The National Association of Home Builders’ Best in American Living Awards serve as examples for the most current residential design and future design trends. NAHB’s Design Committee says the 2020 BALA entrants showed well-edited design, renewal, indoor/outdoor connections, impressive amenities, and a plethora of flex rooms. Thoughtful and well-edited designs emerged as judges noticed even production homes attempting to achieve more character and uniqueness. Renewed focus on our built environment and living spaces pushed adaptive reuse and historic preservation, says the BALA judges. Both new and remodeled homes are gaining strong indoor/outdoor connections through glass walls, pocket doors, and large windows.
RELATED
Pool and landscape designs are more an extension of interior circulation and design, rather than an afterthought, and are even more accessible, both visually and physically, thanks to increased indoor/outdoor connections.
High-Design Multifamily Amenities
Multifamily projects are taking their cues from the hospitality industry and designing higher-quality lobbies, leasing offices, mail centers, etc., to be true amenity spaces for residents.
Flex Rooms
Flex rooms are a big draw for a potential buyer, especially if they anticipate the needs of their family changing while they own the home. Grandparents could move in, a relative could come to stay, or they could start a new business, and the home needs to match. Flex spaces are replacing traditional guest suites. Hidden spaces, tucked-away furniture, and furniture that transforms allow for even greater flexibility.
Related Stories
Design
Rethinking Housing Design in 2023
To meet homebuyers’ evolving needs, we should use the current market slowdown as an opportunity to take a fresh look at housing design in response to recent trends
BALA Best in American Living Awards
Luxury Meets Legacy in a Family-Oriented Lakeside Custom Home
This project from the 2022 Best in American Living Awards is inspired by its legacy and location and creates a new foundation for future generations to call home
Design
Leviton Load Center: Design Innovation and Functionality in the Field
Leviton Load Center's design inception and development is built upon the needs of customers and observations in the field with builders and…