Many of the hottest trends in home design are relatively new to America’s housing stock. Pat Setter of the San Diego Union-Tribune has defined four of these features:
- Open living spaces. According to a NAHB survey published last year, builders say that their kitchen/living room layouts are partially or completely open in 84% of their homes, and main living spaces are open in 54% of homes. According to Setter, today’s buyers seek “bright, inviting spaces for entertaining.”
- Outdoor rooms. Demand for outdoor living space has grown by 70% since 2013, according to an AIA study. Environmental management technology and sliding window and door systems have allowed for outdoor spaces that are functional practically year-round across all price points and climates.
- Multigenerational living. One in five Americans live in multi-gen households, according to a Pew Research Center before, and the demand for ground-floor master suites and universal-design features is rising.
- Customization. According to author Mike Moore, 53% of home shoppers prefer new homes to resale homes. Today’s buyers want to be more involved in the building process, and to choose design features ahead of time.
