Renovation Trends You’ll be Seeing a Lot of in 2022

As much as we willed 2021 to be a return to “normal”—or at least a departure from 2020—the year was still an uphill battle full of uncertainty. Some of us slowly returned to an office, which we inhabited only part-time. New commutes began from pandemic-acquired country homes or suburban houses. We tested the waters of in-person hangouts, parties, and vacations. Ultimately, we still spent a lot of time at home. So, what will 2022 bring? It’s hard to say. But to get those dream lists and projects ideating, we've listed a few..... Let’s keep on renovating in 2022!

Investments in the home office

There will be an increase in home offices—homeowners are trading kitchen counters for more professional dedicated spaces. The Zoom fatigue is real, but so is the realization that the backdrop for those visual calls needs to step up. Allocating space for a home office often involves a reset of the room’s function. For example, sitting rooms off of bedrooms or smaller family rooms are converted. Guest rooms also do double duty, with sleepers and desks.

We are all becoming more aware of how the layout and aesthetics of a room can affect our energy and productivity. Transforming a current room into your new home office space is not just a fun project, but a necessity for many people who work remotely. When trying to boost the functionality of a home, this room may be at the forefront. People will spend more time and effort in designing a unique working space to maximize their concentration, motivation, and productivity this year.

Remember the days of home offices and dining rooms being the first rooms you see when entering a home? Well, those days are back and we’re getting excited about the requests we’re getting from clients focused on creating the perfect home office space. Once unused rooms such as secondary living spaces and breakfast rooms are now being transformed into custom office spaces with built-ins and high-tech solutions such as smart boards, projectors, and wet bars.

Creating side-hustle spaces

2022 will also see the rise of the “side-hustle bedroom. With an entrepreneurial mindset, especially for Gen Z and Millennials making everything from candles to hats, the bedroom will take on flexible layers of activity, from filming set to creative studio, warehouse to shipment facility. Whether creating or promoting products, or just shooting TikTok videos, bedroom aesthetics for younger generations become backdrops for personal branding.

Connecting with nature

Homeowners have been requesting more natural light in their homes through bigger window and door openings for years, and that’s a trend clearly continuing into 2022. People are increasing the natural light in their homes and creating a more direct connection with nature by adding doors where there were once windows, or adding larger windows for a greater sense of connection to outside. We’ve noticed homeowners embarking on remodeling work to replace more traditional patio doors with large scenic versions to create a connection between interior and exterior spaces for more seamless transitions and a sense of freedom.

Durable surfaces

Homeowners are expecting greater performance from surfaces in their homes, especially as the majority of us are still spending a lot of time at home and cleaning our countertops more often, meaning they need to stand up to extra scrubbing. As homeowners continue to get more savvy about the maintenance required for many popular countertop options, we’re seeing a rise in demand for acrylic solid surfaces that are seamless and offer durability with no additional maintenance, yet don’t compromise on sleek, beautiful design.

Better outfitted mudrooms

Help homeowners avoid frantic searches for keys, backpacks, gloves, hats, lost socks, and more by constructing a mudroom that’s dedicated to different needs. Most homeowners will convert an underutilized space, such as part of a garage or laundry room.

Additional functions in high demand are drop-off areas for package and grocery-store deliveries; pet washing stations with an oversized sink or shower pan and storage; specified storage for each family member; laundry equipment area complemented with shelves, a counter for folding, and a sink; a central charging station for everyone’s tech tools; and something fun such as a boot dryer. Go with a waterproof, easy-to-clean luxury vinyl tile floor and install enough recessed LED lights.

Accessory dwelling units

After constructing and remodeling your share of tiny houses and he/she sheds, get ready for more clients requesting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). These structures generally are detached from the main house and range in size between 500 and 800 square feet but as large as 1,200 square feet.

Increased approval from planning and building departments has boosted ADU popularity, especially as a housing solution for homeowners needing space for returning grown children, for renters to help meet the shortage of affordable housing, and older parents wanting to age in place privately in what’s often called a “granny flat." Be sure to check local codes on size, setbacks, and other requirements, and that the unit has good natural light, insulation, key appliances, and features that reflect universal design principles so it’s accessible for all,