With each new year, many homeowners feel the need to give their space a fresh start. Whether it's purging items you no longer need or your goal is to fully renovate to update the style of your home, it helps to take baby steps as you strive to reach your goals. 

 

Here are five bathroom remodels from a few of our favorite designers and bloggers to inspire your next project.

1. MAKE BUDGET-FRIENDLY UPGRADES

You don't have to complete a head-to-toe makeover to give your bathroom a little more personality. Designer Nicole Gibbons takes her client's builder-grade guest bath from boring and a little unflattering to polished and stylish by simply updating the bathroom's hardware. A project like this can be completed with ease in a single afternoon.

2. TRY SOMETHING BOLD

The bathroom is the perfect space to try something new and a little out of your comfort zone. That's exactly what these homeowners did when they opted for a deep green that covered every surface instead of their first choice - white. We love that they painted the trim the same color, making the space look even larger.

3. ADD THE FINISHING TOUCH

Maybe your bathroom could benefit from one more detail that ties the entire room together. Consider swapping your door hardware for a style and finish that better reflects your personal style. It's an affordable project that any DIY skill level can accomplish. We love Amanda's - from the Fashionable Hostess - choice of door hardware. The Birmingham lever with Wakefield trim gives her bathroom a subtle touch of sophistication that completes her crisp and clean space.

4. CREATE FUNCTIONAL BUT STYLISH STORAGE

Open shelving isn't just for the kitchen. Show off your cutest bathroom necessities and keep things a little more organized with this trendy update. Get the full details on the entire bathroom remodel from making it in the mountains.

5. FOCUS ON THE DETAILS

Even the smallest details can take your bathroom style up a notch. We love how Jenny of the Little Green Notebook took inspiration from other architectural details in the home to give a boring vanity a little more character. It's a tiny detail that makes a big impact.

Are you planning a bathroom update anytime soon? Share your favorite inspiring photos and befores and afters with us on Facebook and Instagram.

New technology and major innovations often change at the speed of light. With major household brands working to make everyday life easier for consumers, there are a few factors you should keep an eye on as the technology you adopt evolves and matures. Here are the 5 tech trends you should be watching this year, according to Rob Martens, Futurist and VP of Strategy and Partners for Allegion, maker of Schlage Locks.

1. MORE MEGA-TECH PLATFORM ACTIVITY

Mega-techs (household names like Apple, Amazon and Samsung) are creating platforms to unite home devices like door locks and security cameras.

2. Differential privacy

With more people concerned about their data being sold, crowdsourcing data to create better experiences—while keeping individual user data private—will only become more important in 2017.

3. Chatbots & artificial intelligence

Chatbots are simple systems that users interact with via text or voice, and they offer an alternative to downloading yet another app to help you access information or get something done.

4. Enhanced design

Enhanced design is the idea of incorporating new technology into the aesthetic and functional design of a project—creating opportunities to make the home safer, more efficient and more convenient.

5. Augmented & virtual reality

The practical applications for these technologies are becoming clearer each year, ranging from offering virtual test drives for car buyers to online stores that allow shoppers to “browse” the shelves.

For a closer look at each of these trends and what major brands have to say about it, see Rob in action at CES 2017. Which tech trends are most important to you in 2017? Comment below to let us know.

Earlier this year, thousands of tech enthusiasts and brands gathered to witness and showcase the latest consumer innovations that are expected to hit the market in the near future. Rob Martens, Futurist and VP of Strategy and Partners for Allegion, maker of Schlage Locks, made five predictions for what he thought the biggest trends would be at this year’s showcase. See how these trends are coming to life as Martens chats with executives from NVIDIA, Lutron, iDevices and Ford. Check out the video below to see what they have to say about trends in the smart home, innovations in content and entertainment, and the future of connected vehicles.

Visit our Smart Home Center on schlage.com to get all the details on how new technology and innovations are working together to make your daily life at home a little easier.

Transcript

 

0:00 Hi, I'm Rob Martens, Futurist and Vice

0:12 President of Strategy and Partnerships

0:13 for Allegion, maker of Schlage Locks. Late

0:17 last year, we made some predictions about

0:18 what we might see at the 2017 Consumer

0:21 Electronics show. Let's talk about the

0:23 first prediction, content and

0:25 entertainment innovations. So I think

0:28 what we're going to see is this is absolutely

0:29 not a flash-in-the-pan. It's not a

0:31 24-hour trend. We're going to see it

0:34 being really reinforced and really

0:35 adopted as we see incredible content

0:37 coming out and even more hardware to

0:39 give you just a fantastic experience.

0:40 Moving on to our second prediction, a

0:43 smarter smart home.

0:44 Smart home adoption is increasing,

0:47 especially with the help of known brands

0:49 brands like Schlage and Hunter,

0:51 Chamberlain, Honeywell, Lutron - ones that

0:55 people can relate to that have

0:57 confidence in that they feel that they

0:58 can trust. Lutron’s hope is that within

1:01 the next two to three years, we're not

1:03 talking about smart home anymore.

1:05 We're just talking about the home and how

1:07 people are using technology throughout

1:08 every room to live life better and solve

1:11 everyday problems. In 2017, what's

1:14 iDevices perspective on this?

1:17 We're staying true to what we've been

1:18 doing. It’s going to be all about 

1:20 easy integration. We've done Alexa. We’ve done

1:24 Apple HomeKit™. We've got android support.

1:26 We’ve covered the bases and we're just

1:28 looking to expand on that and really

1:30 looking for the revolution to happen

1:32 this year in 2017. Number three, connected

1:35 vehicles. What you're seeing behind us

1:36 here is Ford's next generation in our

1:39 autonomous vehicle development.

1:40 That's the car that drives by itself.

1:42 That's our step towards getting to our

1:44 2021 goal of having a high-volume

1:47 rideshare service that is completely

1:49 autonomous. Well, CES 2017 is wrapping up.

1:54 It's been a fantastic show. Amazing

1:55 innovation and new technology from the

1:58 living room couch to the connected car.

1:59 We've seen it all.

2:01 Coming soon to a home near you. See you

2:03 next year.

Curb appeal, door hardware installation tips and style trends were hot topics in 2016. Take a look at our top 10 DIY and design blog posts of 2016.

1. 7 mistakes to avoid when purchasing exterior door hardware

 

Make sure you do your homework and avoid these seven common mistakes when purchasing exterior door hardware.

2. Create a designer front door look without the designer price tag

 

Giving your front door a spring refresh doesn't have to cost a fortune. Follow these tips for a designer front door look without paying the designer price.

3. 5 simple but gorgeous front door transformations

 

We've collected a few of our favorite DIY front door makeovers to help you think outside the box and create a look that suits your personal style without breaking the bank.

4. 10 moments brass hardware looked its best

Brass is back with a whole new look! Here are ten times brass hardware looked its best to help inspire a modern upgrade to outdated hardware.

5. 11 budget curb appeal ideas to spruce up your home for less

 

Here are 11 DIY curb appeal projects that will help you stay in budget but make a big impact in the value and curb appeal of your home.

6. How to install a handleset on your front door

 

Installing new handleset is a project can skill level can take on. Here is a detailed breakdown with photos of the steps you'll need to take to install a new Schlage handleset on your front door.

7. How to choose door hardware for your home

 

How do you determine which door hardware is best for your needs? Here are a few things you should consider before making your purchase.

8. How to choose an exterior paint color

 

Looking for a new paint color for your front door or home's exterior? Learn how to choose an exterior paint color with our top tips and considerations.

9. 5 unique interior door makeovers to dress up your home this winter

 

Giving your interior doors a makeover is an easy winter project that takes little time to complete but makes a big impact. Check out five of our favorite interior door looks.

10. Trends driving home, interior design industry

 

From Glitz & Glam to Farmhouse and Industrial Chic decor, here's what's trending in interior design and home decor.

What DIY and style content do you enjoy most and want to see more of in 2017? Comment below to let us know!

Thorough research is important before you select your next smart home device. When it comes to keyless technology, you may just be looking for a convenient way to share access to your home with guests or a lock that works with other smart devices in your home.

 

Here's a look back at our top five smart home and keyless electronic deadbolt articles of 2016 to help you in your search for more information.

1. 6 things you didn't know the Schlage Sense app can do

 

Did you know the Schlage Sense™ app contains features and benefits to help you get the most out of your smart lock? Here 6 six things you need to know.

2. What you need to know about the Schlage Sense™ Smart deadbolt

 

Still unsure whether the Schlage Sense™ Smart deadbolt is right for you? We put together this list of commonly asked questions to help you decide.

3. Mechanical deadbolt vs. electronic lock: How to choose

 

Here's a breakdown of the top benefits for both mechanical and electronic deadbolts locks to help you choose the right deadbolt to secure your home.

4. 7 electronic keyless lock myths you should ignore

 

Keyless electronic locks are known for making life more convenient but many homeowners are hesitant to take the plunge. Here are 7 myths to ignore.

5. 5 times you'll wish you had a touchscreen lock this holiday season

 

Make the holiday season a little easier on yourself. Here are five times a touchscreen lock will simplify your life during an often hectic time.

What electronic deadbolt topics would you like to learn more about in 2017? Comment below to let us know! In the mean time, be sure to visit Go Keyless on schlage.com for even more details about our full keyless product line-up.