What makes a house the perfect home? The answer to that question depends not only on who you’re asking, but also when you’re asking. People’s residential dreams and ambitions are dynamic, evolving with the emergence of new designs, technologies, societal trends and, as we’ve seen in recent years, periods of great upheaval.
The pandemic fundamentally changed how people view their abodes, and though we’re entering the post-Covid era, these shifts in perspective are here to stay. Climate change, the other great challenge of our time, is also playing a pivotal role in the way homeowners and tenants interact with their houses.
For property developers keen on gaining a competitive edge, it’s crucial to keep pace with what customers really want. For real estate agents, highlighting these amenities in the homes you have listed can generate interest from buyers.
With that in mind, here are four key trends shaping the residential space in 2023, and beyond.
1. Home as a workplace
When stay-at-home orders started circulating in early 2020, most of us envisaged the measures being temporary. Fast forward three years, however, and flexible working has become a permanent way of life. Today, more than half of Americans say they have the opportunity to work remotely at least one day a week, while 35% claim to do so full-time.
With tens of millions of employees carrying out their duties from home, personal offices have massively increased in popularity. Not all properties are big enough to accommodate separate work spaces, however, leading to the advent of fold-out desks and other forms of “flexible furniture” that allow rooms to serve different purposes throughout the day. A room may be study in the afternoon, for example, but then a lounge in evening.
2. A little slice of nature
The pandemic’s domestic confinement didn’t just impact working patterns. Unable to venture too far from their own four walls, people looked to integrate a little slice of nature at home.
Having access to a backyard remains a high priority for prospective home buyers, while patios and pools are also appearing more often in for-sale listings this year. A private garden isn’t possible at all residences, however, which could explain why, according to recent research, people are increasingly interested in communal green spaces.
For some homeowners and tenants, particularly those based in the city, even a shared outdoor area may not be possible. As a consequence, “biophilic design” is a top trend at the moment — bringing an outdoorsy feel inside with the help of some houseplants. Indoor greenery is proven to enhance air quality, improve sleep, and reduce stress — which is perfect with people spending more of their time at home.
3. The rise of shared and communal spaces
Across several countries, there’s evidence of a growing appetite for shared living spaces, in addition to communal backyards. This is likely rooted in both the isolation experienced during lockdown and the surge in living costs over recent months.
Though spending remains strong, data shows many consumers are starting to rack up credit card debt, having burned through cash reserves accumulated during the pandemic. Young people and retirees are under particular financial pressure at the moment, which helps explain why extended family and co-living arrangements are on the rise.
In the U.S. and the UK especially, there’s increased interest in homes that allow for community-based or multi-generational living arrangements, research shows. For this reason, we’re likely to see a proliferation of house designs and products that help older residents live as easily as their younger co-inhabitants, such as accessible bathrooms, grab rails, and flashing doorbells.
This shift toward great accessibility goes hand-in-hand with an increased interest in smart home technology. Intelligent lights, kitchen appliances, and heating and cooling systems will feature in more and more homes this year, enhancing convenience and usability while also helping residents cut energy costs.
Smart security devices are also increasingly sought after, linked perhaps to fears of a cost of living crisis-related crime wave.
4. Sustainability in the spotlight
From crime wave to heatwave, there’s little question that climate change is looming larger and larger in our collective consciousness. A desire to take positive action is filtering into what people expect from their homes, with a growing focus on all things sustainability.
Low-impact building supplies, such as green concrete, timber, and repurposed brick, are slowly but surely filtering into the construction sector, driven by the increased importance consumers are putting on green issues.
Inside their homes, people also want to see greater sustainability, which means the use of more environmentally friendly interior design materials. These include bamboo and other forms of reclaimed wood, cork, and recycled metals, especially aluminum.
Residents are also increasingly keen to bring down their domestic energy usage in an effort to not only reduce emissions, but to avoid being left out of pocket as utility prices rise. Passive measures, like better insulation, are growing in popularity, as are more substantial installations, such as solar panels, heat pumps, and batteries.
These renewable power solutions increase a home’s energy self-sufficiency — a major asset if public fuel supplies run precariously low, as they have in recent months.
Keeping a finger on the pulse
What makes a dwelling desirable? It’s the eternal question of the housing industry — and the truth is, the answer is different for everyone. A number of key trends are guiding the home design space, however, from the enduring popularity of remote work to a desire for more green and shared spaces and a deepening focus on sustainability.
For architects, real estate agents, property developers, and interior designers, standing out in a crowded market means understanding what people want. By keeping a finger on the pulse of evolving residential trends, property professionals can be confident in meeting their customers’ aspirations, offering them not just a house, but the home of their dreams.
