Houzz’s community of more than 65 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts and more than 2.7 million active home remodeling and design professionals have come together to predict 2022 trends in kitchen, bath, and outdoor design, as well as advances in universal design and sustainability.
The 10 top home design trends from Houzz are:
Multiple window banks
One way to deliver light and bright rooms is with plenty of windows that stream in natural light, which is why long banks of multiple windows, sometimes on two or even three walls are being used to create a space full of light, breeze, and views. Houzz anticipates homeowners to go with expansive runs of windows in 2022.
Casual and Collected
While the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study confirmed that all-white kitchens remain dominant, layered looks are gaining in popularity. Dressed-up, collected style caught on last year, which Houzz predicts will continue into 2022, albeit in a more casual, less-polished approach with softer, lighter paint colors, raw wood tones and a mix of cabinet fronts and styles.
Long and linear backsplash tile
White subway tile is a classic look for a kitchen backsplash, but many homeowners are searching for a modern twist on the material. White ceramic four-by-12-inch tile appears to be the answer because the rectangular shape lends a timeless feel while its elongated form gives it a fresh, updated appearance.
Hardworking storage
While the general function of cabinetry hasn’t changed much over the years, the inside of cabinets has dramatically shifted. Pullouts bring pantry items from the back of cabinets to the front. Special shelves lift heavy appliances from a lower cabinet to countertop height. Drawer dividers organize plates and bowls. Houzz sees cubbies for towels, hidden storage for laundry hampers, and more on the rise for 2022.
Multiple showerheads and sprays
More than half (55%) of homeowners who update their shower during a bathroom renovation choose a rain shower head, almost a quarter (23%) go for dual shower heads and 16% add body sprays, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. In addition to multiple shower heads, bathroom design pros on Houzz recommend installing a handheld sprayer, too, which can be used for rinsing shaved legs, cleaning the shower walls, or washing pets and kids.
Aging in place in style
These days, Houzz says universal design prioritizes products and features that look as good as they are functional. Some grab bars, for example, come in trendy finishes like champagne bronze or matte black, and hide their function as a towel bar, doing double duty while still meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Other accessible design features like curbless showers, non-slip flooring and shower benches have become desirable and stylish features for homeowners of all ages.
Heated bathroom floors
When Houzz asked more than 50 home design and remodeling professionals on Houzz what bathroom feature they most recommend to homeowners, one element rose above the rest: heated floors. A cold tile floor can ruin a spa-like experience, and heated floors are relatively inexpensive and easy to install during a renovation, making this feature a no-brainer.
Desirable sustainability and efficiency
Sustainable building practices have long been a focus of environmentalists, but recent shifts in the global dialogue have brought the benefits for individual homeowners to the forefront, sparking a new wave of adoption. High-performance windows and solar panels help homeowners reduce energy use, which can also help homeowners save money. Native trees and grasses can help create water-efficient landscapes, but also attract pleasing wildlife. When personal benefits have a positive collateral impact on the world, everyone benefits.
Outdoor living rooms that look like indoor rooms
Houzz search data has shown that people want their backyards to be relaxing extensions of their interior living spaces. There have been major advances in outdoor materials in recent years, allowing manufacturers to create stylish and durable outdoor sofas, tables, rugs, chairs and decor. Add an outdoor fireplace, maybe a TV, and the line between indoors and out seemingly disappears.
Outdoor privacy
As homeowners increasingly expand their available living space to the outdoors, many are hiring landscape pros on Houzz for screens, fences, plantings and other strategies that help create intimate spaces and separation from neighbors, or block an undesirable view. This might look like a vine-covered pergola, an outdoor screen around a private dining spot, or fencing for an outdoor shower or hot tub. Standalone structures are used as home offices, gyms, meditation areas or as extended living spaces to house relatives or kids who had to stay home from college due to the pandemic.
