Heading into 2025, new-home buyers are embracing a range of design trends, including rich, bold color schemes, functional spaces, timeless style, and more inclusive design.
Taylor Morrison—No. 7 on the 2024 Builder 100—shared its top predictions for the new year from its design and architectural experts.
"In our Houston division, we are working on soon introducing some new designs that offer greater indoor-outdoor connectivity with 160-square-foot covered patios becoming a new standard,” said Taylor Morrison vice president of product design Brian Juedes, in reference to the trend of buyers wanting to bridge interiors with exteriors.
"Instead of being in a cycle of having to change designs every year, we're able to present timeless elements,” says Taylor Morrison senior director of national design Lee Crowder. “Greys and whites were trendy for a while but have quickly come and gone as we are seeing preferences for more earthy wood colors and black and gold finishes.”
Check out the rest of the builder’s design predictions below.
1. Universal design: In 2025, expect to see more designs, layouts, and concepts that create a more inclusive environment and can cater to a variety of needs for any family. Examples include a curbless shower, sensory-friendly materials, and fewer hallways throughout the home.
2. Familiar families: As multigenerational housing continues to grow in popularity, home builders will offer more floor plans and housing options to accommodate this, including en-suites, casitas, and dedicated secondary living spaces.
3. Outside in: The builder is always looking for new ways to bring the outdoors in. This year, their team is focused on the number, size, and location of windows to improve indoor-outdoor connectivity. Windows that extend to the floor of a home will become a very popular way to achieve that goal.
4. Sensory details: Whether it's the way a house smells with a curated scent or how the lights turn on, sensory design is making a big impact. Sensory design incorporates both visual and non-visual elements, activating all major senses including sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.
5. Entryway envy: 'Walk-through' laundry rooms, where you enter the home from the garage and walk through the laundry, have been popular for years, but everyday entries are quickly growing in popularity. These might include a small vestibule or hall and can even include a small alcove for shoes, key drop, or a backpack valet.
6. Calming vibes: The latest Pinterest trend report shows people want to bring more calming and peaceful vibes into their homes, with searches for "zen house" up 405%. Aesthetics like Rom-com Core bring a cozy and nostalgic feel with natural materials and muted, earthy tones.
7. Cut clutter: In an effort to maximize space, many builders have shrunk floor plans by eliminating excess square footage without changing the function or livability of homes. In several markets, Taylor Morrison is designing homes with fewer hallways so buyers can enjoy better home flow, more natural light, and savings on construction costs.
8. Enduring elegance: Designs today are lasting much longer, and with that, there is a push for more timeless designs among consumers. Rather than selecting trendy items, many buyers are going with timeless options with a longer trajectory for choices like countertops, cabinets, and stained wood.
9. More modern farmhouse: Modern farmhouse continues to be a top choice among elevation styles across the country, reports Taylor Morrison. Additional trending exterior elevations include transitional and soft modern.
10. Warm colors: This year, the builder chose Clove (SW 9605) from Sherwin-Williams' Color Capsule of the Year as its foundation for its color collection. They partnered this rich tone with City Loft (SW 7631). This warm neutral can be used for large spaces or hallways to bring in warmth while still feeling light and open.
