7 Home Design Trends Emerging Now

1. Organic Modern Style

As the name implies, this style encompasses natural (organic) materials, colors and shapes used in a modern way. Think natural stone and wood, creamy off-white tones, natural upholstery such as linen and rounded shapes like arches and curves. This combination creates a warm and welcoming look that feels comfortable and relaxed. Many search terms associated with this style increased year over year, including “organic modern bedroom” (245%), “organic modern dining room” (146%) and “organic modern kitchen” (97%).

This Oklahoma City kitchen by Kirby Home Designs showcases elements common in an organic modern style, including a natural limestone backsplash, white oak cabinetry and arched entryways.

This Austin, Texas, living room by Cedar & Oak embraces an organic modern look with curved architectural details, rounded furniture forms and organic colors and materials. Searches for “organic modern living room” are up 66%.

2. Dark and Moody Interiors

Sometimes new design trends emerge as a reaction to existing trends. For years, bright whites and light grays dominated interiors. Now many homeowners are looking for something, well, opposite. Dark, moody looks are rising, as evident in an increase in searches for “moody living room” (130%), “moody kitchen” (102%) and “moody bedroom” (85%). These spaces mix deep, dramatic colors and materials to create an intimate, sophisticated atmosphere with a touch of drama.

This Boston living room by BSA Construction is a fitting example with its dark walls and ceiling, rich upholstery tones and dramatic artwork and other details. Searches for “dark ceiling” grew 60% year over year.

This Kansas City, Missouri, kitchen by Madi Mali Homes also highlights the trend, with its dark cabinets and other surfaces. Wood elements provide warmth and balance to the moody tones.

3. Reading Rooms

Spaces dedicated to reading and relaxing are also on the rise. Searches for “book nook” are up 69% year over year, while searches for “reading corner” increased 45%. This Grand Rapids, Michigan, home by Colonial Builders features a kids space with an inviting book nook that includes a trundle bed and bookshelves.

In Boston, Hisel Flynn Architects, Rachel Dunham Design and Design Plus Construction created this light and airy home office area with a recessed corner nook for lounging and reading.

Also in Boston, Ruhl | Jahnes Architects designed this reading room that can be closed off as needed. Built-in bookshelves highlight another search term that grew in popularity this year. Interest in “library wall” is up 61%. The space is also a good example of a “snug,” a term common in England that refers to a cozy den-like space used for quiet relaxation activities.

4. Japanese Influence

A look at recent Houzz search data shows an uptick in Japanese influence on home design. This Minneapolis bathroom by Ridge Construction is a good example of the style. It features a deep soaking tub, wood elements, warm green tones and a Shoji-like screen detail on the right. Searches for “Japanese bathroom” climbed 20% year over year.

Searches for “Japanese kitchen” also rose, by 33%. This Larkspur, California, kitchen by McCoppin Studios embraces Japanese influences with clean lines and a mix of black and wood elements. Raw steel beams highlight another Japanese-inspired trend known as “wabi-sabi,” a concept of looking at the beauty in imperfection. Searches for “wabi-sabi” are up 44% year over year.

5. Wellness Features

As we noted earlier this year, health and wellness features are becoming increasingly popular in home design, especially for bathrooms.  Searches for “cold plunge,” like the one seen here in a Boston basement by Sam Kachmar Architects, jumped 74%. The homeowners also have a backyard sauna, a search term up 30% year over year.

Searches for “indoor sauna,” like this one in a Montana home by Studio Architects, heated up 69%.

Meanwhile, a spa-like bathroom is a goal for many homeowners, as evident in searches for “home spa,” which jumped 34% year over year. Searches for “large windows” and “skylights,” both of which can boost a feeling of wellness by bringing more light and views into interiors, are up as well.

6. Leisure Spaces

Many emerging trends fit neatly into a broader category of comfort and relaxation. So perhaps it’s not surprising that interest in creating leisure spaces is becoming more popular. Searches for “listening room” are up 107%, as are searches for “living room piano,” up 39%.

This Overland Park, Kansas, living room by Stephanie Stroud Interiors highlights the growing trend. The homeowners and their two young kids enjoy playing and listening to music, so Stroud designed this living area as a dedicated music room. Dark green walls (Jasper by Sherwin-Williams) with applied molding create a moody and intimate vibe, another emerging trend. Pink chairs and vibrant artwork add a playful touch.

A desire for a space to play leisurely games in is also expanding. Searches for “game room” are up 16%. This Phoenix game room includes a lounge area, a shuffleboard table and a wall-mounted Scrabble board. You’ll also notice that the room embraces an organic modern style with curved forms and natural tones and materials.

7. Kid Zones

Popularity is growing for dedicated areas and features for kids and teens as well. The growth for “teen lounge,” up 51%, might be in response to work-from-home parents looking for separate areas for their teens to hang after school. Beige and Bleu Design Studio created this East Coast lounge for a family’s teenage girls, dubbing it the “girl cave.” Searches for “tween bedroom” are up 48%.