Top Home Remodeling Trends For 2014

Planning a major home improvement project in 2014? If so, you’re definitely not alone. After two straight years of solid growth in the home remodeling industry, the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University predicts “double-digit [percentage] gains in annual home improvement spending” through the first half of 2014. The general contractors and interior designers Angie’s List spoke to say in 2014 homeowners are most interested in making strategic improvements to boost functionality, increase efficiency and take advantage of existing space.

1. Opening up the kitchen

Removing a wall between the kitchen and an adjoining room remains one of the hottest trends in home remodeling. The project appeals to homeowners because it instantly creates more space and dramatically changes the look and feel of the home. “In almost every kitchen we do, we open a wall between the living room and the kitchen,” Merrifield says. “Usually we put an island between them.” The project was also a top trend of 2013, and remodelers and interior designers say it maintains its popularity for a variety of reasons.

2. Installing hardwood flooring in the kitchen

Merrifield says the popularity of open kitchens sparked a new flooring trend. “Most people are doing hardwood floors in their kitchens now instead of tile,” he says. “They want to have some continuity when they open up that wall from the living room, which might already have hardwood. They want to continue that flow there to make it one big room.” Although hardwood usually costs more than other flooring options, it offers durability and a cozy, timeless look that never goes out of style.

3. Customizing the home

Colvin says homeowners are making targeted improvements to ensure the home is a good fit for their lifestyle and family size. “I’m finding that clients are becoming more and more comfortable in smaller houses, whether they’re building or moving into existing ones,” Colvin says. “They’re then customizing the spaces with remodeling to suit their needs and wants. Making use of every room in the house is important now.” She says her clients turn unused rooms into offices, dens, hobby rooms and children’s play rooms. Remodelers also report an increase in requests for custom charging stations for smartphones and laptops. Some homeowners have them added to existing cabinets to keep gadgets out of sight, or install electrical outlets with built-in USB charging ports.

4. Separating the shower and tub

The days when the shower-tub combo reigned supreme are long gone. Home remodelers say the latest trend is to ditch the tub altogether, or to keep it separate from the shower. “Standup showers are very popular now,” Merrifield says. “People aren’t having the tub and shower anymore. They want the shower separate, tiled in with the glass door on it.”

5. Combining old and new styles

A hot design trend in 2014 involves juxtaposing old and new concepts. “It’s a kind of a mix and match of more contemporary products with older style, design and materials,” Bolman says. In today’s trendy home, a stainless steel refrigerator might sit next to a farmhouse sink or an antique chandelier might illuminate an IKEA bookcase. “Clients are using an eclectic mix of antiques, vintage pieces and their newer furniture to personalize their living spaces,” Colvin says. Remodelers also report an increased demand for recycled building materials, which they say can enhance old-meets-new design.

6. Going greener

Green home improvements have been trendy for years, but remodelers and designers say homeowners continue to strive to improve the efficiency of their homes — from installing home automation systems that prevent energy waste to replacing outdated light bulbs and shower heads. “LED lighting, which was really prohibitively expensive in the beginning, is really affordable now,” Bolman says. “People are using it for undercabinet lights as well as their recessed can lights. It’s very nice and it comes in a lot of color temperatures.”

If you are interested in any of the above home remodeling trends for your next remodel, please contact Westhill Construction Company!