Every year, home remodeling and design site Houzz reflects on the insights they gather from their community of over 65 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts and more than 2.7 million home remodeling and design professionals, to determine their predictions for home design trends that will heat up in the coming months. As we look ahead to 2022, check out their top 10 predictions, with unique insights on kitchen, bath and outdoor and smart home design.
- Multiple window banks: Many homeowners on Houzz dream of light and bright kitchens. One way to deliver that is with plenty of windows that stream in natural light. Long banks of multiple windows, sometimes on two or even three walls, create a space full of light, breeze — if the windows are operable — and views. Thanks to the rise of hardworking pantry walls, storage optimized island bases and lower cabinets that allow homeowners to skip upper cabinets, we anticipate homeowners to go with expansive runs of windows in 2022.
2. A casual collected look: While the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study confirmed that all-white kitchens remain dominant, layered looks are gaining in popularity. We saw a dressed-up, collected style catching on last year, which will continue into 2022 albeit in a more casual, less-polished approach with softer, lighter paint colors, raw wood tones and a mix of cabinet fronts and styles. This light, layered design keeps the eye moving, creates visual texture and nuance, and delivers a style that appears put together over time in a relaxed way.
3. Long and linear backsplash tile: White subway tile is a classic look for a kitchen backsplash, but many homeowners are searching for a modern twist on the material. White ceramic 4-by-12-inch tile appears to be the answer. The rectangle shape lends a timeless feel while its elongated form gives it a fresh, updated appearance.
On Houzz, we see backsplashes with a subtle wavy or crackle glaze finish will add texture, or a herringbone pattern to give even more spin on the design.
4. Hardworking storage: The right storage strategies can create a highly functional home. And while the general function of cabinetry hasn’t changed much over the years, the inside of cabinets has dramatically shifted. Pullouts bring pantry items from the back of cabinets to the front. Special shelves lift heavy appliances from a lower cabinet to countertop height. Drawer dividers organize plates and bowls. You can now have designated storage space for a paper towel roll, aluminum foil or baking sheets in the kitchen. In the bathroom, a drawer can house a blow dryer or other device next to an in-drawer outlet. We see cubbies for towels, hidden storage for laundry hampers and so much more in popular photos on Houzz.
5. Multiple shower heads and sprays: A comfortable shower is an important bathroom feature but including multiple shower heads and sprays can elevate a shower experience from simple washing to luxurious pampering. More than half (55 percent) of homeowners who update their shower during a bathroom renovation choose a rain shower head, almost a quarter (23 percent) go for dual shower heads and 16% add body sprays, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. In addition to multiple shower heads, bathroom design pros on Houzz recommend installing a handheld sprayer too. These can be used for rinsing shaved legs, cleaning the shower walls or washing pets and kids.
6. Stylish design for aging in place: Many homeowners embark on a renovation to create their forever home, and that means incorporating universal design principles that will assist with accessibility for years to come. These days, universal design prioritizes products and features that look as good as they are functional.
Some grab bars, for example, come in trendy finishes like champagne bronze or matte black, and hide their function as a towel bar, doing double duty while still meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. Other accessible design features like curbless showers, non-slip flooring and shower benches have become desirable and stylish features for homeowners of all ages.
7. Heated bathroom floors: When we asked more than 50 home design and remodeling professionals on Houzz what bathroom feature they most recommend to homeowners, one element rose above the rest: heated floors. A cold tile floor can ruin a spa-like experience, and heated floors are relatively inexpensive and easy to install during a renovation, making this feature a no-brainer.
8. Desirable sustainability and efficiency: Sustainable building practices have long been a focus of environmentalists, but recent shifts in the global dialogue have brought the benefits for individual homeowners to the forefront, sparking a new wave of adoption. High-performance windows and solar panels help homeowners reduce energy use, which can also help homeowners save money. Native trees and grasses can help create water-efficient landscapes, but also attract pleasing wildlife. When personal benefits have a positive collateral impact on the world, everyone benefits.
9. Outdoor living rooms that look like indoor rooms: Houzz search data has shown that people want their backyards to be relaxing extensions of their interior living spaces. The best way to do that is through mimicry. There have been major advances in outdoor materials in recent years, allowing manufacturers to create stylish and durable outdoor sofas, tables, rugs, chairs and decor. Add an outdoor fireplace, maybe a TV, and the line between indoors and out seemingly disappears.
10. Outdoor privacy: As homeowners increasingly expand their available living space to the outdoors, many are hiring landscape pros on Houzz for screens, fences, plantings and other strategies that help create intimate spaces and separation from neighbors, or block an undesirable view. This might look like a vine-covered pergola,
an outdoor screen around a private dining spot, or fencing for an outdoor shower or hot tub. Standalone structures are used as home offices, gyms, meditation areas or as extended living spaces to house relatives or kids who had to stay home from college due to the pandemic.
