8 Home Design Trends

Houzz shares a list of eight home design trends poised to make it big in 2020.

As the year winds down and fall begins its slow descent into winter, many Southerners are bracing for the cold. In the design world, however, things are just heating up. Not only are the new year’s hottest hues making their grand debut, but trend experts are also gearing up to make their anticipated predictions for home interiors in 2020.

And good news for those who want to get a head start on their remodeling plans: The first of these forecasts is here. Home remodeling site Houzz, a database where millions of professionals and homeowners go to share decorating ideas, recently pulled together a list of eight home design trends poised to make it big in 2020—and there are more than a few ideas we’d like to steal. Read on for a glimpse into your decorating future this year.

Anything-But-White Kitchens

In the kitchen, an all-white palette has reigned supreme since, well, forever—and for good reason. They’re timeless, classic, clean, and work well with almost any style. But next year, homeowners just may be itching for change. According to Houzz, while white cabinets are still popular with remodelers (with 40 percent of renovating homeowners installing them), there’s also more of an uptick in those searching for alternatives. Houzz points to soft hues, like light grays and blues, as on-the-rise replacements for the all-white kitchen. Another option for those who can’t part with their white cabinets? Pops of wood, which can be introduced through open shelving, countertops, drawers, and pull-outs.

The Return of the Formal Dining Room

Whether it’s a casual weeknight supper or a Saturday dinner party, meals these days tend to be shared over informal arrangements, often within or near the kitchen. But your formal dining room can offer much more than mere storage space for your finest china. Next year, Houzz expects homeowners to treat their dining rooms as the “wow” spaces they have the potential to be, with bold colors, patterns, eye-catching light fixtures and artwork that might not fit elsewhere within the style of the home. Talk about dressing to impress.

A Bathroom With Somewhere to Sit (Other Than a Toilet)

Hear this one out. With bathrooms becoming more like spa-like wellness retreats in the home, benches, stools, and window seats are becoming much more common. Keep one near the vanity as a place to perch during your nighttime skincare routine, or by the bath as a catch-all for towels, candles, books, and face masks.

Tiled Bathtub Aprons

In a bathroom, tile is often one of those tricks designers use to yield big results at little cost. But while you might expect to see it cladding a floor or shower surround, tile can also totally transform a bath. According to Houzz, this versatile material is increasingly being used to dress up a tub apron, which adds style in addition to giving the appearance of a fixture that’s entirely built-in.

Double Floating Vanities

Speaking of bathrooms, homeowners are also looking to spruce up their sink areas with floating vanities. Beloved for their clean, minimalistic look, these contemporary faves are practical for their ability to free up floor space, which can create an illusion of size in a room with minimal square footage.

Statement-Making Laundry Rooms

It used to be that, if a homeowner wanted to have a little design fun, the default location would be the powder room. (The pint-sized space is small enough to handle big ideas and feels separate enough to work with little cohesion from the rest of the home.) But, these days, homeowners are seeking excitement in another hardworking space: the laundry room. According to Houzz, designers are increasingly using the workhorse to experiment with cheerful colors, playful patterns, and quirky design ideas, including chalkboard walls, themed wallpapers, and creative storage solutions. Anything to make the task at hand a little more enjoyable, right?

Fully Wrapped Powder Rooms

Just because homeowners are expanding their creative footprint to the laundry room doesn’t mean they’re neglecting the original statement maker. On the contrary, powder rooms seem to be going even bolder. According to Houzz, wallpapers are still the stars of tiny powder rooms, with designers now opting to fully surround the small space with a single eye-catcher, be it a large-print pattern or even a textural grasscloth.

Wood Range Hoods

The bathroom isn’t the only space being taken over by texture. In the kitchen, warm woods are making their way to unconventional places, including over cooktops as decorative range hoods. Along with the ubiquitous farmhouse sink, warm wood accents are perfect accompaniments for classic farmhouse-style kitchens. (Joanna Gaines would clearly approve of this.)

So, which of these up-and-comers are you planning on bringing to your home next year?