5 Top Home Design Trends from Industry Insiders

5 top home design trends from industry insiders. Home design insights from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and the International Builder’s Show.

A special report by John Burns Real Estate Consulting offers an insider’s look at the biggest home design trends from this year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the International Builders’ Show (IBS).

Their most notable observation was the expanded compatibility for smart technology in the home. Smart tech allows homeowners to operate home products (including refrigerators, lights, whirlpool baths and ovens) through personal assistants like Alexa or Google.

Most smart home products that initially operated on a single platform, like Apple, now have extensions that allow them to work with other common platforms like Google and Microsoft.

Colorful Home Design Trends

Bold colors are trending in home design. Builders AZEK and Timbertech displayed exterior siding and decking products in new colors ranging from a vibrant modern gold to a light brown cocoa bean. Manufacturers like True Residential and KOHLER added modern shades of emerald, black plum and indigo to many new kitchen and bath products displayed at KBIS.

Wood grain mosaics, leathered stone countertops, and crackle finish ceramic tiles are innovative home design trends that transform surfaces by adding texture. And, if you have wood cabinets in your kitchen – well, they’re “out.” These days, home buyers expect to see cabinets in color, or a combination of white and an accent color, like blue, green, black or red.

Water-Conscious Plumbing in Home Design

Sustainability has been a major home design trend for the past few years and plumbing manufacturers have been designing with the environment in mind to meet the growing demand for more water-conscious products.

John Burns Real Estate Consulting notes in its report, “From a performance standpoint, low-flow products have improved greatly over the years, with many sustainable products offering experiences as gracious as their high-flow counterparts.”

Home Design Trends: Slim Profiles

Minimalism is a huge trend in home product design. Companies like GE and Frigidaire released new compact appliance lines at an affordable price point. Many countertop manufacturers launched thin surface options that offer a clean look to the consumer without sacrificing performance.