June 22, 2022

In its 2022 Emerging Trends Summer Report, Houzz identified the top home design trends on the horizon based on the latest search insights* from its community of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals. The trends reflect a focus on drought-tolerant landscaping, personal preferences for front entrances, statement lighting, defined styles and newly popular “barndo” homes. The report also reviewed emerging design aesthetics brought about by the pandemic. 

Continued Focus on the Outdoors 

With more than half of home renovations incorporating outdoor upgrades, according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, it’s no surprise that people continue to look for ways to enjoy their homes’ exterior space. And they’re seeking professionals on Houzz to help, with growth in searches for “landscapers” compared with the first quarter of 2021. People are also exploring environmentally conscious options like “drought tolerant landscaping ideas”, which doubled in searches compared with the previous year, and “drought-tolerant front yard landscaping ideas”. Searches have also jumped nearly 2.5 times for “hot tubs on decks” compared with the same period last year.

Making an Entrance 

Front doors are taking center stage with associated search terms growing in popularity this year. People are paying attention to their homes’ first impressions, with added interest in “iron front doors” and “front door handles,” compared with last year. There has also been an uptick in searches for green and red front doors, while searches for black, blue and yellow front doors have decreased. Interestingly, searches for “architectural mailboxes,” which are another creative way to show off your personality, have jumped nearly 5.5 times. 

Statement Lighting 

People 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. Lighting in general is a focus. Searches for “kitchen ceiling lights,” “flush mounted lighting” and “task lighting” have all doubled.

Styles Defined 

Homeowners are getting specific when it comes to their home design style. Searches for “midcentury modern kitchen ideas” spiked an impressive 6 times, while “Japandi bathrooms” and “Japandi kitchens” rose 3 and 2 times, respectively. “Beach style design ideas” also jumped nearly 2.5 times. Whatever the style, homeowners are searching for personalized decor and are hiring designers on Houzz to help them create a cohesive, intentional look. 

Midcentury Modern on the Mind 

Speaking of midcentury modern, this timeless style is top of mind according to searches on Houzz. In addition to related kitchen ideas, Houzz searches increasingly include “midcentury modern bedroom ideas,” “midcentury modern exterior home ideas” and even materials and lines often connected to the style, such as “kit kat tile,” “bouclé” and “curved sofa.” 

Barndo Homes 

Barn homes evoke verdant pastures, wide-open spaces and a simpler way of life. All of which seem to be an aspirational goal according to emerging searches on Houzz. The term “barndo” has grown 2.5 times, compared with the same period last year. For those who may not be looking for whole-home conversions, searches for “barndominium kitchens” have also more than doubled. Common characteristics include clean lines, soaring ceilings and open floor plans.  

Maximizing Space

People are making the most of their homes with searches for space-saving tips and ways to make their rooms appear larger. Searches have doubled compared with the same period last year for “stacking washer dryers” and “hallway cabinets.” Design aesthetics that can go a long way in making your space look bigger are also seeing an increase, like “acrylic counter stool” and “open tread staircase,” which people searched for more frequently in Q1 2022 versus Q1 2021. 

Pandemic-Inspired Trends 

With so many homeowners inspired to adopt a pandemic pup, it may come as no surprise that searches for “dog feeding stations” are up 55%. And people may be searching for “chair seat covers” more frequently for a fur-friendly design. Searches for “computer armoire” and the newly coined term “cloffice,” which transforms a closet into a workstation for smaller abodes, have also increased. As many homes became multi-generational during the pandemic, there has been an increase in searches for features that may be helpful for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) like “small single-wall kitchen ideas” and “windowless bathrooms.” Bidets don’t seem to be going anywhere since the “great toilet paper shortage” of 2020, with searches continuing to inch up compared with the previous year.  

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