In the mood to spruce up your home? This list features a host of changes you can make, both big and small, to turn your house into the dream abode you’ve always wanted. Take your home to the next level with these seven home improvement trends for both the interior and exterior of your house.
1) Make Your Architecture Work for You
While it can seem daunting to take on a major exterior home renovation, the latest school of thought in terms of design trends is to let your home’s defining features guide your renovation project. A low-profile midcentury modern with clean lines might not need a second-story addition or ornate balcony but an upgraded entrance and cantilever roof could make all the difference. An outdated farmhouse renovation can be transformative with a careful selection of materials and fresh siding and paint. Instead of trying to make your house something it is not, aim for making it shine with what it already has.
2) Add Multilevel Lighting
How do you get that gorgeous glow for your home? Consider multiple sources of lighting in every room. Lighting in a room should come from different levels, with overhead lighting, table lamps, and standing lamps all working in harmony to create a space that feels bright without being overpowering. Lighting from various levels will also help highlight all of the different design choices you’ve made in your space, with some lighting complementing your art and wall decor, and lower-level lighting casting a spotlight on your furniture choices and textiles—an easy upgrade that will add that designer touch.
3) Go Green
One of this year’s hottest trends is good for your home, for your bank account, and for the earth. Through careful use of insulation, sustainable materials, and thoughtfully managed energy consumption, your home can be transformed into an environmentally friendly haven that slashes your monthly expenses, protects planet Earth, and looks fabulous. Passive houses are becoming more popular than ever as homeowners design or renovate their domiciles to make them airtight and thermoefficient, requiring little temperature management in the form of air conditioning or heaters. The result: homes that are designed with both the way we live now and with the future in mind.
4) Opt for Pollinator Gardens
Have you been looking for a more low-maintenance approach with less lawn mowing and more local flora and fauna? Pollinator gardens are a big trend for this year, with a focus on local flowering plants native to your location that help attract and nourish bees and butterflies. Are you landscaping a small yard? Don’t let size get in the way of your dream garden. You can create a pollinator garden from even the smallest spaces: think window boxes, hanging baskets, and using whatever small patches of green you do have to craft a vibrant oasis for butterflies, bees, and your favorite regional plants.
5) Go for Texture in the Kitchen
When it comes to updating your kitchen, think about how texture can contribute to the overall visual experience of the room. Kitchens are a great opportunity to use different textures and material combinations to add dimension and contrast: think smooth and shining subway tile backsplash with intricately veined marble countertops, or matte cabinets with brushed metal hardware. The latest kitchen remodel ideas take advantage of the unique need for both function and fashion in every kitchen, with appliances, finishes, and furnishings all coming together to create a space that is beautiful for cooking, hosting, and gathering.
6) Play with Color in Small Spaces
Considering a bathroom remodel? Small spaces like bathrooms are a great opportunity to experiment and get a little playful with the latest bathroom tile inspiration. Don’t feel hemmed in by traditional tile colors like blue, white, and gray: from fun, feisty stripes of colored tiles in a shower or patterned decorative tiles on the floor, there are lots of ways to show personality in your choice of materials. Just note that if you’re opting to go bold with bathroom tiles you may want to balance it out with restrained hardware and more neutral choices in cabinet colors, shower curtains, and other bathroom finishes.
7) Add A Focal Point to Each Room
Make your house feel thoughtful and well-organized by adding a focal point to each room. That could mean a beautiful curved wall in a living room that draws the eye or getting a fireplace makeover or mantel that creates visual interest. The key is to go for one high-impact focal point in every space of your home that helps express your style and make the most of your house’s unique features.
There are plenty of fantastic ways to freshen up your living space and reinvent your home’s exterior. The most important aspect of any change to your home is to make sure you are happy with it!
