What lies beneath the latest home renovation trends?
There seems to be a common theme for many home renovation ideas this year. If you have been browsing through the 2015 trends on the same, you will notice that every expert panel has given a strong focus on ease of use.
There is increasing focus and demand for more value — getting quality, functionality and style at the same time and at a lower price. Instead of following the fads this year like paint colors or the type of walls and floors, what homeowners want are changes that will make life easier.
Following this trend of thought, experts have come up with certain ideas that will dominate the home renovation scene this year. The buzzword seems to upscaling livability, so don’t be surprised if you see more engineered countertops and commercial-grade appliances for outdoor kitchens on the reno menus. These low-maintenance and stain-resistant options are just what modern homemakers need.
Energy-efficient LEDs — though not exactly new — will see an upsurge of demand as more home builders and designers veer toward sustainability. Advances in LED technology have introduced increased dimming capability and selection along with decreased prices, which is great news for buyers. Now homeowners can move forward with LEDs for various decorative lighting fixtures, under-cabinet lighting, appliance interiors and recessed ceiling lights.
Focusing on sustainability, designers and renovators are also advising clients to opt for gadgets like hands-free faucets and air-injected shower heads that will minimize water wastage.
This is same reason why users are also looking at converting their existing homes into smart homes. Renovators are looking at newer technologies so they can offer their clients an automated and interconnected home that will save tons of energy and almost manage itself.
From handling the appliances to managing water wastage and overseeing the security of the house, consumers want it all today. All it takes is installing this advanced technology and connecting it to the smartphone via an easy app.
The increased demand has its advantages. These technologies have become more affordable than before, and when combined with options like electrical car-docking stations and solar panels, they make a green home look super easy to own.
New homes may have dominated the scene in the last two years, but 2015 seems to the year for home renovations. With the economy improving, homeowners are looking forward to upgrading their homes — both for their own living and for increasing the resale value of the house.
A survey conducted by Angie’s List across 1,000 contractors shows what business designers, contractors and renovators can expect this year. One definite trend that is popping up here is a bigger budget — about 25 percent are willing spend more than $10,000 on home improvements in 2015.
But what is more interesting is that the survey showed the same demand for upscaling the livability factor as mentioned above. Consumers are more interested in bigger living spaces, larger closets or pantry space than the wall colors or the right accessories.
As you can see, enhancing the home life is key. More comfort and convenience rather than style and looks seems to be the focus. To this end, the renovation lists also include items with better accessibility features like ramps or elevators as more and more seniors are staying with families now.
The tough job market also had many youngsters move back home. Together, these trends have paved the way for as second master bedroom to be added to many homes.
Other essential add-ons include fitness rooms, for an increasing number of people who prioritize fitness in their lives today. If you look closely you will see that all these developments are geared toward a common goal — enhancing the value of the home and improving the quality of life at the same time.
Source: Multibriefs.com
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