The concept of a “tweakment” (a portmanteau of “tweak” and “treatment”), first emerged in the beauty industry, where it has been used when referring to non-surgical procedures for enhancing a person’s appearance. The term has since been adopted to describe the same principle in home and interior design, and is becoming increasingly popular online.
IDSystems has used search and social data to explore modern attitudes to home design and identified more than 59,000 Instagram posts using #tweakments, 33,600 using #simplifyyourspace and related terms securing even more: #luxehome (139,000), #boujeeonabudget (109,000), #homehacks (401,000).
Home tweakments can deliver significant improvements to your living spaces, without the need for major renovations or expense. From lighting and tech to new doors and room-by-room adjustments, here we explore the type of practical, everyday tweakments that could give your home a new lease of life.
Lighting plays a critical role in the presentation of a space, dictating its mood and functionality. When implemented effectively, shifts in lighting can be transformative.
Maximise natural light: The strategic positioning of mirrors and light-coloured decor will brighten your spaces instantly.
Upgrade your bulbs: Switch to warm, energy-efficient LED light bulbs to create an inviting ambience, while also saving energy and cutting costs.
Smart bulbs can be connected to existing hubs in the home allowing for voice control, dimming and automation, giving you total control over how your spaces are presented after dark – with multi-colour bulbs providing even more potential. Check out some of the 277,000 Instagram posts that use the hashtag #smartlighting for inspiration.
Layered lighting: Combining various sources of light and considering their direction is a simple way to highlight (or distract from) areas of your room.
Using ceiling, wall, standing, and table lamps in this way can be particularly effective and is securing a lot of interest online – #layeredlighting already has over 1,000 posts on Instagram, while more general inspiration for #lightingdesign has been shared over 4.7 million times.
Storage solutions
A well-organised home will feel spacious and functional, leaving more room for statement pieces. Over 78,000 Instagram posts for #smartstorage and 1.3million for #storagesolutions will help you find more ideas, but here are some starting points:
Hide electrical boxes and thermostats in DIY cupboards – just make sure that any electrical equipment has sufficient ventilation!
Use over-the-door organisers
Add a storage ottoman for dual functionality and additional seating.
Repurpose a shoe organiser for small items like cables and stationery.
Smart tech and gadgets
The smart lighting we discussed earlier is only the first in a range of creative ways that technology can add efficiency and comfort to your home.
Smart thermostats: For consistent temperature control, automation and improved energy efficiency – all controlled from your phone or via voice.
Smart speakers: Providing hands-free control over music or podcasts across the home. Most smart speakers will also integrate with your smart devices, so consider positioning in the rooms where you are most likely to benefit: the kitchen for when you’re cooking, the living room for entertaining, and the bedroom as an alarm clock, or for relaxing music as you sleep.
Create a charging station: Get rid of nests of charging cables with a combination of cable management to hide exposed wires.
With 1,100 average monthly UK searches for ‘digital detox’ and increasing concern about smartphone addiction, installing wireless charging pads is a tweakment that will encourage you and your family to reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone and contribute to improved mental health.
Interior design tweakments
Renew your window coverings: Bedrooms benefit from blackout curtains, but are coverings needed in every room? Over 1,000 posts using #windowmakeover and over 5,000 for #letlightin indicate that for many, natural light is crucial for presenting their home at its best.
But which window covering to choose? In terms of UK search trends, opinion is split:
Curtains – 79K monthly UK searches
Blinds – 78K monthly UK searches
“Your choice of window covering may be determined by the size and position of your window.” says Kerry Nicolson, Interior Design Stylist at IDSystems.
“For larger windows, and even bifold or sliding doors, roller blinds that pull down from the ceiling are a popular option, or alternatively you can even get screens and shades that pull out from the sides of an aperture to provide privacy in the evenings and protection from the sun during the day.”
Whatever option you choose, the material is one of the most important considerations. Light, sheer material for living room windows will provide a balance between privacy and brightness.
Plants and greenery: A major home design trend for 2025 is Biophilic design, the idea of ‘bringing the outdoors in’ – with indoor or rooftop gardens where space is limited, or for buildings in densely urban areas.Following this trend doesn’t have to mean creating a jungle, but houseplants and flowers (fresh, dried, or artificial) can help you easily follow this trend and benefit from the vibrancy of nature’s colours.
Rearrange furniture: Sometimes a change is as good as a rest. Adjust the layout of your existing furniture by considering the routes through the home and removing obstacles to create a more natural flow from room to room.
If you don’t want to knock down walls but are open to minor renovations, there are two simple ways to enhance kerb appeal instantly:
Upgrade your front door: According to Feng Shui, “the main entry is the portal of energy for the home” so replacing your front door can rejuvenate the ‘kerb appeal’ of your home without a significant cost or days of labour.
New windows: While the difference can be subtle, new windows will revitalise the overall look of your home, while also improving security and energy efficiency.
In the UK, this is a very popular tweakment option, with ‘front door’ and ‘front door replacement’ securing almost 30,000 monthly searches (25k and 4.8k respectively).
Nicholson explains; “Opting to replace your windows can have performance as well as aesthetic benefits to your home. Modern aluminium windows are designed with much narrower profiles meaning more glass and less frame impacting your view out and the amount of natural light let in.
“The latest generation of aluminium systems, like theVISION flush window from IDSystems combine stylish finishes and handles with advanced thermal efficiency standards making them a practical option as well as improving the look of your home.”
Home Tweakments for each room
Bedroom bliss
Invest in a new duvet or pillows: Finding the right pillow type significantly impacts the quality of your sleep. A study by Physiotherapy Canada found that many people experience compromised sleep quality until they find a pillow type that suits them, with feather pillow users “most likely to report both poor sleep quality and poor pillow comfort”.
Blackout curtains: Having already discussed letting more light in with window coverings, it is important to emphasise the value blackout curtains can have for bedrooms. WebMD agrees, saying “using blackout curtains and other sleep hygiene methods can help you experience deeper, longer, and more refreshing sleep.” Not only is better sleep beneficial for you, but will leave a great impression on guests. 29,000 monthly UK searches for blackout curtains indicate the popularity of this approach.
Living room comfort
Refresh your seating areas: Seating areas play an important role in the presentation of your living areas, meaning a home tweakment can be as simple as reviving your tired sofa cushions. Regular plumping will bring air back into your seat and throw cushions, improving the presentation of your sofa and making it more comfortable.
Add some colour: Enhancing your kitchen doesn’t require a full remodel. Simply brightening the existing space with pops of colour can make a significant difference. Try replacing your dishcloths and oven gloves with fresh new designs.
Shuffle your workspaces: Seeing the same kitchen layout every day for years makes it hard to identify areas for quick improvements – so have a fresh start! Clear the counters and rethink the surface-top layout, moving things like knife racks and air fryers to new positions. Where possible, invest in new, practical gadgets that will enhance your cooking experience while also bringing something fresh to the space.
Install a pull-out bin: While a kitchen bin is essential, they are often an eyesore. Installing a pull-out bin not only saves space but also keeps waste out of sight for a cleaner, more organised kitchen.
Bathroom refresh
Rejuvenate your shower: New towels and a replacement shower screen are a great way to give your bathroom a lift, but the biggest home improvement is improving the strength of the shower itself. In many cases this can be done simply by replacing or cleaning the showerhead. This one simple change can increase water pressure, eliminate buildup of harmful bacteria, minimise water waste and prolong the life of your equipment.
Install a heated towel rail: An affordable and dramatic upgrade for your bathroom is the popular trend of installing a heated towel rail. Alongside a touch of luxury, rails will allow you to enjoy warm towels every time you step out of the shower, while also drying your towels quickly, reducing the risk of mildew. 2025 trends include:
Metallic for an industrial style
Matt and minimalist
Bold colours
Which tweak will you try first?
From upgrading windows and doors to hiding cables and towel rails, every tweak adds up. By completing a series of small, considered tweakments, spaces in your home can become more comfortable, functional and visually appealing. Better still, continued incremental changes will refine your living spaces without the need for major renovations.
