The pandemic shocked our systems in 2020, leaving everyone scrambling to make the best of their situations. But in 2021, people made longer-term plans to adjust to their new routines. Although regulations around the pandemic aren’t quite as tight as they were a year ago, homeowners are continuing to do more things at their homes: work, play, entertain, and relax.
As we head into 2022, we’re seeing that reflected in the latest home remodeling trends. Here are a few of the most common remodeling trends we’re seeing right now.
DEDICATED HOME OFFICES
When the pandemic started, homeowners rushed to create makeshift home offices by converting extra bedrooms, closets, dining rooms, or any empty corner into an office space. By this point, however, a large portion of the workforce is still working from home, and many expect to continue working from home at least part time if not full time. As a result, many are showing a strong interest in more specific home offices, or at least a designated space for video meetings and calls. Many people are installing new barriers such as sliding glass or barn doors – if not entire new walls - to physically separate their workspace from their living space. Built-in wall storage, tough flooring to handle office chairs, and scuff-resistant paint are all being applied to help manage the needs of an office.
KITCHEN UPGRADES
'Homeowners are modernizing their kitchens. Even traditional homes are adding more modern elements,' said Asi Tzipori, Senior Designer at Trinity Builders & Design. 'For example, we recently worked on a very old-fashioned 1920s bungalow. We wanted to keep its historic integrity but modernize the space, so instead of traditional wainscoting, we chose slim crown molding to create picture frames.'
Additionally, homeowners have opted for larger, more communal kitchens in recent years - but just as people have wanted dedicated home office space, many are looking for kitchens to be a more dedicated space as well. More people are putting up walls and adding glass doors or partitions so that the kitchen is still welcoming, but it’s its own space.
Within kitchens, homeowners are optimizing pantries, cabinets, and shelves for organizational space. Sleek, streamlined, and simple designs are popular, including wood finishes and no-handle designs on cabinets. Floating shelves are also rising in popularity, as over 168,000 people have tagged them in posts on Instagram (and counting).
MERGING INDOORS WITH OUTDOORS
We may be spending a lot of time at home but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to go outside to play or just get some fresh air. Many people are building more decks and patios, and installing large glass sliding doors in their home to connect to them.
"Many people are investing in indoor/outdoor open spaces," said Tzipori. "They want the outdoors to be part of the home. Homeowners are using the outdoors to create a relaxing space for after work or for entertainment – including building outdoor kitchens."
There has also been an increasing interest in infrared patio heaters so the outdoor space can be used in cold weather. Outdoor showers are growing in popularity as well.
