Latest Trends in Home Building: Engineered Flooring, Mixed-Use Spaces & Electric Homes

In recent years, homebuilders have encountered a number of difficulties. Due to a lack of materials and rising prices, builders are now under increasing pressure to utilize resources and direct money to where it would have the biggest impact on their clients’ projects. These are a few more recent developments in the field of home building.

Engineered flooring prefinished

Flooring has always been a crucial component of interior design. According to Maria Rozenfeld, product consultant at Havwoods in New York, people looking for a more upscale environment no longer always choose hardwood flooring.

“Prefinished engineered floors are what we’re most excited about in 2024,” she says. Compared to solid wood flooring, they are more structurally robust, which permits the boards to be longer and broader due to their construction. This enables our clients to design more tasteful, harmonious spaces.

Additionally, Rozenfeld points out that engineered floors typically have lower costs, which is a significant factor for modern builders. According to her, “you not only save on materials but also significantly lower labor expenses by eliminating the need for on-site sanding and finishing.”

Areas with Mixed Use

Commercial retail locations suffered as a result of the 2020 events, since many firms had to close their doors permanently during the epidemic. That made matters worse for retail centers and malls, which have long had trouble keeping tenants. Finding affordable accommodation has likewise grown more and more challenging.

According to Kurt Volkman, associate principal of the national architecture, engineering, and planning firm HED, these factors have resulted in an increase in mixed-use spaces. “The demand for mixed-use spaces—where people can live, work, and find nearby recreational and entertainment options—is skyrocketing,” he says. “Mixed-use developments present a compelling alternative to the malls and shopping centers of the past and can help address housing challenges.”

Decor with Dopamine

According to Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager and certified designer at Sherwin Williams brands Krylon and Dutch Boy Paints, there is a growing demand for houses to function as safe havens for mental health. She has thus observed an increase in “dopamine decor.”

“Dopamine decor, named after the feel-good neurotransmitter, is a trend that aims to evoke a sense of happiness, warmth and nostalgia through vibrant colors, layered textures and playful patterns that reflect the homeowner’s personality and style,” she says. The intention is to enable people’s homes to serve as mood enhancers, whether through the use of striking colors, distinctive patterns, or enticing textures. In addition to interior areas, Banbury has noticed a rise in the use of vibrant colors outdoors.

Homes with Just Electric Appliances

These days, it’s not just electric cars that are popular. According to Los Angeles-based architect and interior designer Stephen Pallrand, owner/founder of CarbonShack, an architecture and interior design firm, there has been a movement toward houses that run entirely on electricity.

“The number of all-electric homes is increasing, especially in light of the specific advantages that the Inflation Reduction Act offers to homeowners for solar power,” he states. “It is beneficial for our lungs and the environment to remove fossil fuels from our homes.”

Also, there are significant cost reductions. According to Pallrand, “you can run your entire household and charge your EVs for almost free once you are fully electric with battery storage.”