So, you’ve decided to take that big step of either building a new home or tackling that remodel you’ve been putting off. The decisions you and your contractors will need to reach agreement on are many, and while building professionals stay up-to-date on industry trends — as well as what works best in your particular area — ultimately the final decisions on design, building materials and colors are all yours.
Before your brain is awash in a whirling dervish of color swatches, flooring choices and design elements, there are a few ideas that have risen to the top of the building game to be recognized as trends, and which may provide a good starting point as you begin the work of visualizing and conceptualizing your new home or addition.
The Washington Post in 2017 consulted with Mitchell Parker, editor and writer for Houzz — a home remodeling and design platform, which had recently released its top predictions for emerging trends. The Houzz list was composed from feedback from industry experts, as well as recurring trends that prevailed among it 40 million monthly users.
• Colorful kitchens. While the clean and classic look of white in a kitchen remains popular, bright color splashes instead of bland hues are making their way into kitchen design. Wood tones such as mahogany, coupled with blues and grays for example, add more warmth to the space.
• Making color statements. The use of a neutral palette may be “safe,” but Houzz said that pairing warm grays with “camel, rust, tobacco (and) brown-blacks was in a position to overtake the safer choices. According to Houzz, the new color choices will not become as dated as the avocado green and mustard yellows of the 70’s. He said they’d work well in environments where homeowners desire a soothing mix of colors.
• ‘Sink’ing a former trend. Hopefully, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, but bathroom sinks don’t all have to be white. Houzz is confident the modern farmhouse style will make its way to the bathroom, and bring with it sinks made of concrete, stone, and copper and granite composites, as well as darker hues. They said the rustic home decorating trend is challenging homeowners to try something new, and that the feeling of simplicity can also be calming.
• Have some floral fun. Houzz believes people will continue favoring oversized graphic florals that really catch the eye. They expect more patterns in high-contrast colors.
• New ways to light up rooms. Visit any of the social sites and you will quickly find that just about anything can be transformed into a one-of-a-kind light fixture. Houzz believes that trend will continue as do-it-yourselfers flex their creative abilities by retrofitting vintage light fixtures, lanterns, sconces and chandeliers. There are also online shopping sites where such creations can be purchased.
• Making it concrete. Concrete is making the move from floors and countertops into pendant lighting and even furniture. It’s a material that is versatile, accessible and affordable. “We’re seeing new uses (of it) on all kinds of hardscaping surfaces,” Parker said. “On anything you can think of, people are casting it.”
• Millwork walls and detailing. “Rustic” is in, so there has been an increased demand for millwork because of its ease and availability. Homeowners are also coming up with attractive do-it-yourself projects by placing some behind their beds for a warm design feature that draws the eyes.
• Keeping things simple. The master bedroom is meant to provide a feeling of relaxation and tranquility, and many homeowners are finding this by going with minimal furnishings in neutral colors to help them create the mood.
It’s your home or addition, and while there is a myriad of articles available on what is “hot” or “not” when it comes to design trends, you alone choose if you want to be “trendy” or traditional. Build the home or room that you’re excited to live in. Because it’s not about how others view it, it’s all about you.
