Is your home energy-efficient? Does it make the most of the latest smart tech? The homes of the future will need to reflect changes in the ways we work and how we live. Can your property incorporate homeworking? Could it accommodate grown-up children or elderly parents should it need to and will it meet your own needs as you age? Click or scroll to work out what you can plan for now to make your life easier in the future.

Digging out a basement from scratch can be costly, but repurposing an existing cellar is a great way to free up under-used space. A lower ground floor in a period home can have many uses, from a kitchen to a media room or a dedicated hangout space for younger members of the family.

As the world of work changes, remote-working is becoming more important. Plan in a home office now or upgrade an existing one to include smart tech and extra storage. It's a good idea to upgrade your broadband, too. Create a space that is as comfortable to be in as possible. Loft spaces will be good for light, a spot overlooking the garden may provide a scenic view, while a converted garden building offers a quiet space away from the main hubbub of the house.

When you come to design a living room or media room, plan in your TV and audio systems first. Think beyond the room to the whole house – do you want to incorporate a home automation system that includes lighting, security and heating controls as well as your TV and audio? Be flexible: keep the space around the TV and audio equipment clear and accessible so it's easy to upgrade in the future.

The beauty of extending into the attic is that it doesn’t increase the footprint of your house so it won’t impede on your outdoor space. Decide what you want to use the conversion for. If light levels and views are good, you could transform your eves into an extra living space or an extra bedroom which could really add to your home's value. 

With many of us living and working in the same spaces, we are increasingly searching for new ways to rearrange our living areas to create more separation between work and play. Soundproof wall panels like this textured design can be a great way to create more privacy between rooms, ensuring your home office remains a quiet place of relaxation, even in a busy household.

Open-plan layouts are a go-to for modern living, allowing an easy, sociable flow between different zones in the same open space. But if your home is multigenerational, be sure that this layout is going to suit everyone. Elderly parents may like the idea of communal cooking and eating, but prefer to have a living space that has an element of privacy about it. Consider a broken-plan layout with half-walls that zone off individual areas more effectively, while still offering a communal feel when needed.

A low-maintenance garden can be beautiful, whether that's a small patch or somewhere designed for easy upkeep. Pay attention to boundaries and erect smart fencing – horizontal slats create a modern touch. Choose permanent planters rather than individual pots that get too messy. Plant up a mix of bulbs and evergreens so there’s always something of interest without the need to replant and bring in hardwood furniture that requires little maintenance and still looks good with age.

Talk to those in your immediate and close family about their future plans and wishes. Might parents want to share a home with you and your family? Are your grown-up children likely to live at home again after university? Weigh up the options of moving to a bigger home or staying put and extending, like this project from 2019's Don't Move, Improve! awards. The earlier you start to think about the future the more time you will have to realise a solution that suits everyone.

Interior lighting is now smart, programmable and simple to manage, making it easy to be energy-efficient and keep bills down. Go for single smart bulbs or a full-on, whole-house lighting system. Smart colour-changing, dimmable LED bulbs can be sequenced and controlled by brightness and colour, as well as time. Lighting system starter kits usually consist of three or four bulbs and a router-connected hub. Control in situ or from afar and add more bulbs as and when you want them.

Solar panels can help cut your carbon footprint and reduce your household electricity bills, which may be music to homeowners' ears given the current global energy crisis. Once you have paid for the installation, solar panels need little maintenance and the latest models should last around 30 years.

Smart thermostats and heating systems allow you to adjust your home's temperature remotely and personalise settings for different rooms or zones. Some systems are made up of app-controlled hubs that connect to each radiator and a broadband router. Look for frost protection and one-touch holiday settings. Some systems also control hot water, incorporate lighting and smart plug controls and monitor energy usage. 

If you're not in your forever home, consider an eco property for your next move. Lots of companies specialise in energy-efficient homes – some even in the form of flat-pack-style package homes. Many are designed to be extremely thermally efficient thanks to clever, insulating structures, which can dramatically reduce your heating bills, even in winter.

Creating an environment that all ages can enjoy is key to growing old happily in your home. But it can be hard to please everyone in a multigenerational household, so take a multipurpose approach to the garden. Include a table and chairs for dining, garden sofas, chairs and coffee tables for lounging and raised flower or veg beds for the gardeners. Provide shade as well as sun and opportunities for quiet contemplation as well as sociability and entertaining.

Your home is an investment as well as a place to live. Balance what you want from it in the future with what is likely to add value. You may see a better return on your investment if you add a bedroom than build a conservatory to use as a living space.  Consider the difference in outlay between extending or converting and decorating or improving – sometimes the latter can be enough.

As technology advances, the number of devices and gadgets we accumulate will grow. Instead of operating them with individual apps, install a smart home system or hub. It works as a single mission control for everything from your smart TV to thermostats and security. Bestsellers include the Amazon Echo Show, Wink Hub 2, Apple HomePod and Logitech Harmony Elite. But watch how technologies develop, as some smartphones and speakers already offer the functionality of a hub.

Since the rise in remote-working and home-schooling, the distinction between the working day and leisure time has unfortunately blurred. To help keep the balance in check, designate a ‘tech-free’ area, where screens and mindless scrolling are replaced with calm nooks to unwind as a family.

Repurpose the outside space between a side-return wall and a property’s boundary by extending into it. Whether you want to make space for the kitchen-diner of your dreams, add in a family room or den or create a garden room, there are lots of options. You will need to factor in roof lights or lanterns to boost light levels, particularly towards the original back wall of the house. Adding valuable usable space in this way to your existing property is bound to increase its longevity, as well as giving you more options for your floor plan in the future.

If you are looking to redesign your garden and don’t foresee moving house again, do so with the longer term in mind. Incorporate slopes rather than steps. Cut back on lawned areas, add easy-to-navigate pathways, spaces for seating and prioritise the area closest to the house, such as those in this outside space by Breeze Garden Design. Go for raised beds over conventional borders and favour evergreen planting schemes for long-lasting, low-maintenance annual greenery.

If your property does not have off-road parking and you have the room, it is well worth considering converting at least part of your outside space to hard landscaping. This will be particularly important if you have multiple occupants. If you love your front garden, consider a part conversion so you can still have an area of greenery. And remember if you have rear access, it may make more sense to provide off-road parking there. If accessibility becomes an issue in the future, you'll value having your parking on the same level as your entrance too.

Increase your home’s flexibility so that your living spaces are ready to accommodate changing family circumstances. Install a downstairs cloakroom and shower room for older parents who move in, or for your own use later in life. An additional bathroom will add value to your home and may be useful if grown-up children return. If you have more than one reception room, think about earmarking it as a bedroom for future use.

Consider replacing your old toilet with a new high-efficiency low-flow model to minimise your household's water usage. It'll be beneficial for the environment and your water bill. If you're not ready to splash out on a new model just yet, you can purchase affordable water-saving devices for your cistern that do a similar job. Welcome to the future!

The latest home security technology not only offers peace of mind, but can make your life easier, too. Video doorbells, cameras and home alarms can all be installed as individual gadgets or as part of a smart home system controlled via a mobile phone app. Access live or recorded video remotely to check on your property. Install a video doorbell to see who is at your front door without opening it, record anyone who knocks when you are out and receive alerts and live streams wherever you are.

Granny flats, ADUs and garden rooms don’t generally require planning permission and they can be a great way of increasing living space without impacting on your main home. Convert a shed or add a summerhouse and create a studio, office, or teenage den. And take a look at garden pods – their unique organic shape and quirky interiors can add real wow factor to an outside space.

Make regular checks on your main roof, as well as any flat roofs and scan brickwork for gaps in the mortar that might need repointing. Clear your gutters to avoid water damage, or better yet, get gutter guards installed to prevent leaves from clogging up the pipework. Inside, ensure water is draining efficiently from baths and sinks. Maintain good decorative order, checking seals around wet areas, doors and windows. It's a good idea to draw up a schedule for maintenance, including boiler services, drain cleaning, gutter clearance and painting external woodwork and fencing.

Small changes to your household habits can make a big difference to your home’s energy efficiency. See if you can cut one washing machine cycle a week. Turn off lights when not in use and switch to LED light bulbs instead of halogens. Look into smart heating to minimise your usage and try turning your heating down by one degree. It's a good idea to avoid leaving appliances and gadgets on standby so they're not using up unnecessary energy. 

Look after your roof, walls, windows and doors and they will pay you back by helping to reduce your energy costs. Lay mineral wool insulation between and over the joists in your loft. If you want to convert the loft, insulate the roof instead with rigid insulation boards between the rafters. If you have cavity walls ask an installer for a borescope inspection to check for insulation. Insulate solid walls on the inside with rigid insulation boards or on the outside by fixing a layer of insulation material beneath render or cladding. Check doors, windows and floorboards for gaps and fill them.

Keep an eye on the property market in your area and any local developments and infrastructure projects that are planned. Is there anything that might make a move into a nearby up-and-coming area a better investment than improving your existing property? New transport links and facilities may increase your own property’s value significantly or flag up a potential area of investment elsewhere.

Check that your kitchen will be practical for you to use as you age, as well as for older relatives and anyone with mobility issues. Plan in improvements now. For example, an elevated built-in oven will ensure no one needs to stoop for access. Look for kitchen ranges with features such as pull-out corner storage units, motorised rise-and-fall worktops and remote-controlled extractor fans.

While lots of our devices are wireless, our homes will still need a wired network that's able to support data consumption. Plan for smart TVs, computers, gaming units, tablets and more in most of the rooms in your house. Include an extra conduit or buried trunking that can support future upgrades without the need for retrofitting. Use an experienced electrician or a smart home design and installation specialist.

In 2021, global sales of electric cars almost doubled to a staggering 6.6 million, and there's no signs of sales slowing down any time soon. As we move to more eco-friendly alternatives to standard petrol and diesel cars, it's time to plan forward in our garages. Installing a home-charging point makes environmental sense, as well as offering convenience for your family further down the line, not the mention future homeowners. In general, home-charging points are also cheaper than public charging stations, which often charge a premium.

Now that many of us are spending more time at home and using more smart tech around the house, a good Wi-Fi connection is paramount. Invest in multiple mini routers to set up around your property, which will communicate with one another to boost your connection and ensure there are no more crackly Zoom meetings!

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