Outdoor living spaces and similar home design trends are more popular than ever, and many homeowners consult with remodelers, builders and contractors for guidance. According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), homeowners are making it a priority the past few years to make meaningful changes to their lawn and other landscaping elements. That, coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has inspired people to capitalize on every opportunity to spend time outside.
As a professional in the industry, you're in an excellent position to help homeowners enjoy those exterior spaces and make modifications to their home that will add value for years to come. All you have to do is pay attention to a few key exterior design trends that are making waves in 2020 and beyond.
1. Color
Dark blue shades from cobalt to navy are one of the biggest trends in outdoor spaces this year. Homeowners are adding these tones to artificial structures like sculptures and water features, according to NALP. Another great way to help customers add those blue colors to their landscape involves incorporating them naturally into a garden with plant choices like delphiniums, grape hyacinths, and hydrangeas.
Bold colors are also becoming more common in entryways, which traditionally have light color schemes. However, small spaces like entryways, closets, and pantries provide great opportunities to introduce color into a design because visitors won’t notice right away. This strategy allows you (and by association, your clients) to stretch your creativity with color without overwhelming visitors.
Wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to create an impact with color in an entryway. Hygge & West currently offers a new collection of colorful wallpaper and other wall coverings for 2020, including a floral pattern with six bold colors. Palma is another colorful choice of wallpaper from this company, which has a green-and-gold scheme with diamond-like patterns. Hygge & West’s Stardust design is also available this year, which is similar to Pantone’s Classic Blue.
2. Black and White Designs
Black-and-white color schemes are still popular for entryways, despite the increased use of color in landscapes. This combination provides a high contrast with a striking appearance that’s timeless. Many interior designers consider this scheme to be a blank slate, since it allows for color additions such as floral patterns on towels and other small features in a home. Greenery is another easy way to add color to a black-and-white décor. In addition, this palette allows your customers to swap out accentuating shades as they come into fashion over time.
3. Tile
Tile has experienced a boom in popularity over the past year, which shows no signs of stopping. Traditional settings for tile include kitchen and bathroom flooring, and kitchen backsplashes. Many homes already have tiles in these locations, but homeowners are also incorporating them in new places for 2020. These areas include bars, fireplaces, focal walls, hearths, and kitchen islands.
Popular designs include diamonds, hexagons, and Moroccan fish scales. Diamonds are a particularly interesting pattern because they can make the tiles look like three-dimensional cubes if they’re strategically designed.
4. Outdoor Living Spaces
Homeowners in colder areas often face the prospect of remaining indoors for six months out of the year. An increasingly common solution to this problem is to build a three-season porch and other additions that include kitchens, fireplaces, and TVs, resulting in outdoor enjoyment for a much longer period.
Enclosed porches also provide an opportunity to display colorful wipeable fabrics that can easily handle pets and spills as well as overnight guests. Traditional fabrics have historically required homeowners to make a choice between function and aesthetics, but that’s no longer the case.
5. Gardens
Gardens are another growing trend that homeowners are incorporating into their exterior designs, and not just for landscaping. Many homeowners are choosing to grow their own supply of fresh, sustainable food, including fruits, herbs, and vegetables. If they're particularly tight on outdoor space, offer them options like container gardens, interior-scaping, and vertical gardens.
6. Hardscaping
Patterns like basket weaves, chevrons, lattice, and waves are well-known design elements in interior decorating. However, they’re now appearing in outdoor hardscaping features like patios, retaining walls, and walkways.
7. Landscape design
Landscape elements, such as native plants, that provide greenery for a larger part of the year are also trending this year. Simple, modern designs that emphasize function as much as aesthetics are currently the most common.
8. Remote Irrigation
Homeowners are now able to irrigate their landscapes with existing technology such as smartphones, Bluetooth, and WiFi. These systems help homeowners save money by delivering the optimum amount of water without leaving their homes.
9. Doors, Roofing, and Siding
Hand-in-hand with the outdoor living space trend, doors, roofing and siding that help accentuate the home’s design are also popular. Asphalt shingles are still the most popular roofing choice, and there are a variety of siding colors that can enhance the look of a home. Or, a decorative patio door on an enclosed porch can add a beautiful design element to the room.
These are just a few of the major exterior design trends that homeowners will be clamoring for as 2020 draws to a close. By understanding the current trends, you'll put yourself in a better position to help them create exterior spaces that they can enjoy for many years to come.
