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LAS VEGAS — Colorful kitchens, non-traditional storage solutions and personalized lighting are among the key design trends driving consumer preferences in kitchens, baths and other areas of the home, according to the conclusions of a major awards program.
More than 150 single-family, multifamily, interior design, remodeling and community projects were honored as winners of the 2019 “Best in American Living Awards” (BALA), an annual program that spotlights leading home design trends, competition sponsors announced.
BALA winners, announced during January’s International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, showcased the following key design trends, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), sponsor of the competition:
- Colorful kitchens: Often found first on the island and then on lower cabinets, designers are finding ways to punch up today’s new and remodeled kitchens, BALA sponsors reported. Judges saw cool aquas, dark woods and new, colored textures in many of this year’s applicants. It could take the form of a deep blue, on trend with many of 2020 color forecasts, or fun wallpaper or earthy tones.
- Crisp colors paired with warm woods: More designers are pairing otherwise “stark” or “cool” palettes with warm wood tones, either real wood or manmade, to create a look that is both dramatic and homey.
- Non-traditional storage solutions: Instead of traditional cabinetry, designers are opting for shelving, both as a storage solution and as a design element. Outside of the kitchen, design pros are creating more artful interpretations of traditional storage spaces, like wine cellars or under-stair displays. Artfully crafted, these storage areas purposefully blend into the room.
- Personalized lighting: No matter the price point, buyers want a personalized feel to their homes, and lighting can offer that.
- Texture: In 2020, designers are opting for more mixed metals, mixed materials and mixed textures to add depth to their designs. Wallpaper, popular again, “is a great way to add additional texture to a space,” BALA sponsors said. Instead of full-room papering, designers are using wallpaper to create statement walls, focal points or large pieces of art.
- Unique wood detailing: The use of wood has been trending up for the past several years, but in 2020, designers should expect to see unique wood details and use of wood to create texture, ambiance, lighting design and more.
- What’s old is new again: A renewed focus on genuine “sense of place” makes adaptive reuse and historic preservation projects a focus of 2020. “By focusing on what came before, designers can build on an existing history instead of starting over, and residents will feel more connected to the place they now call home,” BALA sponsors said. ▪