When the pandemic began in 2020, many people spent more time at home and indoors than before. This led to increased home remodeling projects, from remodels of large kitchens to spa-like bathrooms. Homeowners found what design choices worked for them and what did not.
2021 continued that trend. Though restrictions loosened, for the past year, people have continued to stay at home, especially as employers began adopting the hybrid work-from-home model. In-person hangouts and parties increased but moved outdoors. This resulted in people spending more time in their backyards, too.
As 2022 gets well underway, so will the high demand for home renovations. People are expanding their spaces more than ever, adding to their existing layouts or completely refreshing their rooms. With nice weather year-round, San Diego homeowners primarily want to take advantage of the sunny, coastal weather. Here are some of the top home renovation trends for this year.
Home offices have grown in popularity, but their importance became evident during the pandemic. As many employees continue to work from home, designing the ideal home office space has become a top priority. Whether reconfiguring a layout to create the perfect office or taking over unused rooms, San Diego homeowners are looking for dedicated workspaces.
More people are realizing the layout and design of a room can affect their productivity. They want a space that maximizes their concentration, motivation, and productivity while also allowing a separation between work and leisure areas of the home. This includes adding built-in storage and high-tech solutions to meet all their work-from-home needs.
Another trend that began pre-pandemic but increased during the last two years is the rise of outdoor living. After spending extended time indoors, more homeowners want remodeling professionals to build different spaces to suit their favorite interests. This includes outdoor spaces that function as an extension of the indoors.
Outdoor entertainment has been a massive driver of this trend. In 2021, more people held hangouts and parties, but some uncertainty over the pandemic pushed these functions outside. The result was a need for outdoor “rooms.”
Shade structures, such as awnings, are one of many solutions San Diego homeowners want to incorporate in their home remodels. Not only do they protect from the California sun, but they also help visually extend the indoors to the outside. Terraces, decks, and porches also offer outdoor “rooms” and entertaining spaces.
Outdoor kitchens have also risen with this trend. These can range from simple built-in barbecues and grills to larger spaces with counters, commercial-style grills, refrigerators, and wine coolers. Fire pits are another favorite for entertainment, along with extensive seating and dining areas.
Pools are also high on wish lists, along with decorative water features. Outdoor showers are having a moment, as people want somewhere to wash off outside debris. These work in all climates, and many have controls that allow for complete control over water flow and temperature.
If you have a lot of outdoor space to garden, play, or entertain in, there should be an area that helps you transition back into the home. With restrictions lifting, this also includes traveling to and from home to school or work. No one wants to frantically search for their keys, backpacks, purses, and everything else while rushing out the door. Clutter also distracts from the overall beauty of your home.
Homeowners building from scratch are increasingly looking for design plans with a mudroom. Other homeowners have chosen to remodel and are converting underused spaces, such as part of a garage or laundry room, or adding more space to dedicate to a transitional room.
Additional high-demand functions are drop-off areas for packages and other deliveries, specified storage spaces for family members, washing stations for pets, and a built-out laundry area, including shelves, a counter for folding, and a sink.
Homeowners have asked for more natural light through larger windows and door openings. This trend began with the pandemic and has remained high on the demand list.
Plant life indoors and out also emphasizes the flow of the house, from indoors to outdoors. The need for brighter, open spaces and rooms that easily transition into each other has driven many trends over the past couple of years. Increased focus on physical and mental well-being is also inspiring this change in design. Nature is considered suitable for your health, and more homeowners want to take advantage of that.
San Diego is one of the country’s most beautiful places to live. Why not take advantage of those views by installing larger windows and doors? It also helps increase the natural light owners want, guaranteeing you can enjoy the California sun no matter what you’re doing.
San Diego homeowners are expanding their spaces more than ever. They’re ready to make their living areas more spacious and cater to their needs. Conservatories are growing in popularity nationwide and can act as additional ways to extend indoor spaces outdoors. Enjoy your immediate surroundings by building out and transitioning the conservatory into a deck or patio space.
ADUs are also being used for private office spaces. Building an ADU instead of remodeling an existing room makes it easier to incorporate sufficient lighting, privacy, sound insulation, and ventilation suited to your needs. It also allows for a more robust separation between work and home life.
For those entrepreneurial owners, ADUs make excellent rental properties. Since the ADU is on your property, it’s easy to keep an eye on the rental and decreases the hassle of traveling to your rented unit. The affordable housing shortage has led renters to consider ADUs an alternative to traditional apartments.
Technology, while not a new trend, has changed and continues to push other trends while being one itself. Design firms are using new tools to share designs online with clients, while clients are increasingly asking for more outlets to accommodate the growing number of devices.
Besides increasing the number of outlets and making it easier for designers to communicate with clients without meeting at an office, smart technology is popular in homes. The pandemic increased awareness of how often we touch our devices, including thermostats and light switches. With innovative technology, you can virtually control all aspects of your home with only your phone or opt for touchless tech.
Smart sensors are also seeing an increase. These can do anything from detecting harmful CO2 and smoke levels to turning on security lights at the first sign of movement. Some of the most innovative tech uses an occupancy sensor, which reacts with a specific action when it detects someone in the room.
More people around the country are looking for ways to become environmentally conscious without sacrificing the comforts of a well-designed home. This has led to increased searches for environmentally friendly technology, appliances, materials, and landscaping.
Environmentally aware landscape designs are predicted to continue their increase as homeowners look for ways to decrease their carbon footprint. This includes adding drought-tolerant and native plants, especially in areas that suffer the most from drought and wildfires. Some owners have taken to building brick or stone exterior walls as a further defense against increasingly severe California wildfires.
Solar panels are also seeing a steady demand. San Diego gets a lot of sunny days, especially in the summer. Install solar panels on your roof to save energy and benefit the environment.
Sustainable materials, such as bamboo or repurposed wood flooring, have seen an increase in requests. More people realize that recycled materials can be as durable and beautiful as brand-new ones! Plus, sustainable materials can sometimes be cheaper, saving money in the long run.
Whether you’re looking to remodel a single room or your entire house, the Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling team can help! We believe all our clients deserve to have the home of their dreams. That’s why we pride ourselves on our superior designs, project management, interior design, and constant communication to ensure our clients’ satisfaction with our work.
Our experienced designers and contractors can remodel your kitchen, bathroom, or other space to fit the design and style you want for your San Diego home. We’ve completed countless projects across San Diego County for over fourteen years. As San Diego’s premier design-build firm, we can help bring your dreams to life. Contact us today for a complimentary design consultation!
The pandemic led to people spending more time at home, realizing what design choices worked for them and what did not. By adopting the hybrid work-from-home model and increasing in-person outdoor hangouts, homeowners sought to improve and expand their spaces.
San Diego homeowners seek dedicated workspaces that maximize concentration, motivation, and productivity. They want a space that allows separation between work and leisure areas. Key features include built-in storage and high-tech solutions tailored for work-from-home needs.
The outdoor living trend saw a rise, with outdoor spaces functioning as extensions of the indoors. Driven by outdoor entertainment, homeowners now seek outdoor “rooms” like terraces, decks, and porches. Features like shade structures, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, pools, and outdoor showers have also gained popularity.
Transitional rooms help transition back into the home, assisting in organization and storage. These rooms aim to reduce clutter and frantic searches for everyday items. They often include package drop-off areas, specified storage spaces for family members, washing stations for pets, and enhanced laundry areas.
Technology is both driving other trends and evolving itself. Design firms use online tools for client interactions, homeowners request more outlets for devices, and smart technology is growing in popularity. This includes touchless tech, smart sensors detecting harmful levels of CO2 and smoke, security features, and occupancy sensors reacting to presence in a room.
Kimberly Villa is a recognized expert in the Home Design and Remodeling industry. Her passion for the industry is matched only by her love for sharing insights, new trends, and design ideas. Kimberly’s expertise and enthusiasm shine through in her contributions to the Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling website blog, where she regularly shares valuable information with readers.
