Over the years, home design trends come and go. What was once popular (white appliances, glass mosaic backsplashes, tiled countertops, popcorn ceilings, wood paneling, linoleum floors, carpeted bathrooms, etc.) can be considered outdated and, to some people, even ugly. That said, if it’s your house and you like how it looks, it really doesn’t matter what other people say or think now, does it?
So what about this year, 2018? What are some home design trends that are currently en vogue?
Current Home Design Trends
For starters, we’re starting to see the need for homes that accommodate multiple generations under one roof. As parents age, couples are deciding to keep them at home rather than send them to “the home.” It’s often cost prohibitive to send mom and dad to “Shady Pines” where it can cost $150,000 a month for them to live. Meanwhile, couples like having mom and dad around for socializing and they often make great (and free) babysitters for the kids. That said, you’re going to see more and more homes built for multiple generations and/or remodeled to make room for daddy, mommy, Aunt Jan, and/or Cousin Mike. The addition of bedrooms and bathrooms, and perhaps a kitchenette, can help expand a home so that there’s enough space for everyone to be happy. In some cases, an “in-law suite” might be just right, whereas mom and dad get their own private entrance to the house, and can have their privacy if that’s what they want.
Doorways and hallways will be getting wider. Americans are putting on the pounds and they’re aging. This means they need more room to move in their homes. Thus, designers are adapting doorways and hallways to the point where people using walkers, scooters, or wheelchairs should have no problem making their way through their new or remodeled house.
Now brace yourselves for a trend that might scare you a little. Brass is back. If you go to Trump Tower in NYC you’ll notice all the brass accents in the waterfall lobby there. Well, brass, which was big in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is making a comeback in home design decor. So, expect to see more brass light fixtures in homes, as well as brass-framed mirrors and tables with brass legs.
And here’s another trend some of you might not like: open kitchen shelves. This is where you see stuff like cereal boxes, dishes, and plastic containers full of dog food on kitchen shelves that lack any doors. From modern to rustic kitchens, this trend is gaining popularity.
Flooring Trends
As for flooring, get this: white tile in the bathroom and white wood flooring in the kitchen are what’s hot. So, if you have that look from 1992, congrats because now it’s back in style! White is popular because it brightens up any room it’s in and it pairs well with any color you choose for your cabinets, walls, appliances, etc.
Thanks to technology, the old-fashioned light bulbs that you had to turn on and off by hand are out, and “smart lighting controls” are in. They can be customized on your phone to turn on when you’re home and turn off when you’re not, or to turn certain lights on at night to make it look like you’re home, even when you’re not. Meanwhile, lighting today saves energy– LED lights don’t burn hot like old lights did, and they don’t use as much electricity.
Exterior Trends
Here’s something we haven’t really seen before: roof decks are now a thing. Sure, traditional decks off the back of the house have been popular for generations, but today people want to be up high, away from people on the ground. If and when it makes sense, a roof deck can be a person’s private outdoor oasis, not easily seen by neighbors.
Traditional water heaters are being replaced by tankless water heaters. These provide hot water only when needed, rather than storing water in a tank and constantly keeping it heated for use whenever someone turns the hot faucet on… Tankless water heaters don’t take up as much space as the big, old traditional ones. They come in gas-fired and electric models. Expect to find out that tankless water heaters start to become the norm in most homes built this year and years to come.
It seems like trends vacillate between modern and rustic every couple years. In 2018, rustic wins, especially for bathrooms, of all places. Perhaps this is just a reaction to many years of overtly modern looking bathrooms, so designers are going the opposite direction just to change things up. Claw-foot tubs help make a bathroom look rustic, in case you were wondering. Repurposed items from long ago are also a trend.
Paint Color Trends
How about colors on the walls? It seems like gray was popular in recent years. Well, in 2018, water colors are what’s popular. If you were to go to the ocean, you’d notice that water hues include blue, green, pink, and even gold. More and more kitchens and bathrooms will incorporate water-inspired hues this year– so don’t be surprised when you see turquoise. Oh, and “black walls” are now a thing. Not sure how long they’ll last as a trend, but suffice it to say dark, indigo-tinged accent walls are becoming popular.
Wallpaper hasn’t been popular since the early 1980s, but nowadays, patterned wallpaper is back. Indeed, people want textured, patterned walls and they’ll do what they can to make it so. Even adding 3D artwork or oversized pieces of art will help make the walls “pop” out at you.
Speaking of oversized artwork, expect oversized furniture to be found in living rooms. Oversized sofas and chairs will fill large, open living areas. It doesn’t matter if they look modern or antique– as long as they’re oversized, that’s what’s popular in 2018.
Finally, house plants, which never really go out of style, are still important in 2018. Whether they’re in colorful planters or hung in front of a large window, house plants can add color and excitement to otherwise dull spaces. Plus, they’re a way to add some nature to the indoors.
Reynolds Home Builders can help you remodel your Tallahassee home or add-on rooms. Contact Reynolds Home Builders at 850-508-5076 for more info.