With the rise of DIY themed programming and popular shows like Fixer-Upper, we love to dream about redecorating and even renovating our homes by ourselves, but don’t always think about the potential risks involved with the “trendy” design of the week.
Here are 5 dangerous home trends that we’ve seen gaining momentum over the years, and the potential risks they pose to you, your loved ones and your home.
1. Floating Storage and Shelves
The trend: “Floating” shelves, which appear to jut out dramatically from the wall, without the braces you’d see on ordinary shelves.
The risk: If these bookshelves and dressers are not properly anchored, they can pose a serious safety hazard. Similarly, floating shelves must be properly anchored in order to hold the weight of any books or decorations. If you’re wondering whether yours are securely attached to your wall, check out this primer on how to install floating shelves.
2. Open-Concept Floor Plans
The trend: Open-concept floor plans have been popularized by home improvement and renovation shows over the past decade. Stylists laud open floor plans: this design makes spaces seem bigger and allows families to share more moments together when they’re all on the same floor.
The risk: Open floor plans may increase your fire risk. If there’s no wall between the kitchen and the living room, a small fire can quickly become a much larger blaze. If your rooms are separated by doors, on the other hand, you can help contain or slow the spread of a fire.
3. Antique Light Fixtures
The trend: Making a living space classier using vintage light fixtures.
The risk: Unless you’re a master electrician, you could have a fire hazard sitting right under your nose, or right above your head. Due to old wiring standards and aged components, using vintage light fixtures and lamps can pose a serious fire hazard in your home.
4. Salvaged Wood, Barn Wood etc.
The trend: Hop on craigslist or drive around the countryside and pick up old wood to use as shelving, for your walls or make coffee tables out of it.
The risk: “Vintage” wood or older wood can be extremely dry, thus, more prone to fire. These types of vintage wood can also splinter easily, have chipped paint or worse, lead paint on them.
5. Hanging Your TV Over the Fireplace
The trend: Flat screen TVs mounted above the mantel
The risk: If your television is hung over the fireplace, the heat and soot could add, the proximity to heat may void the warranty on your flatscreen. Be sure to read the fine print.
Neck strain is a real issue. If you mount your television too high, you may find that watching the tube leads to long-term chiropractic problems.
Whether you have a lower-heat gas stove or wood-burning open fire, it’s a gamble to place your television over an open hearth. The weight of the television on the shortened wall may be risky, even if you choose to place your television directly on the mantle.
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Call us today at: (920) 596-3355
Sandie (Sandra) Wilz is the owner and an agent at Eastling Insurance in Manawa, Wisconsin. She is passionate about educating clients and prospects on what their insurance coverages mean and how having the correct coverage can give the client the peace of mind they would expect from their insurance protection. Sandie can be reached at (920) 596-3355.