Did you know that a 3D printer can actually be one of the best items to have in your home?

It might seem like a piece of Sci-Fi technology but these compact machines can truly transform how you look at decorating, repairing & improving your home!

If you're new to the topic of 3D printing like I was, it's essentially a machine that produces objects by adding material (i.e. plastic) onto a print bed.

Whereas a traditional printer only looks on a 2D plane (flat), the 3D printer works in vertical space as well to allow for the creation of very simple to very complex items.

You can either design the objects yourself in a 3D design software (like TinkerCad) or download them for free from sites like Thingiverse or Printables.

So what can you actually do with it around your home?

Decor

One of the cheapest & easiest ways to decorate your home with unique items is by utilizing a 3D printer to either create a standalone object (like the mandala above) or assemble an array of objects together to create a larger piece (leaves, hex square tiles).

There are dedicated pages on Thingiverse & Printables just for art so you're bound to find something that suits your taste!

Household items

If you live at the same home for a long enough time, eventually you'll notice that you need small little items that can improve your day to day life but these are either too expensive to buy or don't even exist as products in major retail stores.

3D printers solve this issue as there is an infinite amount of items that people from all over the world have created to make their homes a bit more liveable!

This can range from a brace for a cupboard hinge to a Nespresso Coffee Capsule Dispenser, a Washing Powder Scoop with Scale or a Stacking AA/AAA Battery Holder.

What's really neat about owning a 3D printer is that you can eventually start designing your own items to solve problems that you might have!

Personally, I've been at war with the pigeons since we moved into our new condo and have had to install numerous unsightly metal spikes to deter them from pooping on our balcony.

Biggest issue that I had here was a mounting system.

Zip ties unfortunately were not an option since there was no gap between the glass & the railing so I had to resort to a utilizing duct tape for fastening it down.

This made the spikes even uglier which prompted me to design my own clamp that now makes the whole unit easy to remove/install for cleaning, maintenance, etc.

Now I'm at work trying to make pigeon spikes more fun to look at!

So you might be thinking, this is really expensive right?

Actually not anymore!

While there are definitely lots of premium versions around, there are equally as many affordable options that provide a wide variety of printing sizes!

Some of the cheaper models start around $250 while a full-sized unit will run you close to $500-700.

Then you need to buy a 3D printer filament which can range from $20-45 per KG with prices varying depending on which material/colours you choose.

While there is a bit more of an upfront cost vs. buying an individual item, over the lifetime of a 3D printer you are likely to save quite a bit of money!

To put it into perspective, something simple that you can buy on Amazon for $15 you can now print at home for $0.50.

Additionally, it's actually better for the environment!

Instead of requiring a product to be shipped from overseas, stored at a facility & then driven to your home, you can just download the file & print it that same day.

Do you have questions about getting a 3D printer or how you could use it around your home?

Feel free to leave it in the comments below or message me on Instagram @TorontoRealEstate.ca !

Rylie C.