What's In and What's Not - 2010 Trends in Home Design
There are always new trends in home design and the hot items on buyers and homeowners lists keep changing. With the weakened economy, buyers are starting to become more realistic about the costs of owning and maintaining a home and their needs and wants are changing to reflect the economic times. Where buyers once coveted the big McMansions and "bigger" was "better", buyers today are looking for more energy efficient homes and systems and ways to reduce their home maintenance costs.
According to the latest American Institute of Architect Home Design Trends Survey for the second quarter of 2010, home owner preferences have changed. Affordibility is high on their lists and they're opting for functionional homes instead of extravagant ones.
From This: 
To This: 
Because of the economic downturn, homeowners are focused on cutting utility costs. Smaller homes mean less space to heat which translates into lower utility bills. As a result there's a greater interest in smaller more energy efficient homes - extravagant extras and upscale amenities are out and low maintenance projects are in.
Based on the highlights of the report,
Here's WHAT'S IN
- Home offices: With more people telecommuting and working from home, a dedicated home office is part of their must have list.
- Energy-saving features: Home owners are trying to save on home utility costs and are looking for energy efficient products and systems to help such as double and triple glazed windows, tankless water heaters, and low maintenance materials.
- Informal open easily accesible living space with access to an outdoor living area: With smaller more energy efficient homes, comes a need for increased functionality in all elements of the home. Having a multifunctional open living space that can expand to include living space in the outdoors is part of today's homeowners wish list.
- Mud rooms: Homeowners may be cutting down on space, but not on their need for storage. Creative use of mud rooms provides for extra storage and is a practical way to link the informal open space with outdoor living space.
Here's WHAT'S OUT
- Single purpose rooms like media rooms, excersize rooms, and game rooms are being replaced with home offices and multi purpose great rooms.
- Kid's wings/guest wings are being replaced with a guest room
- Interior greenhouses are being relegated to the outdoors
These are just some of the new trends. It's nice to see that buyers are focused on the times.
Flickr Photos by lordsutch, kevindooley
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