A lot has changed in just a few months, and for many that includes the idea of what a 'dream home' looks like. It was not too long ago that every time I was showing buyers homes, the words open floor plan would be the first showing preference. Although after a few months of being cooped up those features don't seem so good. and developers are taking notice.
While looking at some of the trends for coming years, this is what I have noticed:
Home size
Homes had been trending smaller, but that may be over. So many families are working from home and two families living together, there is much more demand for personal space.
Prioritizing the home office
With so many people working remotely from their homes, the home office will become a near essential. It will need to encompass privacy, good lighting, and pre-wired for tele-communications.
Return to the closed-floor plan
With Covid 19, the appeal of the open-floor plan was already trending down prior to 2020, and the past few months have only made the reasons why more evident. Sharing more time and space at home demands privacy for school work, hobbies, and entertainment. With more meals being cooked at home, an open concept kitchen becomes noisy epicenter practically all day long. Builders expect a rise in demand for closed floor plans, where rooms are partitioned for purpose.
Smart technology
This is already one of the fastest growing trends in home design, but smart home technology will soon move from a 'plus' to a 'must'. Temperature and lighting control can now be voice or motion-activated. Touchless faucets, once thought superfluous, are now an inexpensive and health-conscious upgrade. Systems that filter air and monitor air quality will become more common and affordable.
