Great taste never goes out of style. However, over time, the definition of taste changes — especially when it comes to home building and design. While past trends may have included golden-toned wood cabinets and popcorn ceilings, today's homebuilding trends incorporate eco-friendly design, technology and simple layouts.
Together, these rapidly-growing trends work together to create the modern residential home. And, odds are good, you'll see many of the following trends for a number of years to come.
1. Engineered Woods
Wood flooring is a classic choice, but the type of wood homeowners use has changed over the years. While they may have leaned more toward dark, natural woods in the past, designers are opting for lighter, engineered woods with a more natural finish in gray, honey and even white tones.
Waterproof vinyl and laminates that look like wood are becoming more popular as well as textures that generate a reclaimed, hand-scraped or distressed appearance. Additionally, creative flooring options that incorporate chevron patterns and wide planks are also seeing a comeback.
2. Clean Lines
Homebuilding is also transitioning to more contemporary designs that incorporate strong, clean lines and defined shapes. Often, this entails geometric patterns, bare windows and bold blocks of color.
Moreover, builders use generous amounts of metal or stone and glass to emphasize simplicity and create stunning lines in the kitchen, bathroom and even the bedroom and living room. For example, in a kitchen, designers may rely on concealed cabinet pulls to create a more smooth and streamlined look.
3. Open Floor Plans
Even if you aren't a fan of contemporary design and the use of bold lines, you're probably a sucker for an open floor plan. Builders are using this type of design in all kinds of homes — from traditional to modern — to create more usable space and rid homes of unnecessary, isolating walls.
Kitchens, dining areas and dens all flow together to create a single area. And narrow hallways and extra rooms are now a thing of the past, making spaces airier and less confining.
4. Modular Homes
While "stick-built" homes are still the norm, modular homes are rapidly gaining popularity across the U.S. Builders construct these houses in a factory in large sections, which they then put together once you determine where you want to place your home.
Modular and prefabricated homes aren't a new invention. Rather, they've been around since the early 1900s. However, more recently, options for these homes have expanded to mimic stick homes, but remain 10 to 20% less costly to construct. Of course, their affordability makes them extremely attractive to homebuyers today.
5. Green Homes
Climate change continues to make headlines, leading homebuyers to look for more eco-friendly housing options. Luckily, designers have risen to the challenge and now offer a number of options to fulfill customer demands. You can now choose from passive solar designs, solar panels and wind-powered energy for your home.
Moreover, building codes are beginning to update their terms and often require major changes to insulation and window and boiler standards. This allows for less energy consumption and greener homes.
6. Smart Homes
Cutting-edge technology within the home has also become a major trend in home building and design. Smart homes, which feature devices that control automated tasks, like turning on lights, are springing up all over. And while homeowners often added these features after the house was built, designers are now incorporating them into the building plans, making them an integral part of the structure.
These features may include irrigation, smart thermostats, garage door openers and even household monitoring systems that can sense electrical surges.
7. Outdoor Space
But interior trends aren't the only ones to keep an eye on in 2020. Outdoor spaces like lawns and backyards have also undergone a revival in recent years. From patios to fire pits to full-size outdoor kitchens, people are beginning to utilize their backyard square footage. Now, the interior home ebbs and flows with the outdoor space, creating a home that's a better fit for family gatherings and entertaining.
While outdoor luxury may come with a hefty price tag, experts don't see this trend slowing down anytime soon. That goes for the rest of these, too, which should have solid staying power for years to come.
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