Whether you’re getting ready to remodel, buy/sell or just do a mild refresh, here’s a recap of top housing (and garden) trends from around the country (including San Francisco, Nashville, Sioux Falls, Minneapolis, Grand Falls, Philadelphia and more).

Highlights include neutral color palettes e.g. Home Depot now carries 69 new shades of gray!, smart home technology controlled by your phone, niche appliances like kimchi refrigerators, and gardening especially succulents and fairy gardens (which were news to me!!).

Read below for full details and photos.

FROM THE EXCLUSIVE HOME DEPOT PRODUCT WALK – LAS VEGAS (MARCH 2016)

An event reserved for the brand’s insiders, to show them what’s coming, this was the first year the press were invited to walk through and get a peek at what was new. Here’s what’s coming in colors, kitchens, outdoor living and smart home technology.

In colors: Blue is big but there’s a growing appetite for gray. The company’s Behr paint line is adding 69 new shades of gray, almost doubling the number it currently offers.

In kitchens: Tone on tone in shades of white, taupe and gray are what consumers crave. Quartz counters are hot.

 

Smarter homes: The number of products in each of Home Depot’s smart home categories has quadrupled e.g. doorbells, rain sensors, energy-saving thermostats.

In outdoor living: Tropical prints and nautical themes for outdoor furniture are strong in all regions. The popularity of drought-tolerant gardens will continue, as succulents have been hot sellers even in cooler climates and more consumers practice environmental awareness.

 

NASHVILLE HOME TRENDS – Note: this is one of my favorite cities, very trend forward with a great designer vibe!!

Neutrals, Again! Whites, soft greys and the entire spectrum of neutrals are replacing rich and deep colors. Bright colors and patterns show up primarily as accents.

Green and smart: Buyers want to control their home, like the rest of their lives, through their smartphone and at the same time decrease their footprint on the environment. Designers are also using more reclaimed materials, which are also less harmful for the environment.

Mismatched materials express eclectic personalities: Old with new, reclaimed wood with lacquer cabinets, Mid-century modern with touches of industrial.

Statement pieces as talking points: Homeowners are redirecting the “wow” factor in their home to particular statement pieces e.g. incredible light fixtures and beautiful bathroom mirrors. Designer staircases are also becoming a focal point.

 

MILLENNIAL PREFERENCES – FROM HOUSES TO MICRO-APARTMENTS

The lifestyle trends pioneered by a new generation of tech millennials, and by technology itself, are spreading from coast to coast. And that is influencing housing trends.

Office space and added storage are big priorities for millennial homeowners. And when it comes to enhancing the exterior of their homes, landscaping is the top priority (44%) compared with older age groups’ traditional curb-appeal projects such as new doors, paint or roofing.

Millennials live an “on-demand lifestyle,” that values location over square footage and amenities. They want to be close to the city center, close enough to walk, bike, or rely on public transportation. This is where micro apartments come into play. Sq. footage has fallen almost 5%, to 950 square feet. Much of the reduction came from developers building more studios and one-bedrooms, which increased from 40% in 2002 to 50% in the current cycle. There’s also been a move toward micro units of 350 square feet which is on the extreme end of the trend – and is leaving many residents dissatisfied and feeling oppressed so am not sure of the longevity of that trend.

San Francisco has become the scientific experiment about what happens when you create thousands of jobs without adding any housing. Many techies are now leaving. Last year the region lost more than 7,500 residents to other parts of the U.S., the first net migration from the Silicon Valley since 2011. The number of buyers in Portland originating from the Bay Area more than tripled from 2014 to 2015, and more than doubled in Phoenix and Seattle.

 

DEVELOPERS ARE DIGGING DOWN, MINING FOR SQUARE FOOTAGE (San Francisco)

Architects are increasingly being asked to excavate under homes to create space. Excavation is less likely to incite the kind of neighbor resistance encountered when building up. Architects and developers who are adding lower levels are creating innovative ways to daylight subterranean rooms e.g. building moat-like lightwells bridged by glass-lined bridges.

 

TRENDS FROM HOUZZ.COM – (MORE CONVENTIONAL THAN WHAT WE SEE IN SAN FRANCISCO!!)

Farmhouse entryways: Functional mudrooms where storage and durability are essential.

Heated entryway floors: Not only for bathrooms anymore, heated entryways are very popular for parts of the country with cold winters.

Sunrooms: A top dream space for many homeowners. Even those who don’t have the luxury of having — or adding — one, are finding ways to carve out a special sun-drenched corner in their homes.

Workhorse islands: Kitchen islands provide additional workspace, but with deep storage, prep sinks, room for seating, islands are becoming the central feature in modern kitchens.

Niche appliances: Steam ovens, warming drawers, induction cooktops, kimchi refrigerators offer fans of the popular Korean condiment a chance to make their own at home.

Deep kitchen drawers: Houzz data shows that ease of storage is the top kitchen priority during a remodel. Note: This is one thing I missed doing with my kitchen remodel and I regret it every day!!

Bidets: According to Houzz data, 5% of renovated master bathrooms now include bidets.

Colored stainless steel appliances: Nearly two-thirds of Houzzers say they would consider a black or slate alternative to shiny silver metal. Another popular option: Whirlpool’s Sunset Bronze finish.

 

TOWN HOUSES BECOMING MORE POPULAR THAN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

Condominium-style housing is an increasingly popular choice for younger and older buyers across the United States. Nationally, condos are most popular with buyers between the ages of 25 and 29, followed by people 75 or older. Town house building permits in Sioux Falls, for example, have tripled over the last 10 years.

For more details, link here.

 

GARDENING – IS WHAT’S UP!!

Container gardening:

Designed for those wanting to plant produce on a smaller scale. Typically, plants are potted in terracotta or metal containers and can be either grown inside or placed outside on a balcony or patio. Most container gardens have themes e.g. salsa gardens which include tomatoes, peppers, onions and cilantro. Herb container gardens are also popular with basil, oregano, sage and rosemary as top sellers.

Fairy gardens (Midwestern trend):

Commonly planted in containers, fairy gardens feature figurines and scene-setting props carefully placed among real or artificial plants. Popular with grandmas who find it a great way to introduce kids to gardening and a lot of people say its like being a kid again.

Sources:

http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/04/02/looking-signs-spring-sauk-rapids/82477158/
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2016/03/29/rise-town-houses/82380026/
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/life/2016/03/30/trends-houzzcom/82096476/
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/real_estate/20160327_Research_reflects_millennials__attitudes_toward_homes.html
http://sf.curbed.com/2016/3/24/11302420/excelsior-house-flip
http://newsok.com/article/5487201
http://thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/1350174-design-trends-to-consider-for-2016
http://atl.gmnews.com/news/2016-03-10/Business/Young_buyers_shape_home_trends.html
http://realtybiznews.com/real-estate-trends-features-that-millennial-home-buyers-want-in-2016/98732260/
http://recode.net/2016/03/15/high-tech-millennial-lifestyle-inspires-micro-apartment-boom/
http://www.tennessean.com/story/life/entertainment/12th/2016/03/15/nashville-neighborhood-insider-5-home-trends-2016/81828338/