The Detroit News // July 2024
Local designers weigh in on summer trends
Summer staycation plans? If warm weather finally frees up time to tackle your household to-do list or update your home, Houzz can help. The website recently identified the top emerging home design trends based on the latest search insights from its community of U.S. homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals.
“Top trends reflect a desire to bring a sense of calm into the home through organic modern design, Japanese influences, wellness features and reading rooms,” according to a press release. “And yet, some homeowners are seeking to make a bold statement with dark and moody interiors. This summer, we’re also seeing a growing interest in creating dedicated spaces for leisure activities that suit adults and kids, alike,” according to the website. We polled local interior designers to see what they thought of the Houzz findings and whether they are incorporating any of the ideas into their local projects.
Organic modern style
“Organic modern design elements form a balanced mix of sleek lines and crisp white or neutral-colored surfaces, contrasted with natural forms and materials” explains Houzz. With searches for “organic modern bedroom” jumping nearly 3 ½ times year-over-year, homeowners may be looking for a soft place to land at the end of a long day, they say. But that’s not the only area of the home well-suited for this style. “Organic modern” searches have also grown over the past year for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms.
Dark and moody
In contrast, dark and moody decor is also gaining popularity, Houzz says, with searches for “moody living room” and “moody kitchen” more than doubling compared to the same period in 2023. “This is likely a reaction to the bright whites and light grays that have dominated interiors in recent years,” the report explains. “We see designers on Houzz use dark and moody colors to help make spaces feel cozy and intimate, or bold and dramatic.” For example, they explain, rich browns and dark reds can create a warm atmosphere in a “moody bedroom,” for which searches are up by 85% year over year. Even a small amount of darkness can also bring about the desired effect, they say, with searches for “dark ceiling” up 60% compared with the same period last year.
Birmingham’s Margaret Skinner of Margeaux Interiors agrees. “I am finding that deeper, saturated tones are having a moment,” she says. “Iron ore, midnight blue, deep olive, forest green as well as mocha browns are now reappearing, mixing with warmer wood tones. We are trending away from the white-on-white and gray-on-gray in every room from the past 10 years. Paint is the easiest way to transform a space, so why not be daring?”
Japanese influence
Japanese design, which embraces simplicity, natural elements and harmonious living spaces, is also experiencing a rise. Searches for “Japandi living room,” a term which relates to a hybrid design style that merges Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality, have risen 48%, according to the report. Two Japanese design aesthetics often associated with presenting the home as a sanctuary — "wabi-sabi" and “Zen garden” — have also seen growth in searches on Houzz (up 44% and 22%, respectively).
Kid zones
Spaces where kids can express their personality and feel ownership within the home is also growing, according to Houzz’s search data. “From ‘race car bed’ and ‘Jack-and-Jill bathroom’ to ‘teen lounge’ and ‘kids gaming bedroom,’ which have all jumped in traffic compared with the previous year, parents are turning to Houzz for inspiration as they think through new ways to meet their children’s changing needs,” the Houzz report explains, and local designers agree.
Other findings
Wondering what else is trending? Wellness features continue to be popular searches on Houzz, with “cold plunge,” “indoor sauna,” “home spa” and “backyard sauna” all seeing increases in the first quarter of the year, compared with the first quarter of 2023. Homeowners are also looking to bring in more natural light, with searches increasing for “large windows” and “skylights,” according to the report.
There is also growing interest in creating special interest spaces within the home. “Listening room” searches have more than doubled, and searches for “living room pianos” have increased by 39%, indicating a desire for dedicated areas to enjoy high-quality music experiences, Houzz says. Outdoor leisure activities are also rising, with searches for “bocce court” up by 23%, and indoor recreational spaces are on the mind with searches for “bowling alley” and “game room" up 18% and 16%, respectively.
Finally, there has been an increase in what Houzz calls “dark academia,” and spaces dedicated to reading, writing and learning. Initially tied to fashion, the trend has moved into the home with searches jumping three times in the first quarter of this year, compared with the first quarter 2023, the report says. Interest in British-style “snug” interiors also grew, as homeowners may be looking to create a cozy spot for reading or solitary relaxation. “With searches climbing for terms like ‘library wall,’ ‘reading corner’ and ‘book nook,’ it seems that many homeowners will have the perfect space to check off their reading lists this summer,” Houzz reports.
