Real Estate News
Home Construction and Remodeling Trends Underscore Evolving Marketplace
2021 Gives Way to Evolving Home Construction and Remodeling Trends
Home construction and remodeling trends are constantly evolving. The same is true in 2021. Followed by a year of shutdowns where people spent more time than ever inside their homes, 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. Homeowners can use closed sightlines to create the feeling of privacy, while open sight lines are designed to let in more light and provide an airy feel.
In 2021, open sight lines are in. But not just any open sight lines. Architects and builders are turning to very open sight lines. Many of today's newer homes feature one large area with a kitchen, living room, and dining room all adjacent to one another without any dividing walls or separating elements.
Homeowners who are remodeling in 2021 and are looking for a way to achieve an open look are giving more thought to careful furniture placement.
However, today's homeowners also have to be intentional about the sight lines they don't show. For example, designers are adamant that you don't want the toilet to be visible when the front door is open. And dirty dishes aren't the thing people want to see when relaxing in their favorite living room chair. Details such of these must be accounted for.
Natural Materials
Synthetic is out and natural is in. The industry is seeing a significant rise in the use of natural materials like wood and stone. Reclaimed and vintage materials like cast iron are also popular.
The only problem with the rise in the cost of natural materials is the high prices. Lumber is more expensive than ever before. The same goes for stone. If homeowners don't have room in their budgets to pay for natural materials, there are some pretty incredible engineered products that look just like the real thing.
Take stone, 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 have evolved a lot over the years. They were once reserved for cooking. Today, they tend to be the "hangout" spot in the house. People cook, eat, converse, and entertain in the kitchen. As a result, there's an increased emphasis on having kitchens that are comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
One of the latest trends in kitchen design is the rise of hidden appliances. Rather than having the dishwasher and refrigerator exposed, these appliances 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.
Plus, thanks to prefabricated options that can be delivered to a homeowner's backyard, they're less expensive and more beautiful than ever before.
Adding it All Up
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.
