Homeowners looking to improve their property are likely to purchase large items before the end of the year in order to avoid Januarys increase in VAT, Build It magazine has observed.Anna-Marie Desouza, the publications editor, suggested there may be a rush from consumers seeking to invest in larger items for their homes in order to save themselves money on VAT.This could include buying new fixtures like kitchen sinks and taps.Indeed, Ms Desouza noted that those looking to buy new bathrooms or kitchens could be wise to purchase in the next two weeks, but also urged such people to think carefully about whether they can install or safely store the items.Earlier this week, meanwhile, Eva Hammerson, head of design at lighting firm Kandabi, commented that there has been an increase in the use of mood lighting techniques in homes.She added that this trend, which applies the latest lighting technology such as LEDs, is set to become the norm in the next decade and will eventually replace every existing lighting technology in the market today.