People are always wonder what’s in and what’s out in home decor. Paint colors may change yearly, but key ins and outs center on how we live our lives.
What’s in and what’s out for home building, home improvements and home decor?
What are today’s pickier homebuyers seeking?
What are Realtors and decorators and savvy home remodelers suggesting to their clients?
- WHATS IN:
Natural flooring: Think (certain) woods, stone and removable coverings (area rugs).
Elevated water faucets. It’s the way we cook and live.
Deeper earth tints and hues throughout.
Water elements/fountains in the north and southeast sections of the home (nod to compass Feng Shui).
Climate-appropriate garden plantings.
Wine cellars. - WHATS OUT:
Stainless steel appliances are high maintenance.
Bamboo flooring: Much promise, poor wear-ability.
Staircases that face front door: Bad Feng Shui.
Wood laminate flooring: Too clicky.
Wall-to-wall carpeting throughout the home.
Wet bars. - Care to add to these lists?
I find more and more buyers welcoming clean surfaces that are easily relieved of dust and dirt.
They want floors that can be thoroughly cleaned, sinks that can accommodate both mop buckets and pasta pots, and area rugs, especially in the kitchen and dining areas, that can be sent out for cleaning–or better yet, washed and dried at home on a more frequent basis.
Wine storage is in; wet bars are out. Homeowners have tried bamboo flooring and found that it warps and lacks in wear-ability. The ubiquitous stainless appliances? Fingerprints and smears are a nightmare. These finishes, unless newer ones that resist prints, are NOT meant for real cooks and families!
Moreover, more and more people are discovering allergies to dust mites. They wish to avoid all conditions that invite their habitation and reproduction. Dusty draperies and musty carpeting are quickly losing favor with many buyers.
Finally, it only makes ecological sen$e to utilize native plantings that thrive in native conditions. Our San Diego gardens bloom best with plantings that require little water and lots of sunshine. New Orleans, Houston or Dayton, Ohio would naturally offer different blooming conditions.
What home decor trends are you seeing in your area of the country?
Loved your article and will fit very nicely with one that I am about to write about remodeling.
Not sure what floors these folks are looking for…carpet is out, laminate makes too much noise, bamboo doesn’t hold up…that pretty much leaves wood, vinyl and cement!
Happy New Year.
Excellent resource for homebuyers. The styles change so often and homeowners should be careful not to make an expensive mistake.
Gena,
Genuine wood flooring is a perennial favorite and natural stone pleases many (and is easy-care!). I’ve also seem some interesting cement floors….
Kristal: Potential home remodelers should spend time going through upscale model homes and builder design centers–in addition to studying pertinent magazines and websites. Hot trends from a few years ago may not be so cool today.