5 Ways to Modernize Your Rural Home

For many, there’s nothing better than being far away from the bustle of the big city. But what stops a lot of people is the belief you can’t get the modern amenities in rural areas! But, this is a common misconception; your rural home can be as modern as your city condo. Here are five ways you can do this:

Recreate the Open Floor Plan

Modern architecture and design love open spaces, so an open floor plan is something to look into if you want to modernize your rural home. Instead of having your kitchen, dining room, and living room separated, remove those walls and create an open space living that will have a natural flow from one area to another.

Since most gatherings, be it friends or family, are centered around the kitchen, make it your focal point. Have a kitchen island that will beg to gather around it. Having the living and dining room connected with the kitchen will also make it easier to rearrange furniture, which is great when you have a larger number of guests over.

Invest in Renewable Energy

Renewable energy options, especially in rural areas, are often funded by local or government agencies, so you can get them for a good price. Research what type of renewable energy would be best used for your area – you can get solar panels or shingles, but you can even get small wind turbines or mini hydro turbines, if you have flowing water on your property. Not only will this be good for the environment, but it will also increase the value of your home considerably.

Look into Fiber or Satellite Internet Options

High-speed internet is another thing that’s often reserved for metropolitan areas. There aren’t many internet providers who focus on extending their networks to rural areas, mostly because the network would require considerable investments as the homes would be far apart. This is also why fiber options are so expensive in rural areas. If you don’t wish to spend a fortune on fiber, try looking into satellite internet options, as they are more affordable and have a better signal.

Install Smart Devices

When reading about smart devices, most of us think about Siri or Alexa, but they are just the tip of the iceberg really. Siri and Alexa are smart assistants that can be linked with other smart devices, i.e., internet-enabled devices for your home. Such devices are smart thermostats, smart lights, and smart cameras, among others. All of them can connect to your internet network and be accessed via apps on your smartphone. Because they can also be linked to Siri, Alexa, or Google Home, you can program actions that will be executed when triggered. For example, when you tell your assistant that you are going home from work, they can automatically turn up heating so your house is warm by the time you arrive home.  

Have an Outdoor Lounge Room

Have you ever considered that the built-in BBQ pit on your porch can actually double as a fireplace with the right setup? Buy an outdoor rug, coffee table, a couch, and comfy chairs, and decorate the area with some rustic wood and lights, and voilà, you have a lounge with a fireplace to enjoy throughout most of the year.