Building a new home? Then you’ll want to consider the latest homebuilding trends all contractors are talking about this year. We have included a long list of must-haves for homeowners, from style and design aspects to the latest advanced technology. And don’t forget to go green! Before you break ground, make sure your home has all these characteristics for today’s modern homeowner.
Building Style
One of the perks of building a new home is that you get to reflect your own personal style and individuality. Your home can reflect who you are based on the colors, textures, and mixed materials you choose. If you want to keep up with the Joneses, this year, make sure your home has plenty of squared edges, paneling, unadorned arches, and clean moldings, which are highly popular with this year’s homebuilders. The alternative is to stick with round columns and fussy details, which are falling out of style. The idea is to think outside of the box and turn traditional on its head.
When it comes to the individual rooms of your home, the current trend is to add a home office and study. These can be used for the times when it becomes necessary to work from home but also for children’s studies. Some homeowners are requesting up to three home office spaces, one for each adult, and a shared space for the kids.
Recreational and entertainment spaces are a must-have for many homeowners. These spaces are perfect for games and gathering and can be turned into a theater room with a big-screen and comfy seating. Some homeowners even include a bar to serve drinks and snacks.
For ceiling trends, homeowners are requesting more exposed headers and beams that can be wood grain with stain or painted, as these can fit into nearly any architectural style.
In the bathroom, one style trend is to put in a comfortable shower. What’s more soothing than multiple shower heads and sprays that make you feel pampered in addition to clean? A handheld sprayer is also popular, which can be used for cleaning the shower walls or washing kids and pets.
Arched doors, cabinetry and doorways are a hit this year as well. These architectural arches add character to your home and harken back to the building styles of ancient times.
Heated floors are popular in the bathroom. Floor heating technology has become relatively inexpensive and makes bathing a spa-like experience.
For roofing, metal roofs are both stylish and eco-friendly. Metal roofing also lasts for decades.
And don’t forget the exteriors, such as your front door. Pivot doors and Dutch doors are both highly popular this year with home builders. Doors with glass panels are all the rage as well, as the glass can be arranged any number of different ways.
Other exterior choices for the home include stone and concrete, mostly due to the increased rise in lumber prices.
Interior Design
Biophilic design is a phrase you will likely hear a lot of as you delve deeper into new home construction design trends. This means to add natural elements to your home, such as maximizing sunlight, fresh air, and including natural shapes and forms into the structure’s architecture.
The idea with biophilic design is to bring the essence of the outdoors indoors.
Inversely, we are also seeing a trend of bringing the indoors outdoors. The backyard is a major focus of this trend with larger and more luxurious outdoor living spaces. We aren’t seeing as many smaller decks or patios. Instead, homeowners are focusing on a covered rear porch or screened-in porch where the barbecue grill features front and center. Some homeowners even opt for an outdoor kitchen.
When it comes to interiors, the days of all-white kitchens have passed on by. Homebuilders are more focused on colorful kitchens with wood cabinets and countertops featuring alternative materials like granite. And don’t forget the kitchen hood. Kitchen hoods have become a focal point of kitchen design in recent years. This year is no different.
Another hot trend is to choose black accents, such as all-black interior and exterior window frames, entryway doors, and appliances.
Green is a highly popular color for cabinetry and for tiles in the bathroom. Blue is another color that new homebuilders seem to be searching for. Blue is a calming color that goes nicely with neutrals like grays, whites, and blacks.
When it comes to furniture, the trendiest couches and chairs seem to be velvety and curvy with rounded contours. Swivel chairs are another popular choice that can be turned according to the subject of conversation.
For floors, hardwood retains its popularity. Homeowners this year are opting for lighter woods into their home designs. We are also seeing more two-tone overlays, mostly using recycled woods on account of supply chain delays.
When it comes to decorating your home, the trend is to include more furnishings, art, rugs, and paint that reflect where you have traveled and where you might be going. These are known as statement pieces. And it’s perfectly okay to mix and match colors, patterns, and textures.
Advanced Technology
Smart home technology has become mainstream. These include programmable thermostats, smart appliances, and built-in charging stations for not only smart phones, but also electric cars.
A big trend is seeing rooms of the home that can communicate with one another. This is made possible with Google Home speakers, for example, that can function in groups.
Smart lighting can control all the lights throughout your home. You can even program the lighting to turn on, turn off, or dim according to your preferences and schedule.
Smart technology has also reached the kitchen with the high-tech fridge. One of these refrigerators can notify you when you are low on milk so you can add it to your shopping list.
And don’t neglect your home security. Homebuilders these days allow for smart home security systems that can be monitored from anywhere with a smartphone.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made us wary of touching surfaces, which has made touchless doorbells a thing. Get these for your home if you want the latest tech for your new home.
Smart tech doesn’t only have to be installed indoors. Outdoor smart technology is also a favorite of new home builders. Examples include automatic lawn sprinkler systems that can be integrated with your home’s plumbing and central control hub. These systems can ensure your home doesn’t get watered on rainy days, for example.
You don’t need to be very tech-savvy to set up these devices. Most people are able to quickly set up their smart devices with little more than a smartphone and wi-fi connection.
Going Green
Everyone talks about reducing their carbon footprint for the preservation of our world. New home construction is a great way to do your part with regards to the green movement.
Solar panels are one eco-friendly way to make your new home a literal green powerhouse. It is now easier and more affordable than ever to install solar panels on your roof, which will reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on utilities each year. Solar could save you up to $1,000 per year or more.
Ask your new home builder about constructing your home using sustainable materials. Many builders are switching to recyclable and non-toxic materials that seep less toxins into surrounding areas from the manufacturing process.
Energy-efficient appliances can also save you a bundle when it comes time to pay the utility bills. Energy typically comprises half or more of the average home’s utility allotment. Switching to energy-efficient appliances can save you a bundle and make your home environmentally friendly.
Water efficiency is another hot button issue that can make your home eco-friendly. Using water-efficient taps, toilets, and water-based appliances can help. These use sensors to turn the flow of water on and off, ensuring your home uses only the amount of water you need.
Lastly, ask your home builder about low-emitting windows. These windows come with a thin coating of metallic oxide, which protects your home from overheating or freezing. The transparent metallic coating blocks the sun’s rays during hot summer days, but lets enough light in for a pleasant ambiance and sufficient levels of Vitamin D.
Ready to Build Your Own Custom Home?
Are you ready to begin selecting your very own choices when it comes to building style, interior design, advanced tech, and green best practices? Imagine sitting down with a custom builder to design a home you can be proud of? That is what you get when you work with Ashford Homes in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Our custom home building team is ready to meet with you to discuss your dream home. With a variety of open floor plans, interior, and exterior design choices, cabinetry, countertops, bathroom layouts, and more, you are sure to have the time of your life designing the perfect home for you and your family. Contact us to discuss your budget, finance options, community locations, and all the exciting design options we have to offer.