Five Simple Retrofit Wins That Make a Big Difference

We speak to a lot of people who want to make their homes more sustainable but aren’t sure where to start. Maybe you’ve noticed that your home feels cold in winter or stuffy in summer, or perhaps you’re simply looking to live more lightly on the planet. The idea of retrofitting your home can feel daunting, especially when it seems like every option requires complex systems or major construction.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to demolish your house and start again. Small, thoughtful moves (whether simple upgrades or intentional investments) can have a big impact on how your home performs and how it feels to live in.

At Barefoot Architects, we help clients explore retrofit strategies that suit their aspirations without breaking the bank. Whether you’re planning one small change or starting a longer-term journey, here are five ideas to help reimagine your home.

“Windsor Road, Bristol - a Radical Retrofit which followed these five wins… and then some!”

1. Let in the Light

One of the easiest ways to make a home feel more generous and uplifting is to increase natural light. Replacing solid external doors with glazed ones, adding rooflights, or simply enlarging existing openings can change the atmosphere of a space. Never underestimate the quality and joy natural light can bring to day-to-day living.

2. Upgrade Your Windows

If your windows are tired, leaky, or poorly sealed, it can make your home hard to heat and drafty to live in. New double or triple-glazed units with airtight frames can make a significant difference. Even small improvements here- like replacing a single window or adding secondary glazing- can improve comfort, reduce heat loss, and connect you more closely to your outside spaces.

“Windsor Road, Bristol – natural, breathable clay plaster finishes help absorb moisture and decadently reflect the daylight brought in through a new large skylight”

3. Insulate Where It’s Easiest

Retrofitting doesn’t have to mean gutting your walls (though sometimes that’s the best option!). Attic and suspended floor insulation are simple starting points that can quietly transform your home’s thermal performance. Using natural, breathable materials also means you’re caring for the building as well as the planet.

4. Refine How You Use Space

Often, the way we inhabit our homes doesn’t match how they were originally designed. A few well-considered layout changes can help you make the most of warmth, light, and flow. Whether that’s reconfiguring rooms, improving access to the garden, or shifting the heart of the home to a more inviting spot, an Architect can help you reinvent your house in ways you may have never considered.

“St Dunstans Road, Salcombe – another radical retrofit which has completely transformed the internal layout (within the existing planning permission) of a 1930’s bungalow to better suit contemporary living”

5. Blend the Old with the Renewable

Once your building fabric is working well, you can start to layer in renewable technologies that complement your home. Solar panels, air source or ground source heat pumps, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) can all contribute to long-term comfort, efficiency, and resilience. These technologies may require more up-front planning and investment, but when integrated simply and sensitively, they elevate your retrofit from good to transformative.

Start Where You Are

Retrofitting doesn’t have to be complex to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s about one good decision at a time. Whether you’re exploring small adjustments or planning a bigger transformation, our Initial Design Consultation (IDC) is a great place to begin.

We’d love to collaborate with you to help discover what your home needs- and how to make those changes with purpose, simplicity, and care.