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SEATTLE — Emerging home trends, including those for the kitchen and bath, are centered around post-pandemic pastimes and “a nostalgia for the design of decades past,” according to Zillow Group, Inc., the Seattle-based real-estate website.
Zillow recently unveiled a series of data-driven predictions for the features and design elements “poised to transform homes and dominate social media feeds in 2024,” based on keywords showing up more frequently in for-sale listing descriptions. In contrast, other design trends popular in recent years are being seen less favorably by home buyers.
Among the home trends waning in popularity, according to Zillow, are:
- Tuscan Kitchens: “Wanderlust and pop culture sensations sparked a wave of destination design during the pandemic” said Zillow, noting that spaces inspired by past or aspirational travels began trending as homeowners were hunkered down at home.
“Now that homeowners can set off on global adventures again, they may no longer be seeking Mediterranean villa vibes at home,” said Zillow, noting that mentions of Tuscan kitchens are down 45% from a year ago, “while all things Parisian” are down 26%. - The “Cloffice”: “The pandemic sparked many trends, some lasting and others short-lived (and) the ‘cloffice’ appears to be among the latter,” Zillow said. “This office space, created out of a closet, was a trend that grew out of necessity as remote workers living in tight quarters became desperate for a quiet place to take Zoom meetings,” the company noted.
Combined with the return-to-the-office movement, the “cloffice” is now appearing in 54% fewer Zillow listings. Zoom rooms are also down, by 41%, and office sheds are highlighted 31% less frequently in listing descriptions, the company reported. - Shou Sugi Ban: Shou Sugi Ban is a traditional Japanese wood-preservation technique that involves charring the wood’s surface to create a blackened, weathered finish. “This type of burnt-wood cladding became a mainstay of modern farmhouse design, creating a visually striking contrast against white shiplap siding,” Zillow said. “But like shiplap, barn doors and other farmhouse fads, shou sugi ban planks may be heading out to pasture, too.”
According to Zillow, among the key interior trends to watch in 2024 are:
- Brutalism: Characterized by raw, exposed materials, this mid-20th-century design style “is primed to continue its controversial comeback in 2024,” said Zillow. Brutalist-inspired features include blackened steel casement windows, raw concrete floors and jagged patinated bronze light fixtures, Zillow said.
- Sensory gardens or pathways: Sensory gardens have been surging in popularity, with homeowners and home buyers prioritizing functional and beautiful outdoor space “as a way to reconnect with nature,” Zillow said, noting that listings mentioning sensory gardens or pathways are up 314% compared to last year.
- Murano glass chandeliers: Classic Murano glass chandeliers “are the ultimate bespoke light fixture,” said Zillow, adding that these intricate and often colorful handcrafted pieces of art from the island of Murano in Italy “are reemerging as a designer favorite, channeling the glamor of decades past.”
- Murals: Homeowners and home buyers “are saying goodbye to bland” in favor of personality-packed homes, Zillow said. “Eclectic, maximalist interiors are increasingly featuring statement-making murals that dial up the drama, the company noted, adding that “wallpaper murals are now readily available and depict all types of scenes, from large-scale landscapes to modern botanicals.”