Renovation centre-stage at Home Show

Amanda Magnus with the Nautilus house. She says people are opting for adding value rather than buying new homes. Photo / Dean Purcell

Renovating to add value is a a main theme at this year's Auckland Home Show opening today at the ASB Show Grounds in Greenlane.

Group exhibition manager Amanda Magnus says exhibitors have found more people are renovating than buying or building new.

"The focus is adding value and you don't have to spend a fortune to do it."

Options such as heat pumps and landscape gardening are becoming more popular as people realise that the investment increases their property's value and makes it more comfortable to live in.

With an overall theme of "a different way of living", visitors can learn how to make the most of their homes or plan for new ones using ideas from around the world.

The home show also contains an area dedicated to pre-fabricated homes, which can be an "affordable entry point" for home buyers.

Jim Townsend, of garden designers Floradell, has also recreated a traditional West Coast bach with his "escape to the bach" show garden.

"I wanted to cheer everybody up with the bright colours. It's got a unique five-pot water feature and a lot of rare plants," he said.

Janet Luke of Green Urban Living.co.nz will show visitors how to grow their own vegetables and even raise chickens in urban areas.

Even apartment dwellers could grow their own salads in "gutter gardens" or old suitcases.

"It's all about recycling, reinventing and reusing," said Ms Luke.

A "Nautilus" house from Mexico, made from natural, sustainable materials, is also on display.

The home show is open today and Thursday 10am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm.