Emergent Building Trends

The National Association of Home Builders released a study naming the home trends, buyer preferences, and must-have features for 2020, including energy efficiency. Efficient lighting, programmable thermostats, and Energy Star–rated appliances are the green features most likely to be included in new homes this year, according to Rose Quint, the NAHB’s assistant vice president of survey research.

Additionally, the study shows that the average home size continues to decrease after peaking at 2,689 square feet in 2015. It has fallen four years in a row to its current 2,520 square feet and is at its smallest since 2011. The majority of both first-time and repeat buyers say they would rather have a smaller home with high-quality amenities than a bigger home with fewer features, Quint says. The percentage of homes incorporating four or more bedrooms, three-plus bathrooms, and garages for three or more cars has also dropped to levels not seen since 2012, she adds. “This points to an industry trying to meet the demands of the entry-level home buyer. Builders are struggling to meet these demands because of factors such as restrictive zoning regulations and lot prices, with the price of a new lot in 2019 averaging $57,000.”

The NAHB also highlighted home design trends coming in the future, including:

• Colorful kitchens incorporating aqua, dark woods, and new, colored textures.

• Crisp colors paired with warm woods.

• Expansive, large-format windows.

• High-quality signature front entries and improved streetscapes.

• Nontraditional storage solutions. Instead of cabinetry, designers are opting for shelving, both as a storage solution and a design element.

• Seamless indoor and outdoor connections.

• Increased use of mixed metals, materials, and textures, including wallpaper, to add depth to designs.

• Wood detailing to create texture.