Home Improvements Trends 2022
Industry insiders say homeowners won’t regret making an investment in these projects.
(PR worldpropertyjournal) – There’s a lot of pent-up energy and dollars being poured into home remodels. According to the latest reports and discussions with construction industry insiders, there are several shifts and trends underscoring this evolving marketplace.
Open Sight Lines – Sight lines have always played a key role in home construction and interior design. They control how much of a floor plan you’re able to see at any given time. Closed sightlines create the feeling of privacy, while open sight lines are designed to let in more light and provide an airy feel.
Architects and builders are turning to very open sight lines featuring one large area with a kitchen, living room, and dining room all adjacent to one another without any dividing walls or separating elements. Homeowners then have to be intentional about the sight lines they don’t show. For example, you don’t want the toilet to be visible when the front door is open, or to see dirty dishes when relaxing in your favorite living room chair.
Natural Materials – Natural materials like wood and stone are in. Reclaimed and vintage materials like cast iron are also popular. With the rise in the cost of natural materials, there are some pretty incredible engineered products that look just like the real thing. For example. GenStone is a popular engineered option that fastens to any flat surface – including wood, brick, or drywall – to provide a stone finish. It’s commonly used on siding, fireplace surrounds, and columns. When it comes to wood, today’s engineered wood flooring is almost indistinguishable from real wood. It looks great, holds up over time, and costs significantly less.
Hidden Kitchen Appliances – Kitchens were once reserved for cooking. Today, they tend to be the “hangout” spot in the house. As a result, there’s an increased emphasis on having kitchens that are comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. One of the growing trends in kitchen design is hidden appliances that have a cabinet-like finish that blends in with the rest of the woodwork. And unless guests know where to look, they might not even know the appliances are there.
Flex Sheds – Sheds used to be reserved for storing lawn equipment and old bags of fertilizer. Today, backyard sheds have become versatile extensions of the main home. We’re seeing “she sheds,” man caves, workshops, home offices, spare bedrooms, Airbnb rentals, and onsite storage facilities. Thanks to prefabricated options, they’re less expensive and more beautiful than ever before.
While it’s true that trends come and go, the ones builders, designers, and architects are seeing today are likely to be around for a while. That’s because they aren’t polarizing or visually shocking. They’re natural and easy on the eyes. So while other trends will certainly emerge in the coming months and years, the industry insiders say homeowners won’t ever regret making an investment in these projects. (PR worldpropertyjournal)