See 7 design trends, plus pandemic-inspired needs, in Houzz summer trends report

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Online community for architecture, home design and decorating Houzz identified a continued focus on the outdoors, making a statement in home design and “barndo” homes as some of the top trends this summer.

Houzz identified the top emerging home design trends based on the latest search insights from its community of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals.

Continued focus on the outdoors 

With more than half of home renovations incorporating outdoor upgrades, according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, consumers continue to look for ways to enjoy their homes’ exterior space. Some of the key searches this spring have centered on drought-tolerant landscaping and hot tubs for decks.

Making an entrance 

Front doors are taking center stage with consumers paying attention to their homes’ first impressions. Popular searches have included “iron front doors” and “front door handles” as well has more attention for green and red front doors.

Statement lighting 

Homeowners are looking for statement pieces to brighten their interior spaces, with focal lighting such as extra large chandeliers, lantern chandeliers, industrial pendant lights and wicker pendants all jumping in popularity.

Styles defined 

Whatever the style, homeowners are searching for personalized decor and are hiring designers to get the look they want. Some most frequent searches include “mid-century modern kitchen ideas” (up 6x over last year) and “beach style design ideas,” up 2.5x.

Mid-Century Modern on the mind 

No matter what the space, this looks is drawing lots of attention, even down to materials and lines associated with the Mid-Century Modern style, such as “kit kat tile,” “bouclé” and “curved sofa.”

‘Barndo’ homes 

The idea of barn homes evokes a simpler way of life, which seems to be an aspirational goal according to emerging searches on Houzz. The term “barndo” has grown 2.5x, compared with the same period last year. Common characteristics include clean lines, soaring ceilings and open floor plans.

Maximizing space

Consumers are making the most of their homes with searches for space-saving tips and ways to make their rooms appear larger. In addition to storage items, furniture with multiple functions and items that make a space look bigger are seeing an increase in searches.

Pandemic-inspired trends 

Some of the key searches that have come out of pandemic purchases and trends include furniture with fur-friendly design for the new pet (such as “chair seat covers”); furniture for the new “cloffice, a newly coined term referring to the closet transformed as a workspace; and small-space design ideas for the rise in accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Data reflects year over year growth in U.S.-based searches on Houzz from January-March 2022 vs. January-March 2021. Read the complete report here.