December 30th, 2017

Much like any consumer based market, housing and decorating trends are always on the move as some popular styles come and others move on.  Curious about some of the trends that are on the horizon?

In no particular order, here are some things that are rising in popularity to keep an eye on.

• Home Automation - Home Automation will continue to grow in popularity. The ability to integrate systems, devices, and other objects and services to simplify home operation is hitting more peoples lists of "nice to haves" and "must haves." The thing to keep in mind is that not all devices and services are universal, which can cause complexity in putting it all together and maintaining it. You may find a new service provider added to your list of pool service, lawn service, etc.
• Smart Glass - Everything else is turning smart... why not glass to. In Southwest Florida, the more windows the better for most home buyers and home owners. With the gorgeous natural sunlight that comes with those windows is a greater need to have solutions that help minimize energy costs, add privacy and filter out those harmful ultraviolet rays... enter SMART GLASS from stage right to help with this. And there are some coming on the scene that integrate with your home automation so that Alexa can help tint them on demand for you.
  
• Spiritual Gardens - With the busy lives we lead, people want to create a sanctuary at home where you can relax and recharge your batteries.  These gardens are filled with plants and designs that have a physical tie to spirituality and are growing in popularity even among those that are not active in their religious pursuits simply for their beauty and ambiance. 
  
• Kitchen Functionality - With more Americans becoming more health conscious, eating habits are starting to shift kitchen compositions. There is more demand for fridge space to store fresh produce and foods. Less space is needed for frozen foods. This is making fridges with flex space and freezer drawers more attractive. Kitchen gardens are also growing in popularity causing the need to consider self-watering capabilities and grow lights. Sanitation and easy are making quartz counters more desirable.
  
• Home Robots - Watch out Jetsons, robots are becoming a way of the present including early pioneers in the floor cleaning space. You are also seeing robots that help with health monitoring and even companionship for home owners suffering from diseases such as dementia.
• Black as the new Gray - After years of white, white, white (which will continue to be sought after), contrasting color pallets such as black and taking us by storm. For more conservative home owners, it may just be black doors (even interior), for others more bold, we may see more black walls, black tubs, black appliances, etc.
  
• Smaller Spaces - Bigger is not always better. The trend is shifting toward more buyers seeking smaller homes with smart spaces. This includes smaller yards, which drives out new landscaping designs and solutions. In the past, it could have been difficult to find the finish levels that people desired in smaller homes so you had to push up in size. Now, more smaller homes are coming with all those bells and whistles to open up options.
  

Which of these trends might you jump on and which ones are absolute no's for you? After all, things are always changing so your favorite trend could come back sooner than later. Just wait!