Expect to see colorful teen lounges, snug book nooks and moody dark ceilings if people searching a home remodeling and design website get what they want, says the 2024 Houzz U.S. Emerging Summer Trends Report.
Homeowners, style enthusiasts and industry professionals quizzed for the Houzz report were especially interested in creating calm environments modeled after Scandinavian, Japanese and organic modern design.
Other people surveyed want dedicated spaces for leisure activities, with wellness features for adults and “game bedrooms” for kids, based on increased search traffic compared with the previous year, says Houzz.
Here are the trends Houzz predicts will be popular:
Organic modern
Organic modern design elements are a balance of spare, sleek lines and crisp white or neutral-colored surfaces, contrasted with natural forms and materials, explains Houzz.
The look can be achieved with a handwoven jute area rug, wood furniture like a white oak end table or silver-finished metal pieces like a Nambe loop towel holder as well as organic shapes, often curvilinear and contoured as found in plants, animals and rocks. Objects mimicking natural shapes can be an asymmetrical lamp base or an arched mirror frame.
Searches on the site for “organic modern bedroom” more than tripled in the last 12 months with people “looking for a soft place to land at the end of a long day,” reason Houzz experts. A Scandinavian-style, curved headboard on a platform bed frame upholstered in a nubby-textured white boucle can set the mood.
Organic modern searches on the site have also grown over the past year for living and dining rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
Dark and moody
Despite a growing interest in instilling calm at home, some rooms are turning dark and moody with Houzz searches for “moody living room” and “moody kitchen” more than doubling compared to the same period in 2023. Houzz searches for “moody bedroom” are up by 85% year over year.
“This is likely a reaction to the bright whites and light grays that have dominated interiors in recent years,” say Houzz experts. “We see designers on Houzz use dark and moody colors to help make spaces feel cozy and intimate, or bold and dramatic.”
An approach to capture the look is to use layers of rich browns and dark reds to create a warm atmosphere. “A dash of darkness can also bring about the desired effect,” says Houzz. Searches for “dark ceiling” are up 60% compared with the same period last year.
A dark and moody look can be enhanced by installing an armless, olive-upholstered accent chair in the living room, multi-tiered chandelier made of black wooden dowels in the dining room and a walnut vanity topped with Ethereal Noctis quartz and black brass wall sconces in the bathroom.
Reading rooms
“Dark academia” went viral in recent years, describing a scholarly subculture dedicated to reading, writing and learning, says Houzz. Initially tied to fashion, the trend has moved into the home with searches on Houzz jumping three times in the first quarter of this year, compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Searches for the British-style “snug” also grew 2.5 times, as homeowners may be looking to wall off a cozy area for reading or solitary relaxation. Searches also increased for “library wall,” “reading corner” and “book nook.”
Outfit a reading room with items such as a supportive arm chair upholstered in performance green velvet, adjustable pharmacy floor lamp, six-shelf bookcase and a marble-top side table with an iron frame holding a magazine sling.
Japanese influence
Japanese design, which embraces simplicity, natural elements and harmonious living spaces, is experiencing a resurgence as reflected in searches for “Japandi” kitchen, bedroom and bathroom decor, says Houzz.
Searches for living rooms showcasing the Japandi design style, which blends Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality, have risen 48% on the site.
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).
Introduce the look with a natural brown mahogany dining chair with a handcrafted rattan seat, pendant light with an orb-shaped frosted glass shade or a Japandi Minimal Marker beige duvet cover with printed white ribbon swirls.
Wellness spaces
Wellness features continue to surface in trending searches on Houzz, with “cold plunge,” “indoor sauna,” “home spa” and “backyard sauna” all rising in the first quarter of the year, compared to the beginning of 2023, says Houzz.
Homeowners are also finding professionals on Houzz to help bring in more daylight, which helps with sleep, according to a National Institutes of Health report. People interested in maintaining the body’s intrinsic rhythm search for “large windows” and “skylights,” says Houzz.
Bring in a sense of spa-like wellbeing with an electric essential oil aroma diffuser, electric towel warmer, teak shower mat or a plug-in home sauna.
Leisure spaces
The continuing trend to create leisure spaces within the home has resulted in Houzz seeing twice as many searches for a “listening room.” Searches for “living room pianos” have increased by 39%, also indicating a desire for dedicated areas to enjoy high-quality music experiences.
Outdoor leisure activities are also gaining traction, with searches for “bocce court” up by 23%, and indoor recreational spaces with searches for “bowling alley” and “game room” up 18% and 16%, respectively.
A chess set, foosball table or air hockey table can set the stage for a leisure room. A three-light billiard fixture could illuminate a billiards or pool table. And a tall bar cabinet with a wire stemware rack and saddle-seat bar stools should attract a crowd.
Kid zones
Creating spaces for kids to express their personality and feel ownership within the home is growing in importance for homeowners according to trending search data, says Houzz. A shared “Jack-and-Jill bathroom,” “teen lounge” and “kids gaming bedroom” have all jumped in search traffic compared with the previous year.
Parents can find inspiration on Houzz as they think through new ways to meet their children’s changing needs. Instead of a twin bed modeled after a race car, there’s a gunmetal bed frame made to look like a go kart with wheels, a wall lamp shaped like a butterfly and a bean bag made from 100% stonewashed cotton.
— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072
