9 Home Design Trends Emerging Now
Houzz search data shows increasingly popular features and styles people are looking to add to their homes in 2023
In today’s world, typing in a search term online seems as common as breathing. But a look at those collective searches — and how they change over time — can unearth a surprising picture of what’s important to people at a given moment.
So we looked at search terms on Houzz from January through March 2023 and compared them with searches from the same time last year to see how people’s home design preferences might be changing. Here you’ll find some of the features and styles showing big increases in interest. Basement golf simulator, anyone? How about ideas for a small screened-in porch? Or maybe a Spanish Colonial living room? Here you’ll find more on those trends and others taking off this year.
So we looked at search terms on Houzz from January through March 2023 and compared them with searches from the same time last year to see how people’s home design preferences might be changing. Here you’ll find some of the features and styles showing big increases in interest. Basement golf simulator, anyone? How about ideas for a small screened-in porch? Or maybe a Spanish Colonial living room? Here you’ll find more on those trends and others taking off this year.
Searches for “basement golf simulator,” like the one shown here in a Naperville, Illinois, basement by Charleston Building and Development, leaped more than 1,900%. Meanwhile, searches for basement movie theaters, game rooms, home gyms, bars, playrooms and offices were all up in the first three months of 2023 compared with the same period last year.
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2. Up on the Roof
No space should go to waste, and that includes a rooftop. Increasingly, many homeowners, especially those in metropolitan areas, are looking for ways to transform rooftop areas into welcoming outdoor living spaces. Searches for “outdoor rooftop terrace” shot up more than 1,500% year over year. Likewise, searches jumped for rooftop decks (up 90%) and rooftop patios (up 40%).
For this Los Angeles-area home, design-build firm Current Designed created a welcoming rooftop terrace off a bedroom and on top of a home office and family room.
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No space should go to waste, and that includes a rooftop. Increasingly, many homeowners, especially those in metropolitan areas, are looking for ways to transform rooftop areas into welcoming outdoor living spaces. Searches for “outdoor rooftop terrace” shot up more than 1,500% year over year. Likewise, searches jumped for rooftop decks (up 90%) and rooftop patios (up 40%).
For this Los Angeles-area home, design-build firm Current Designed created a welcoming rooftop terrace off a bedroom and on top of a home office and family room.
Shop for outdoor furniture
3. Bathroom Accessibility
For people with mobility issues, some common bathroom elements like curbed showers, tight layouts and hard-to-reach fixtures can be difficult to navigate. So improving safe accessibility is a major concern for many homeowners looking to stay in their homes well into their retirement years. And searches for spaces and features that assist with those adaptations are rising on Houzz.
Searches for “aging-in-place bathrooms” and “handicap-accessible bathrooms” each more than doubled in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. And features like “handheld shower head,” “ADA compliant bathroom vanities” and “curbless showers” also grew.
This bathroom in a custom home by Genesis Homes NW features a curbless shower entry wide enough for a wheelchair or walker, with plenty of room to maneuver around if needed. A handheld shower head and movable seat offer flexible washing options.
For people with mobility issues, some common bathroom elements like curbed showers, tight layouts and hard-to-reach fixtures can be difficult to navigate. So improving safe accessibility is a major concern for many homeowners looking to stay in their homes well into their retirement years. And searches for spaces and features that assist with those adaptations are rising on Houzz.
Searches for “aging-in-place bathrooms” and “handicap-accessible bathrooms” each more than doubled in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. And features like “handheld shower head,” “ADA compliant bathroom vanities” and “curbless showers” also grew.
This bathroom in a custom home by Genesis Homes NW features a curbless shower entry wide enough for a wheelchair or walker, with plenty of room to maneuver around if needed. A handheld shower head and movable seat offer flexible washing options.
This ADA-compliant shower by Progressive Design Build in Naples, Florida, features a curbless entry, a long bench, a handheld shower head, multiple grab bars and mosaic tile flooring with numerous grout lines for a nonslip surface.
4. Industrial-Style Kitchens
If you want a kitchen that’s easy to clean, durable and stylish, just look to restaurant kitchens for inspiration. Searches for “industrial kitchen” were up 41% year over year, along with associated features like easy-to-wipe stainless steel countertops (up 113%) and copper backsplashes (up 14%). Not-too-precious materials like concrete countertops (up 28%) and brick walls (up 93%) help create a durable industrial look.
In this Asheville, North Carolina, kitchen, Hearth and Home Interiors created an industrial-style that includes brick walls, concrete flooring, exposed electrical conduit, track lighting and steel stools mounted to the island.
If you want a kitchen that’s easy to clean, durable and stylish, just look to restaurant kitchens for inspiration. Searches for “industrial kitchen” were up 41% year over year, along with associated features like easy-to-wipe stainless steel countertops (up 113%) and copper backsplashes (up 14%). Not-too-precious materials like concrete countertops (up 28%) and brick walls (up 93%) help create a durable industrial look.
In this Asheville, North Carolina, kitchen, Hearth and Home Interiors created an industrial-style that includes brick walls, concrete flooring, exposed electrical conduit, track lighting and steel stools mounted to the island.
5. Entertainer’s Kitchens
During a party, many people naturally congregate near the food and drinks. And that typically means the kitchen.
To facilitate a communal atmosphere, many homeowners are looking for ways to create a kitchen fit for entertaining. In fact, 3 in 5 homeowners use their kitchen for entertaining following a renovation (57%), according to the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
Recent Houzz searches offer a glimpse of how homeowners are intending to design entertaining kitchens, including “large kitchen island with seating” (up 187%), “open concept kitchen to family room” (up 76%), “beverage station” (up 71%) and “island cooktops” (up 48%), which allow the cook to face guests.
Meanwhile, searches for “walk-in kitchen pantry,” a useful feature for storing extra supplies for large parties as well as hiding small appliances, were up a whopping 2,636%. And searches for “scullery kitchen” were up 38%. A scullery kitchen, also known as a butler’s pantry, may feature prep areas, a sink, storage cabinets and some appliances and give homeowners the flexibility to keep messy food prep out of view of guests.
This Columbus, Ohio, kitchen by Kitchen Kraft has a large island with seating and a beverage fridge that allows guests to grab a drink without getting in the way of the cook.
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
During a party, many people naturally congregate near the food and drinks. And that typically means the kitchen.
To facilitate a communal atmosphere, many homeowners are looking for ways to create a kitchen fit for entertaining. In fact, 3 in 5 homeowners use their kitchen for entertaining following a renovation (57%), according to the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
Recent Houzz searches offer a glimpse of how homeowners are intending to design entertaining kitchens, including “large kitchen island with seating” (up 187%), “open concept kitchen to family room” (up 76%), “beverage station” (up 71%) and “island cooktops” (up 48%), which allow the cook to face guests.
Meanwhile, searches for “walk-in kitchen pantry,” a useful feature for storing extra supplies for large parties as well as hiding small appliances, were up a whopping 2,636%. And searches for “scullery kitchen” were up 38%. A scullery kitchen, also known as a butler’s pantry, may feature prep areas, a sink, storage cabinets and some appliances and give homeowners the flexibility to keep messy food prep out of view of guests.
This Columbus, Ohio, kitchen by Kitchen Kraft has a large island with seating and a beverage fridge that allows guests to grab a drink without getting in the way of the cook.
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
6. A Bit of Separation
Open concepts offer many benefits in a home. But sometimes a little separation is needed to add privacy, mitigate noise or create some visual delineation of purpose in an open area that combines multiple functions. Rising searches show a few solutions: “living room divider” (up 446%), “Shoji screen” (up 60%) and “partition wall” (up 41%).
In this Austin, Texas, home by North Arrow Studio, a wood slat divider creates visual and physical separation between the entryway and sunken living room. The divider also establishes an arrival sequence, forcing guests to pause, turn to the right and experience the pull of the view through the living area.
Open concepts offer many benefits in a home. But sometimes a little separation is needed to add privacy, mitigate noise or create some visual delineation of purpose in an open area that combines multiple functions. Rising searches show a few solutions: “living room divider” (up 446%), “Shoji screen” (up 60%) and “partition wall” (up 41%).
In this Austin, Texas, home by North Arrow Studio, a wood slat divider creates visual and physical separation between the entryway and sunken living room. The divider also establishes an arrival sequence, forcing guests to pause, turn to the right and experience the pull of the view through the living area.
7. Ceiling Vibes
Speaking of views, designers often refer to the ceiling as the “fifth wall,” a reminder to give the overhead surface some love.
On Houzz, searches are up for many ceiling treatment ideas, including “high-gloss ceiling” (up 816%), “tongue-and-groove ceiling” (up 74%), “painted ceiling” (up 68%), “wallpaper ceiling” (up 26%) and “black ceiling” (up 19%).
This Richmond, Virginia, pool house living room features a glossy white tongue-and-groove ceiling treatment that coordinates with white shiplap walls. Stained wood beams help break up the lines and work with the fireplace mantel and stone facing to create a stylish coastal look.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Speaking of views, designers often refer to the ceiling as the “fifth wall,” a reminder to give the overhead surface some love.
On Houzz, searches are up for many ceiling treatment ideas, including “high-gloss ceiling” (up 816%), “tongue-and-groove ceiling” (up 74%), “painted ceiling” (up 68%), “wallpaper ceiling” (up 26%) and “black ceiling” (up 19%).
This Richmond, Virginia, pool house living room features a glossy white tongue-and-groove ceiling treatment that coordinates with white shiplap walls. Stained wood beams help break up the lines and work with the fireplace mantel and stone facing to create a stylish coastal look.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
8. Small and Outdoors
Small spaces call for small design solutions. So homeowners with modestly sized outdoor areas are on the hunt for things like “small screened-in porch ideas” (up 522%), “small plunge pool” (up 375%), “small backyard patio” (up 30%) and “small front porch” (up 28%)
This small Chicago front porch has tons of curb appeal with blue shingle siding, stone flooring, white trim, a wood ceiling treatment and a pair of wood rocking chairs.
Small spaces call for small design solutions. So homeowners with modestly sized outdoor areas are on the hunt for things like “small screened-in porch ideas” (up 522%), “small plunge pool” (up 375%), “small backyard patio” (up 30%) and “small front porch” (up 28%)
This small Chicago front porch has tons of curb appeal with blue shingle siding, stone flooring, white trim, a wood ceiling treatment and a pair of wood rocking chairs.
This New York home by Garrison Foundry Architecture + Decor features a narrow yet dreamy white front porch punctuated by a yellow door. A sofa offers a spot for catching breezes — or a nap.
9. Spanish Colonial Style
Spanish Colonial homes, known for their white stucco exteriors, red tile roofs and rustic elements, are common in the South and California. And many homeowners with this type of home hire pros to update the spaces while honoring the roots of the architecture. But even people who own a home in a different style find the breezy Mediterranean look appealing. And all that might explain an increase in searches on Houzz for things like “Spanish Colonial living room” (up 1,470%), “Spanish Colonial kitchen” (up 207%) and “Spanish Colonial exterior” (up 163%), among other relevant topics.
This Los Angeles living room by Saffron Case Homes features many desirable Spanish elements, including white plaster-style walls, an oversize fireplace, soaring ceilings with raw wood beams, arch details and organic colors and textures.
See the 2023 Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report
More on Houzz
See more trending design ideas
Browse home design photos
Find a pro
Shop for products inspired by these trends
Spanish Colonial homes, known for their white stucco exteriors, red tile roofs and rustic elements, are common in the South and California. And many homeowners with this type of home hire pros to update the spaces while honoring the roots of the architecture. But even people who own a home in a different style find the breezy Mediterranean look appealing. And all that might explain an increase in searches on Houzz for things like “Spanish Colonial living room” (up 1,470%), “Spanish Colonial kitchen” (up 207%) and “Spanish Colonial exterior” (up 163%), among other relevant topics.
This Los Angeles living room by Saffron Case Homes features many desirable Spanish elements, including white plaster-style walls, an oversize fireplace, soaring ceilings with raw wood beams, arch details and organic colors and textures.
See the 2023 Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report
More on Houzz
See more trending design ideas
Browse home design photos
Find a pro
Shop for products inspired by these trends
When looking to expand a home’s usable space, backyards and additions offer plenty of opportunity. But people with basements know a world of possibility sits below the surface.
A finished basement is great for creating spaces that might be considered less formal than the main areas of a home. And many search terms relating to fun basement features reflect an increase in interest in building these spaces out.
Searches for “basement family room” rose nearly 800% year over year, while searches for “basement recreation room” jumped 525%.
For this Hamptons, New York, basement, designer Brooke Taylor created a welcoming family room with a performance fabric sectional, an indoor-outdoor rug, a fireplace and an under-the-stairs wine closet.
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