The interior design trends that are molding how we live

For luxury buyers, interior design has long been a top priority, and a NEW Identity is appearing! “Interior architecture,” has recently pushed up the list of buyer priorities. The reason for this is simple: as more people work remotely, shop via digital platforms, and spend significant amounts of time in their homes, it is as important to have templates, features, and flexibility as beauty.

What is the distinction between interior architecture and interior design, exactly? Interior design primarily focuses on the home’s “software,” features such as wall colors or furnishings that are usually added and simple to alter by the homeowner. On the other hand, interior design includes the “components” of the home and the designed environment that defines what each room is for and how different spaces fit together.

Interior architecture is not always permanent. While this appears to be a broader undertaking involving structural, electrical, and plumbing facilities, homeowners transform their living spaces all the time. As such, the interior architecture of a home does not always match the architecture of the exterior. I have interconnected with many luxury agents who have brought up a Mediterranean feeling to the property on the outside with a lot of originality but have been stripped to the bones and made on the inside ultra-modern and unobtrusive.

It’s important to have conversation starters. Experiencing this is the in thing now!

In their ideal homes, what are luxury buyers looking for? “In the last few years, buyers have gotten very savvy. This is partly because a lot of diverse architecture and design elements have been exposed to them. Many of my clients are drawn to fixtures that look like art installations, organic outdoor elements, black steel window and door frames, and durable hardwood floors, such as oak. Each of these elements is indicative of a wider set of changing preferences for the consumer. To see what buyers are prioritizing, I have gathered some details and broken them down for you to perhaps help you visualize the big picture.  

Buyers are attracted to homes with design elements that excite them, with the home being the center of imagination, and because we have basically been staring at the same four walls since early 2020. “Today’s trends are driven by anything that sparks emotion in one’s space, and many of our design-focused trophy homes include dramatic entrances, debate-provoking fixtures, and exotic finishes that are usually found in swanky hotels or trendy restaurants. It is profoundly popular today to have a space that excites you and has a tale behind it. In short, in 2021, a sense of mild eclecticism is making a comeback, with consumers appreciating harmonies that have character, courage, and a touch of eccentricity.

Are buyers appreciating more rooms? Baby Boomers, Millennials, Gen X, Gen Z!

This may sound rhetorical; however, the age of the open definition has come to a tentative end after many years of prevalence. Although new buyers do not necessarily want their homes to feel closed off, they have rediscovered the need for privacy and are putting renewed emphasis on being able to differentiate their work, education, and family lives. Barn doors are a trend and allows for flexibility in an open concept at times. Dark colors and materials are coming back with millennials and appears to add personality while helping to firmly define spaces within the home.

We are seeing an eye for lively, sunny spaces to let excitement pour in, but we see the love for cozy, activity-specific rooms with moody decor. The combination makes a sound change possible during the day.

We are finding that generational variations can affect whether a buyer is looking for a closed or open floor plan.” Younger buyers want more open concept living, such as a kitchen that flows into a family room that opens onto the pool; in many ways, baby boomers tend to enjoy the opposite. Millennials perhaps in their first condo, an executive or retirees moving from Northern U.S. and abroad, it is important to consider what drives patterns and disparities for their needs!  

Bringing the outdoors, indoors seems to be the top interests now days!

In the past year, Covid 19 has created a new world of access to outdoor spaces and has become one of the major attractions and focal point for homes, and these variables have been integrated into interior design in various aspects: by integrating fixtures and furniture that look and feel natural, and by expanding the comfort and practicality of interior living to the outside of the home. The consumer has remained focused on the extreme functionality of the outdoor space, and there is a huge demand for homes with multi-purpose outdoor areas, and this has been shared broadly over the internet.

Imagine coffee in the morning on your balcony facing dawn, my bride captures this whenever possible. Hosting dinner in your Lanai an extended living area of your home, or under the stars, and watching your outdoor living room games on Sunday. We have seen this emerging for some time, however it is becoming an attraction we can’t deny. 

Choosing practical over flawless

Ultimately, after a long day at the office, we are hearing buyers are no longer just enjoying their homes in the evening. It is important now, in ways that it was not before, to have floors and surfaces that can weather the wear and tear of daily life and can tolerate imperfection. Functionality has become really a thing of beauty.⠀

I find there is nothing like exploring homes with my buyers and seeing how they react to various finishes and designs; when you walk into a space, you can learn a lot about what they like and dislike immediately. I love to listen to the comments on a home and take notes. Nothing more rewarding than finding my buyers the right fit!