamlessly disguise the updated elements.
TELL US…
Have you brought technology into your period property? Please share your tips and experiences in the Comments below.
A large thermostat can be an unsightly blemish in a beautiful period property, especially if it’s placed in plain view. But because of rapid advances in technology, a thermostat need no longer be hard-wired to your boiler and can therefore be placed in pretty much any available space.
Modern internet connections make it possible for the thermostat to ‘talk’ to a regulator on the boiler wirelessly, in a process known as automation. This means there can be a great distance between the devices without the dreaded prospect of running wires through your entire house.
So rather than cringe at the sight of the plastic interface every time you use it, install the device inside a cupboard in the kitchen or in a secluded corner.