Check Out this Summer’s Emerging Home Trends, According to Houzz

Temperatures are getting hot right now—and apparently so are these seven trends in the home, according to a recent report from Houzz, which compiled data reflecting year-over-year growth in U.S.-based searches on the website from January through March 2023, versus the same time frame in 2022. While trends come and go, and realistically, you can’t partake in all of them, it’s still helpful to track the industry’s interests because that info might come in handy the day you finally decide to renovate or refresh. 

If you’re updating your home or just love staying in the design loop, you’ll find some serious inspo in the searches below, which range from light cosmetic upgrades to more intense demolitions, made by fellow decor enthusiasts. 

Tricked Out Basements

Say goodbye to dusty old basements of yore! Transforming them into functional areas is now an even bigger priority for many, with searches for subterranean family or recreation rooms up 791 percent and 524 percent, respectively. Perhaps one of the most fascinating insights from the report is the dramatic rise in searches for “basement golf simulators,” which has shown a whopping 1,905 percent increase compared to last year.

Rooftop Living

While some people are looking down low (for basement inspo!), others are now looking up—rooftops are quickly becoming another area in the home ready for optimization as folks seek to utilize every square inch of their homes, especially those who live in urban areas with limited yard space. Searches for “outdoor rooftop terrace” shot up 16.5 times over, and “rooftop deck” and “rooftop patio” grew by 90 percent and 40 percent, respectively.  

Industrial-Style Kitchens

The fact that industrial style is making a resurgence isn’t too surprising. After all, it is slightly reminiscent of the farmhouse aesthetic that dominated design for years, so the progression to industrial is understandable. Plus, the motif usually features easy-to-clean surfaces and high-traffic durability, thanks to its inherently commercial nature, which makes it the perfect fit for kitchens. Interest in industrial kitchens has risen, along with many of the elements industrialism is noted for. Searches for “stainless steel countertops” and “brick kitchen walls” have doubled since last year. The most surprising takeaway from this research point is that track lighting, which was mega popular in the 90s, is coming back! Searches for “kitchen track lighting” has gone up 203 percent. The phenomenon makes sense though, as track lighting complements the industrial theme.

Pretty Partitions

Open-concept living is slowly becoming passé, probably partly due to preferences established during the pandemic. Room dividers have been popularized significantly, because many get the job done without being super permanent or expensive solutions.“Living room divider,” “Shoji screen,” and “partition wall” searches are up 445 percent, 60 percent, and 41 percent, respectively.

Smaller Outdoor Features

People are realizing bigger doesn’t always mean better, and in fact, they’re hoping to shrink things down a bit, especially outdoors. Smaller swimming pools are in demand now, which might be due to greater environmental consciousness. Folks still want to indulge, but may be recognizing they’ll need to compromise to help the environment a bit. (Smaller pools usually means less water waste!) Searches for “small plunge pools” went up 375 percent! Other zones are also getting some love, with searches for “small outdoor kitchens” doubling.   

Ceiling Treatments

Wallpapering the fifth wall has been a popular idea in the design world for years now—it’s an easy way to add more oomph to a room! People are now looking to do more though with paint and texture. Searches for “high-gloss ceiling,” “painted ceiling,” and “black ceiling” have all increased, and interest in “tongue-and-groove ceilings” (a type of paneling) grew 73 percent.

Historical Style Revival

If you’ve noticed the Mediterranean aesthetic creeping into your Instagram feeds, Houzz is confirming your observations. In fact, searches for “Spanish colonial living room” have spiked up 1,450 percent! Generally speaking, design is edging a little bit away from modernism, as homeowners seek to incorporate more classic architectural features into their space or they’re trying to honor their older homes (versus gutting them and making them look brand new). People want things to look old now! Colonial style is also on the rise, with the search terms “colonial front porch,” “colonial exteriors,” and “colonial living room” up 536 percent, 167 percent, and 123 percent, respectively.