If you’re considering a home improvement project in the new year, you’re in good company! A recent survey from the Great Southern Bank found that over 40% of Australians are considering home improvements on their existing property. But why are so many homeowners choosing to renovate? Not only is it a great investment, but it can be more affordable than buying a new home when you consider additional costs like agents’ commissions. Remodelling also allows you to customise your existing home to suit your exact needs while remaining in the neighbourhood you love. We’ve put together a guide to the best home improvements in 2023 so you can get inspired and join the trend.

Outdoor Designs

Leisure is the key theme for backyards in 2023, with more people optimising their outdoor spaces for entertainment and relaxation. Here’s how you can join the fun and improve your outdoor living in 2023.

Outdoor Entertaining Area

Maximise your outdoor space for entertainment by adding bench seating and a fire pit for family and friends to gather around. Although many affordable bench seating options are available, you can get creative with Besser blocks and wood pallets too. 

Fancy yourself an entertainer? Outdoor kitchens are also becoming popular, allowing hosts to cook and socialise simultaneously. If you don’t want to invest in a complete kitchen fit-out, why not start with a pizza oven? You could even convert one of your kitchen windows to a servery to bridge the gap between the kitchen and the outdoor area.

Add a Pool

Of course we’d recommend this! But seriously, adding a pool is one of the biggest (and best) changes you can make to your outdoor entertaining area. Starting with the pool allows you to build your outdoor space around entertainment and lifestyle — more on that later.

Low Maintenance Garden Ideas

People want to spend more time in their gardens in 2023, but less time gardening. As such, low-maintenance solutions like vertical gardens and irrigation systems are on-trend. 

Homeowners are also opting for drought-resistant plants that don’t require as much TLC. If you’re keen to ditch the garden hose for a good book, consider hardy plants like salvia, lavender and lamb’s ears or native favourites including bottlebrush, banksia and grevillea.  

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is another easy but effective way to elevate your entertaining space. Whether it’s fairy lights, up-lights or strip lights, lighting solutions help create an ambience for your outdoor area. 

Add lights along pathways, in garden beds or even via lit garden sculptures. What’s better than art that transforms into a light installation after dark? Warm white party lights are also guaranteed to create a magical look when hung over your outdoor area. 

Hot tip: All our pools come with a multi-coloured LED light — incorporate this into your overall lighting plan to make nighttime something special!

Swimming Pool Designs

An outdoor home improvement measure that’s sure to add value to your home is (you guessed it) a pool! Installing a pool is certainly a bigger undertaking than digging up your garden beds but the value will come back in spades. Find out more in our swimming pool cost vs long-term value comparison. 

Here are the other pool trends that you’ll see everywhere in 2023. 

Holiday Destination Inspiration

Why not replicate your favourite holiday destination in your very own backyard? We’re increasingly seeing homeowners take inspiration from popular locations like Mykonos for their pool design. You can easily achieve a beachy look by adding a pool cabana and white soft furnishings to your pool surroundings. 

Choosing a light pool interior coating will also help replicate turquoise, island water. This trend aligns with our most popular interior ecoFinish shade in 2022, Kona Coast. We’re predicting a rise in Blue Lagoon in 2023, so expect to see more azure water across backyards next year!

Saltwater Pools

In line with previous years, the number of pool owners choosing saltwater over chlorine for their pool is set to increase in 2023. Saltwater is becoming a popular alternative to chlorine as it’s cost-effective and gentle on skin and eyes. If you want to know more, check out our article, Saltwater pools vs magnesium mineral pools - what’s the difference?

Personalise Your Swimming Pool

In terms of pool shape trends, there’s no clear winner for 2023. Homeowners are more focused on choosing a pool shape that will integrate well into their backyard, whether square, rectangular, round or free-form. 

At Plungie, our most popular model in 2022 has been the Plungie Max (it’s the largest precast, prefabricated concrete pool in the world, after all) but we’ve seen incredible finishes with all of our models. One project that comes to mind is Clay House, where the outer shell of the Plungie Arena has been left raw to align with the polished concrete floors inside the home. 

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

The days of the big backyard pool are numbered, with bigger homes being built on smaller blocks. As part of this trend, homeowners are choosing to create multiple zones in their backyard rather than add one statement piece that will dominate the space. 

Sure, you could choose to build a bigger pool than what we offer, but why not experience the same benefits while leaving some space for the kids to play? Thousands of homeowners are enjoying the best of both worlds with a Plungie right now.

Pool Types

If you decide to install a pool as part of your 2023 home improvements, the material you choose will depend on your backyard, budget and design concept. We’ve weighed up the pros and cons of the three most popular pool materials to make that decision easier.

Concrete Pools

You may be familiar with the many benefits of a concrete swimming pool from our blog article, but here’s a recap. Concrete is the most durable pool material and can last a lifetime with the correct maintenance. Because concrete is strong, it can also withstand the pressure of being installed in-ground, above ground or semi-recessed. This gives you plenty of flexibility, especially if you live on a difficult or sloping block. 

With these benefits come limitations, as traditional custom concrete pools can take months to build when you consider the curing process. This doesn’t apply to Plungies, however, which are ready to install on delivery day.

Fibreglass Pools

Although fibreglass pool shells come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, they’re not as durable as concrete and can pop, fade and peel over time. Once a fibreglass pool is installed, you can’t personalise the interior finish or add waterline tiles either. 

The installation time for a Plungie is on par with a fibreglass pool as they both arrive ready to go. Only a Plungie offers the premium features of concrete, though. Check out our article Concrete Plungie v fibreglass pool: what you need to know for a complete comparison of the two materials. 

Vinyl-liner Pools

Vinyl-liner pools are the most inexpensive out of the three pool materials. As well as being cheap to install, they offer more shape variations than fibreglass pools. While the initial cost of a vinyl-liner pool is low, they are expensive throughout their lifetime. 

The liner is susceptible to chemical deterioration, so more maintenance is required to ensure the pool water chemicals are balanced. Depending on how well the pool is maintained, the vinyl liner will need to be replaced roughly every 8-10 years, so the maintenance costs can add up over time.

Interior Design Trends 2023

As much as we obsess over outdoor spaces, we know that your home’s interior deserves some attention as well. Interior design trends in 2023 are geared towards creating fun, recreational spaces and making life easier with technology.   

Dedicated Activity Zones

Many homeowners are creating dedicated activity spaces in their homes. Whether it’s a home bar, media room, library, or rumpus room, these spaces have a clear recreational purpose and offer an escape from the outside world. 

Achieving this trend is easy; simply dedicate a space in your home to an activity you love — pool room, here we come! Dedicated home offices are also here to stay in 2023 to accommodate working-from-home arrangements. 

Smart Home Ideas

With phones in our hands, pockets or close by most of the time, it’s no wonder homeowners are leveraging apps to control the technology in their homes. For example, many people are utilising security systems that can be easily monitored via their phones. 

Similarly, smart WiFi light bulbs are becoming popular as homeowners can change the brightness and colour using an app. To complete the transition to a smart home, consider adding a smart speaker to search the internet or control your music using your voice. With these hacks, you’ll feel like you’re living in the future.

Bold Paint Colours

Now’s not the time to be shy with paint colours. The popularity of vibrant colours is set to skyrocket next year as people look for ways to express their creativity and make their living spaces more joyful. 

Before you get out the drop sheet and paint roller, we recommend drawing inspiration from popular paint brands. For example, Dulux’s colour Forecast 2023 suggests several colour palettes for a fresh, cohesive design.

Now that we’ve given you plenty of inspiration, you can join thousands of other homeowners and get cracking with home improvement projects in 2023. If your plans involve a Plungie, contact our team for details today.