More Elegant Outdoor Spaces and Features
Many of today’s homes are concentrating on the outside features just as much as the indoor features. Whether the time you have outside is limited due to weather or limitless, you want to get the most out of that time when you can enjoy the fresh air.
We are seeing a trend of significantly better outdoor furniture and appliances being used in these homes. Full kitchens, dining rooms, sports caves, and full-fledged entertaining areas eliminate the need to even go indoors. In many cases where the weather does become an issue, firepits have enabled homeowners to extend the time they can enjoy their custom outdoor area.
Upgrading the Bathroom
Now, we touched on the different colors that are being used in part one for the bathroom. We even hinted that many homeowners are going away from the traditional white for a bathroom to create more spa-like looks. Well, some homeowners, if it is within their budget, are taking that another step further to give the bathroom a spa feel.
One of the more popular trends is a larger shower stall with multiple showerheads and a dedicated sitting area. If they are unable to incorporate the sitting area, we often see fold-down benches added to the design. Marble and stone are trendy now, especially for bathrooms that have some natural light.
Bringing the Outdoors Inside
Natural light has always been a popular design idea, but we are now seeing more and more of it with massive windows and more natural structure to create a seamless blend of the outdoors to the inside of the home. As we noted in part one, some of the neutral colors that had become taboo for whatever reason are now considered hot design colors. Do not underestimate COVID’s role in all of this as people want a home that gives them an outdoor feel even when they are stuck inside. Rather than staring at four walls, they can at least see the outdoors while sitting in their living room and enjoying a little bit of nature.
Incorporating Technology
This is arguably one of the bigger trends in new construction. Smart homes are quickly becoming the norm, where you can control the entire house off a hub or even your phone. One of my favorite features is the ability to turn things on/off via the phone when you are not home. This is a great way to save energy in areas of heating and cooling as well as always leaving all the lights on because you do not want to come to a dark house. Raise or lower the temperature an hour before you get home and turn the lights on as you approach the house rather than having those settings all day. Believe me, those savings add up rather quickly.