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Planning a home from scratch may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re a potential new buyer, you should consider the latest trends in home design, with an eye toward creating an abode that will serve you and your family for years to come.
When you hear “trend”, you may think of a fad that will be out of style in just a few seasons. Keep in mind that rather than focusing on the latest countertop material or wallpaper craze, we’re going to look at ideas that focus on making your house livable for the long haul. These trends ensure your new place will be usable for years to come.
Let’s take a look at the five hottest trends in home designs this year to help you know how to start turning your dreams into reality.
Flexible Room Designs Maximise Space And Usage
In the past, new homes were built with very specific uses for each room, and featured floorplans in which individual rooms were connected by hallways. Today, open floor concepts mean all space is utilised as living area, rather than wasting precious square footage. Any additional space is used for storage, which current homeowners want to maximise, rather than as a walkthrough.
At the same time, rooms are being designed for multiple uses over time. For example, what might be used today as an office can transition to a bedroom as the need arises. This helps accommodate intergenerational living situations, which are statistically on the rise.
Automated Control
As smart phone usage continues to become a way of life, luxury homeowners want the ease and authority of automated control. Lighting, electronics, security, and home climate are now easily overseen when you are away from home by using your tablet or smart phone. This makes it much easier to manage energy costs and safekeeping. Some systems are even programmed to learn a homeowner’s habits and adjust accordingly over time.
Accessibility
Smart buyers would like to make an investment that can serve a changing family over multiple years. This means building a home that can accommodate family members of all ages and abilities. In 2014, quality designers recognise that open floor plans and wide entryways work well, while spiral staircases, storage placed out of reach, and sunken rooms may not be the best plan for homeowners who want to be able to stay in their family home for years to come.
Efficiency
The “green” trend is here to stay, as regulations protecting the environment continue to be put in place and consumer consciousness grows. Current buyers looking to design a new house recognise the importance of energy conservation, along with working within the climate in which a home is built to encourage efficiency. Toilets, showers, and sinks that use less water, energy-efficient heating and cooling, insulation, and efficient windows are a must in green homes, as is LED lighting.
Master Suites And Guest Suites
While master suites have been popular for several decades, the nature of this private retreat is changing. Bathrooms in particular are seeing major transformations. Smart homeowners realise that oversized whirlpool tubs are noisy and take up a considerable amount of room. The new focus is on larger showers, with multiple heads and seating space, and often without a ledge to step over, so that the shower is not only extra large and luxurious but has the added benefit of being able to be used by older family membes more safely. Vanities are often installed at multiple levels to accommodate men and women of various heights, and the focus is on storage rather than wasted counter space.
Guest suites often include mini-kitchens, with an eye toward kids who return from college and in-laws living with the family. In 2014, luxury master and guest suites will be designed with maximal usage of space in mind, rather than wasting space at the expense of functionality.
If you’re looking to build a new abode in 2014, and need a place to start wrapping your mind around where to start, consider these design trends. Flexible and accessible rooms, automated control, energy efficiency, and space-conscious bedroom suites are all design developments to pay attention to as you create a luxury house that you can live in for many years.
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