The stress of 2020 is causing an overhaul in home design. For example, open floor plans are now being considered too open as households seek privacy for work and school while everyone is at home. As a result, home offices are growing in demand in buyers' home search.
Real estate and design experts recently shared with realtor.com® some of the biggest home design trends likely in the new year, including:
Separated spaces.
Open floor plans are getting divided up. Homeowners are looking to create nooks or pockets for Zoom calls, lounging, exercising, and e-learning, design experts say. “New buyers are asking for homes with more separation, as sometimes multigenerational families share a home and need space and privacy amongst themselves,” Yorgos Tsibiridis, a broker at Douglas Elliman in the Hamptons, told realtor.com®.
Biophilic design.
Homeowners are craving nature in the pandemic and are bringing in more houseplants and indoor gardens. “During the pandemic when it was difficult for some to get their daily dose of nature, people started bringing the outdoors in with natural materials in their home,” Julie Busby, founder of the Busby Group at Compass in Chicago, told realtor.com®.
Wood-grain elements in the kitchen.
Wood-grain kitchen cabinets and counters are trending, offering a touch of organic and natural materials. Bill Darcy, CEO of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, told realtor.com® this may be another sign of tying home design elements to nature. Instead of all-white kitchens or painted cabinets, more homeowners are adding in wood-grain cabinets and wood countertops on to their kitchen islands, designers say.
Outdoor solitude.
Fireplaces, fire pits, patios and decks, screened-in porches, and outdoor kitchens have all gained popularity during the pandemic. The outdoor kitchen is particularly trending, as homeowners add outdoor refrigerators and dining areas in their backyards or create a more elaborate space that includes a fully equipped kitchen outside with a stovetop and appliances.
Bathrooms get smarter.
Smart home innovations are increasingly entering the bathroom.
“Touchless appliances, including motion sensors for lighting, and smart temperature control for bathroom floors will be more popular in the next year,” Darcy predicted to realtor.com®.
View realtor.com®’s full list of 2021 home design predictions at its website.
Source: “It’s a Shake-Up! These 10 Drastically Different Design Trends Will Be Everywhere in 2021—and Beyond,” realtor.com® (Dec. 16, 2020)
