Trends For The Design And Construction of UK Homes
If you followed the media in 2014, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ll all be off the grid and in tiny homes by the end of this year. Either that, or we’ll be dwelling in apartments so small that we can flick the kettle on while having a shower. Interestingly, the opposite is true and our homes are getting bigger. Let’s ignore the television for a moment and look at the real trends that are happening in homebuilding for 2015.
Energy Efficiency
This shouldn’t be surprising given the success of the Government’s feed-in tariff and the financial savings you can incur through solar panels, biomass boilers, and other energy-efficient means of generating energy.
Buyers are increasingly choosing energy-efficient homes and demanding to see utility bills to gain a greater understanding of how much money they can save in the long term.
To save further, people buying new-builds show a marked preference for eco-friendly, energy-efficient construction materials. If you plan on developing furnished apartments, energy-efficient appliances are an absolute must.
Homes for an Ageing Population
Where forward thinking is taking shape is in homebuyer’s increasingly choosing properties that can be remodelled and renovated to allow increased access internally. Kitchens and bathrooms are the areas where this is happening the most.
Luxury is Back in Style
Money talks and wealthy people are investing in luxury property like never before. This trend is trickling down to define the tastes of more moderate homebuyers in 2015. Walk-in wardrobes are enjoying a surge in popularity, as are bathrooms that showcase opulence. Luxurious functionality is increasingly common with multiple showerheads in bathrooms and bespoke counter designs in kitchens.
Kitchens as a Central Living Area
Pantries are getting larger as people continue the trend of creating luxury dishes with more ingredients, and this can also be seen in the cooking spaces themselves, which are increasingly designed for multi-purpose use. Expect more bespoke counter-top designs and quality, energy-efficient appliances.
Less Focus on Outdoor Spaces
It seemed that outdoor fireplaces, kitchens, and furniture were here to stay, but this 2014 trend has turned out to be a passing fad. Extravagance in this area is being increasingly seen as crass, and 2015 will see the return of tasteful, well-maintained decks, patios, and gardens. One thing that will remain in fashion is indoor-outdoor flow via tastefully appointed French doors.
More Plants Coming Inside
A trend toward international and exotic plants will also come to the fore. This decision to bring nature indoors appears to be a direct response to the overdone 2014 trend of bringing manmade appliances outdoors.