Outdoor living spaces now top homeowner wish lists and have become a top priority for architects and design professionals focused on residential design.
Connection to nature and outdoor entertaining both ranked high on the top 10 list of design drivers in “The Future of Home Design,” a recent survey conducted by the New Home Trends Institute in collaboration with Pro Builder.
More than 300 designers and residential architects across the country responded to the survey with opinions, experiences and predictions about trends in new-home design, including styles, textiles and more.
The results offer insight into what we can expect to see in home design during the next three to five years.
Of those surveyed, 58% said connection to the outdoors will significantly impact their design choices, while 45% said outdoor entertaining will also receive increased attention.
Following value and cost considerations, connection to the outdoors was predicted to be the largest driver of home design choices over the next three years.
Today’s buyers are looking for more than a large, green backyard. Homeowners want more options and flexibility in how they use outdoor spaces.
In fact, “The Future of Home Design” survey reveals that a large, open yard ranks low among design professionals compared with multifunctional options.
Just 28% of respondents chose that type of space in the survey, compared with other more popular features, including covered outdoor rooms and open-air rooms (73%), patios (68%) and decks (55%).
Other features that top the survey include outdoor spaces featuring more built-in features, such as firepits or fireplaces (73%), outdoor kitchens (68%), gazebos or pergolas (44%), pools (36%), integral package delivery solutions (22%) and spas or hot tubs (20%).
The future of outdoor living will continue to evolve from traditional backyards, but the importance of connecting to the outdoors remains a top design consideration for designers and consumers alike.
For a complete list of local outdoor living and design professionals, visit the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga’s member directory at www.HBAGC.net.