Houzz identified the top emerging home design trends based on the latest search insights from its community of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals. The trends reflect a focus on drought-tolerant landscaping, personal preferences for front entrances, statement lighting, defined styles and newly popular “barndo” homes. The report also reviewed emerging design aesthetics brought about by the pandemic.
1) Continued Focus on the Outdoors
With over half of home renovations incorporating outdoor upgrades, according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, it’s no surprise that people continue to look for ways to enjoy their homes’ exterior space. They’re seeking professionals on Houzz to help, with growth in searches for “landscapers” compared with the first quarter of 2021. People are also exploring environmentally conscious options like “drought tolerant landscaping ideas,” which doubled in searches compared with the previous year, and “drought-tolerant front yard landscaping ideas.” Searches have also jumped nearly 2.5 times for “hot tubs on decks” compared with the same period last year.
2) Making an Entrance
Front doors are taking center stage with associated search terms growing in popularity this year. People are paying attention to their homes’ first impressions, with added interest in “iron front doors” and “front door handles,” compared with last year. Houzz also saw an uptick in searches for green and red front doors, while searches for black, blue and yellow front doors have decreased.
3) Statement Lighting
People are looking for statement pieces to brighten their interior spaces, with focal lighting such as “extra large chandeliers,” “lantern chandeliers,” “industrial pendant lights” and “wicker pendants” all jumping in popularity. Lighting in general is a focus. Searches for “kitchen ceiling lights,” “flush mounted lighting” and “task lighting” have all doubled.
4) Styles Defined
Homeowners are getting specific when it comes to their home design style. Searches for “mid century modern kitchen ideas” spiked an impressive six times, while “Japandi bathrooms” and “Japandi kitchens” rose three times and two times, respectively. “Beach style design ideas” also jumped nearly 2.5 times. Whatever the style, homeowners are searching for personalized decor and are hiring designers on Houzz to help them create a cohesive, intentional look.
5) Mid Century Modern on the Mind
This timeless style is top of mind according to searches on Houzz. In addition to related kitchen ideas, Houzz searches increasingly include “mid-century modern bedroom ideas,” “mid-century modern exterior home ideas,” and even materials and lines often connected to the style, such as “kit kat tile,” “bouclé” and “curved sofa.”
6) Barndo Homes
Barn homes evoke verdant pastures, wide-open spaces and a simpler way of life. All of which seem to be an aspirational goal according to emerging searches on Houzz. The term “barndo” has grown 2.5 times, compared with the same period last year. For those who may not be looking for whole-home conversions, searches for “barndominium kitchens” have also more than doubled. Common characteristics include clean lines, soaring ceilings and open floor plans.
7) Maximizing Space
People are making the most of their homes with searches for space-saving tips and ways to make their rooms appear larger. Searches have doubled compared with the same period last year for “stacking washer dryers” and “hallway cabinets.” Design aesthetics that can go a long way in making your space look bigger are also seeing an increase, like “acrylic counter stool” and “open tread staircase,” which people searched for more frequently in Q1 2022 versus Q1 2021.
8) Pandemic-Inspired Trends
If you were inspired to adopt a pandemic pup, it may come as no surprise that searches for “dog feeding stations” are up 55 percent. And people may be searching for “chair seat covers” more frequently for a fur-friendly design. Houzz also saw an uptick in searches for “computer armoire” and the newly coined term “cloffice,” which transforms a closet into a workstation for smaller abodes. As many homes became multi-generational during the pandemic, we’re seeing increased searches for features that may be helpful for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) like “small single-wall kitchen ideas” and “windowless bathrooms.” Bidets don’t seem to be going anywhere since the “great toilet paper shortage” of 2020, with searches continuing to inch up compared with the previous year
