The last decade has brought incredible innovation and originality in home design and architecture that will greatly affect the way we look at and live in our homes. Engineers and designers have been forced to rethink the way they build in the face of climate change. Society is moving towards the use of recyclable materials, self-supplying buildings, and installations of all kinds that respect the environment, and there are countless new trends that reflect this. Here are 6 new architecture trends that have influenced home design this year.
1. Multi-use Open Spaces
Open spaces without walls or partitions allow you to design the space according to your unique style and needs. For years now, creating one large open space for your kitchen and living room or family room was most popular. But as we move into the future, these open spaces of the home are expanding to include patios and even bedrooms.
Combining different rooms of the home into one large space allows for more overall living area, as walls and partitions aren’t taking up valuable square footage. This results in more functional, enjoyable living space for the whole family.
2. Smart and Automated Homes
Smart home technology generally refers to any suite of devices, appliances, or systems that connect into a common network that can be independently and remotely controlled, either from your smart phone or through a mobile touch screen device.
There is an increase in the usage of automation for both remodels and new builds. These automated systems that control everything from lighting to appliances to security systems are really taking off.
The major benefits of having a Smart Home:
· Reduce electric bills due to increased energy efficiency
· Manage all your home devices from one place
· Improve home security
· Potentially decrease your homeowner’s insurance rates
The growth in the smart home trend has gained tremendous momentum over the last few years. Nowadays, you can control pretty much anything in your home with your smartphone, including:
Turning lights on and off
Changing the temperature
Locking your doors
Watching the rooms in your home
Running your washer and dryer
Making a grocery list by utilizing your refrigerator’s camera
The list goes on and on, and home automation is here to stay. As technology advancement continues, so will the opportunities for home automation, which will help to make life even easier and more enjoyable.
3. Kitchen as the Focus of the Home
The kitchen remains to be the center of household activities and the most used room in the house, and has evolved recently to become even more so the main focus of the home. Even as the housing market is recovering, architects and interior designers are emphasizing this to their clients.
The kitchen has always been where we cook and, in many cases, eat. But it is now also becoming a place for children to play and for guests to have cocktails and appetizers.
In 2020, homeowners are choosing to increase their kitchen dimensions and open it up to the dining room and the living room. Adding a kitchen island breaks up the space and can serve as a snack zone and breakfast counter and visually separates the kitchen from the other rooms.
This trend of having a more open, spacious kitchen is surely changing the way families spend time together, especially in today’s digital age where many are on-the-go and don’t always sit at a traditional dining room table to eat dinner together.
4. Bathrooms for Relaxation
Bathrooms are no longer just for grooming and personal care. They have become a space of relaxation and decompression at the end of each day. More and more people are taking the time to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with themselves as they unwind in their jacuzzi or bathtub.
A few of the latest trends you’ll find in bathrooms that further this theme of serenity and relaxation include:
Shower as the focal point
Enclosed or Hidden Toilets
Deep Soaking Tubs
Chandeliers
Heated Bathroom Floors
Waterfall Showers
Hidden Storage
Sound System-Music
5. Maximizing Outdoor Spaces
Balconies, terraces, and patios are being reintroduced as major focal points of the home that can be utilized year-round if properly maintained. Glass enclosures without profiles, sometimes called glass curtains, allow you to open your home fully to your outdoor space to bridge the divide between the indoors and outdoors.
A lot more thought is being put into outdoor spaces, from built-in grills and sinks to gazebos and fountains. Homeowners want their backyards to be beautiful spaces where they can enjoy gorgeous weather and make memories with their friends and family.
Some additional ways people are enhancing their outdoor spaces in 2020 include:
Eye-Catching Lighting
Designer Deck Floors
Aluminum Railings
Outdoor Bars
Outdoor Kitchens
Planter Walls/Vertical Gardens
6. Industrialism & Minimalism
This trend is defined by asymmetrical forms in construction, both in residential buildings and in other urban infrastructures. It is characterized by the combination of iron, wood, aluminum and even recycled plastic, which reduces construction costs. It is characterized by asymmetrical forms, absence of surface elements, and simple lines.
Minimalism is the use of avant-garde and modern materials. It ensures thermal and acoustic insulation that help lower the costs, as well as benefit the environment.
Home architecture and design trends are ever evolving. As we move forward, some of these trends will prove to be extremely important while others may be completely neglected with the onset of newer and fresher inventions and ideas.
At Ryan A. Jones & Associates, we can implement all these trends into your custom home remodel or new home build. Contact us today to see how we can give you the home of your dreams.