As 2024 continues to unfold, exciting possibilities are emerging in the world of home remodeling. Whether you are seeking a complete overhaul or a touchup, this guide offers inspiring ideas to elevate your living space.
From multifunctional floorplans to cozy comfort features and the resurgence of natural materials to the strategic use of smart technology, we'll explore what’s currently shaping home renovation trends in 2024.
1. Invest in Your Current Home
The decision between moving and remodeling is a common consideration for many homeowners. In today's market, characterized by high-interest rates and limited real estate, a top trend in 2024 is for homeowners to invest in their current homes with home improvement projects.
Remodeling your current space offers several compelling advantages over relocating to a new home:
- Familiarity and Convenience: Skip the move! Remodel your existing home and enjoy the convenience of staying in your beloved neighborhood, all while creating a space that perfectly fits your needs.
- Leveraging the Home’s Value: Existing equity can be strategically utilized to finance a home renovation project.
- Building Upon Existing Investment: Past home improvement efforts, such as roof or window replacements, contribute to the overall value of the property and serve as a solid foundation for future upgrades, maximizing the investment you’ve already put towards your home.
- Reduced Disruption: Compared to the often stressful process of moving, home remodeling offers a more convenient option, eliminating the need for relocation and associated disruptions. While navigating a remodel can present its own challenges, resources exist to guide homeowners through the process, minimizing stress and ensuring a smoother experience.
2. Multi-Generational Living
In recent years, there has been a shift towards multi-generational living. Several factors are contributing to the increasing popularity of multi-generational living arrangements, such as:
- The rising costs of retirement communities and the rapid retirement of baby boomers have created a shortage of available spaces.
- Parents who have navigated the challenges of raising their children during the COVID-19 pandemic often find themselves open to the idea of sharing their living space with extended family for additional support.
- Parents with established homeownership and significant home equity can partner with their adult children to combine resources and finance a larger, more involved, multi-generational renovation that creates a dream space for everyone. This innovative approach offers a financially savvy alternative to the traditional home-buying process. This is common as the older generation plans for retirement.
- Multi-generational renovations focus on creating separate living areas within the home, like wings, add-ons, or finished basements. If the space will be a completely independent dwelling unit with its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, be sure to check local ordinances for compliance.
3. Aging in Place with Universal Design Remodeling Projects
Many homeowners approaching retirement are opting to modify their existing homes to accommodate their needs as they age. This concept, known as "aging in place" or "universal design," incorporates features that enhance accessibility and safety for residents of all ages and abilities.
Examples of aging-in-place home design upgrades include:
- Bathroom grab bars for improved stability
- Open floor plans for wheelchair and walker accessibility
- Low or no-threshold entries and bathroom showers for easy access
- First-floor living arrangements to eliminate the need for stair use
- Appliance safety features, such as stove shut-off timers
- Wide hallways and entryways to accommodate mobility aids
- Ramps and/or elevators for improved accessibility
4. Renovating for Multi-Functional Spaces
The once-dominant trend of open floor plans is evolving as homeowners recognize the value of multi-functional spaces. The desire for flexible use has led to a rise in incorporating features that allow homeowners to close off or divide open-concept floor plans. Features include room dividers, pocket doors, French doors, and designing open-concept floor plans with designated “zones.”
When it comes to home addition remodeling projects, homeowners prioritize adaptability. Take a great room addition, for example. It can transform from a playroom or living room for young children to a media and entertaining space. Built-in features like storage benches maximize its functionality. Including a section for a home office can evolve from a homework station at night to a workstation during the day. As the family grows, that same addition can seamlessly convert into a comfortable lounge or even a ground-floor bedroom for aging homeowners.
Multi-purpose mudrooms are another popular option. These spaces can combine laundry room facilities, a powder room, storage, and a pet-washing area.
5. Interior Design Trends
Blended and Full-Height Backsplashes
Blended backsplashes offer a visually intriguing and potentially functional approach to kitchen design. They combine two or more materials, creating a unique aesthetic and potentially adding functionality to the backsplash area.
This design technique is often paired with a full-height backsplash, specifically placed behind the range, typically featuring a different tile selection on either side. This combination provides both visual interest and a practical solution for easy cleaning in the high-use area behind the cooktop. This approach achieves a cohesive visual effect akin to a full-slab backsplash at a more accessible price point.
Textured and Patterned Tiles
The design world is embracing artisanal aesthetics with the rise of handcrafted or handcrafted-looking tiles. These include zellige Moroccan tiles and organically shaped options featuring curves and irregular forms.
Additionally, large-format porcelain tiles are gaining traction due to their sleek minimalism and low-maintenance appeal. The wide format minimizes grout lines, creating a visually cohesive and easy-to-clean surface.
Warm-Tone Color Palettes
In recent years, the design world has witnessed a cozy and inviting shift from cool grays to warm and earthy tones.
This trend is amplified by the selection of "Peach Fuzz" as the Pantone Color of the Year 2024, highlighting the growing allure of hues like terracotta that create a sense of comfort and welcome.
Resurgence of Wood
We love this delightful resurgence of wood as a prominent material choice. This trend extends beyond mere functionality, embracing natural beauty and the warmth of wood tones.
Flooring and cabinetry are shedding their cool-toned appearances, returning to the rich depths of natural wood grains. This renewed appreciation for wood also translates into a surge in popularity for wall paneling options such as slat wood, fluted panels, board-and-batten designs, and classic shiplap. These elements add visual interest and textural dimension, creating a layered and inviting aesthetic within the home.
The return of wood signifies a move away from cool-toned minimalism and a re-embrace of organic materials that connect us to nature.
Wallpaper in Unexpected Spaces
Many clients are embracing wallpaper’s potential to transform smaller, functional spaces into eye-catching focal points. Powder rooms, mudrooms, basements, and laundry rooms are becoming canvases for bold wallpaper choices.
This application allows homeowners to inject personality and flair into spaces that often take a backseat in terms of design. Whether it's a single accent wall or a full-on makeover, wallpaper proves it can elevate even the most functional rooms.
Custom Built-Ins
Incorporating built-in features is a prominent trend in home remodeling, driven by the desire for increased functionality and enhanced aesthetics.
Bookshelves, cubbies, and window seats provide organized storage for books, decorative items, and everyday essentials, decluttering the space and promoting a sense of order. Fireplace surrounds can be built to create a focal point and add architectural interest to living areas. Storage benches offer a dual purpose, providing comfortable seating and hidden storage solutions, and are ideal for entryways, mudrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms.
The popularity of custom built-ins reflects a growing appreciation for space optimization and multifunctionality. They allow homeowners to maximize their existing square footage while creating a personalized and organized atmosphere.
Home Bars
The concept of home entertainment has undergone a transformation, with wet and dry bars emerging as coveted features in modern living spaces. This trend is driven by a desire to elevate home entertaining and create distinctive design elements that reflect personal style.
Wet bars, featuring sinks, built-in glassware storage, dishwashers, and dedicated refrigerators for beverages, offer homeowners the convenience and functionality of a professional bar setting within their own homes. This allows for effortless hosting and the preparation of a wider variety of drinks, from classic cocktails to creative mocktails.
On the other hand, dry bars provide a stylish and dedicated space for displaying and storing liquor, glassware, and barware. They often incorporate elegant cabinetry, shelving, and countertops, transforming a simple corner into a sophisticated focal point for conversation and gathering.
Chicago's short season of warm weather and sunshine shouldn't limit your entertaining options! Outdoor living spaces are being renovated to include kitchens and wet/dry bars as a popular way to expand living space and enjoy the outdoors while you can. Imagine grilling a feast and having drinks with friends under the summer sky.
Whether used for intimate gatherings or larger celebrations, home bars represent a refined approach to entertaining. They allow homeowners to personalize their hosting experience and create lasting memories within their own walls.
6. Embracing Technology, Wellness, and Comfort
Smart home features are becoming increasingly popular, offering a blend of convenience and security. Examples include:
- Smart locks: Lock and unlock your doors remotely using your phone for added ease.
- Smart appliances: Control your appliances from anywhere, enhancing efficiency and automation.
- Smart lighting: Adjust lighting settings to suit your needs and preferences, creating the perfect ambiance.
- Smart speakers: Stream music, control smart devices, and even get information hands-free with integrated speakers.
- Whole-home automation systems: Manage various smart features throughout your home for a truly connected living experience.
- Smart thermostats: Automatically adjust your home's temperature based on your location or daily schedule, saving energy and money.
- Home security systems: Enhance your peace of mind with smart security features.
Beyond technology, homeowners are prioritizing health and well-being through various improvements such as:
- Wall-hanging toilets and clean-skirted designs: These bathroom features promote easier cleaning and better hygiene due to reduced hidden areas for dirt accumulation around the toilet.
- Air filtration systems: These systems improve indoor air quality and create a healthier breathing environment.
- In-home gyms, saunas, and lap pools: Homeowners are remodeling their homes to create dedicated spaces for personal fitness and relaxation within the home.
- Meditation rooms and spa-inspired primary suites: To prioritize mental and physical well-being, homeowners are incorporating meditation rooms and spa-inspired primary suites, creating dedicated spaces for mindfulness and rejuvenation within the home.
These trends reflect a growing desire for comfort, convenience, and a holistic approach to living, where technology, wellness, and personalized touches come together to create functional and inviting home environments.
Embarking on Your Home Remodel Journey: Navigating Trends with Confidence
The world of home design is constantly evolving, and incorporating contemporary trends can be a great way to refresh your living space. However, navigating these trends while ensuring your home remains timeless, functional, and within budget can be daunting. This is where partnering with a design-build firm becomes invaluable.
Whether you choose to embrace a few or all of the trending design elements mentioned in this guide, a high-quality design-build firm will provide crucial support. Their team, including a reputable and experienced designer, will guide you through every step of the process. They'll help you translate the latest 2024 trends into a design that seamlessly integrates with your existing style and reflects your unique needs.
One significant advantage of working with a design-build firm is its comprehensive approach. Unlike working solely with an interior designer, you'll benefit from collaborating with a unified team that manages the entire project lifecycle. From initial design consultations to final construction, this team will meticulously consider the aesthetics, functionality, budget considerations, and practical implementation of your vision.
This holistic approach ensures your dream space looks good and functions flawlessly within your budget. It goes beyond aesthetics, ensuring your home remains a comfortable and enjoyable place to live for years to come, unlike projects solely focused on visuals.
Start your home renovation journey by diving into the eBook "The Ultimate Step-by-Step Home Renovation Transformation Guide" to discover how to lay the groundwork for a successful transformation.
