For new buyers investing in either a plot of land or ready-built property, a blank canvas can seem overwhelming. It’s tempting to try to anticipate future trends in home design. However, trends come and go as the seasons pass, leaving you with outdated interiors. So, what’s the alternative? To disregard design altogether and aim for a bland, soulless home?
Whether you move to new construction communities in Virginia or start your own project, design is an important part of the process and can’t be ignored. Remember, if you get it right, you’ll enjoy the benefits that good design brings to a property for years to come.
Resource: Pexels
What is Good Design?
First of all, what constitutes good design? Let’s not confuse this with taste and trends, as these are in a constant state of flux. Good design artfully combines both form and function. A well-designed product has the power to improve our lives by both simplifying tasks and even making them a pleasure to do.
Take, for example, a classic chrome-covered bean-to-cup coffee machine that grinds the beans, steams the milk, and makes your morning macchiato with panache. This is good design, as it completes its function whilst looking stylish in the process. The same applies to interiors, construction features, and all additional home accessories.
What Does the Future of Home Look Like?
The concept of home has gone through many changes over time. From starting life as a simple shelter to keep out the elements, to becoming a status symbol, the question is: what will home look like in the future? Here’s what we predict will shape the idea of home in the next few years.
Smart Technology
Good design goes hand in hand with smart technology. Think about your phone, its lightweight case is no doubt a pearlised or matte colourway. It fits your hand perfectly and slots into most pockets. The phone had undergone intensive design processes to ensure it was both easy to use and visually appealing.
Now, the same principles are being applied to other household appliances with a view to creating a smart home. Smart technologies follow the ‘good design’ guidelines of balancing form with function. For example, a shiny new washing machine that allows you to operate cycles remotely from your smartphone improves efficiency when tackling daily chores.
Clearly, as the technology evolves, more and more elements of the home will have smart features. All neatly packaged within tiny microchips and sensors, operating like a helping hand behind the scenes.
Resource: YouTube
Multifunctional Spaces
Space comes at a premium, and not everyone can afford separate rooms for their home office. Multifunctional design has always had an appeal for appreciators of minimalism, but now it has a very real purpose.
In a few minutes, homeowners want to be able to transform a multi-use living space into a guest room. With integrated Murphy or sofa beds, foldaway dining tables, and stools that double up as storage, a room can be reorganized to suit a specific need. All while uncompromising on style.
Sustainability and Green Living
Nowadays, we are becoming increasingly aware of the mark we make on the natural environment. Fads such as fast fashion and heavy reliance on plastic products are being pushed aside in favor of sustainable materials and reworking vintage pieces.
In interior design, there is currently a demand for real wood carpentry over flatpack furniture. Design-savvy homeowners are realizing that vintage wooden pieces have lasting power, as well as adding warmth to a room’s interiors.
As for powering our homes, renewable energy systems such as solar power are becoming a standard feature in new builds. Doing our part for the environment, whilst also having control over the power we use, attracts many homeowners to go green.
Curating Your Home
It’s become a buzzword in recent years, but ‘curation’ is a popular approach to assembling a collection that defines your taste. Whether that be your display of jazz vinyls or a showcase of Bauhaus-style seating, it demonstrates that you’ve put care, thought, and time into exhibiting your home.
Similar to collectors of vintage fashion, by curating your home furnishings, you are creating an environment that is unique to you and your tastes. This also reinforces themes of sustainability, as you are not blindly following trends, buying, and then disposing of last season’s decor.
The Benefits of Good Design for the Future
A thoughtful approach to design will futureproof your property. Opting for classic furnishings and quality items means that you can concentrate on essential repairs to maintain the condition of your property. The interiors will take care of themselves, saving you time and money on costly refurbishments.
There is much to be said about how your environment affects your mental and physical well-being. Bringing the outside in by making the most of natural light not only does wonders for the space, but it also supports the human body’s rhythms. For example, loose linen drapes allow light to creep in as the sun rises, gently waking you from your sleep.
In summary, homes following ‘good design’ criteria will be low maintenance, enhance your well-being, and save you money on expensive interior refurbishments. Good design is about the subtle details and understanding the form and function of a space. It’s not an audible wow you’ll hear from your guests, but impressions will be made, you can count on it.
