In the last twelve months, a lot has changed in the way we use our homes. We value our home space more than ever before and new aspects of the home have become a priority. Even those involved in the design and building of new homes have adapted styles and features to include more of what’s popular and wanted. From a homebuyers and housebuilders perspective, we look at the 2021 home trends.
Home office space
According to a Home Builders Federation survey back in the summer last year, 2 in 5 (40%) of people said that they would prioritise space for a home office if they were looking for a new home. The rise in the number of people home working, and the permanency around flexible working has led to this demand. To meet it, housebuilders are looking for ways to make sure they can showcase where and how home office space can be achieved within properties.
By way of an example, housebuilder Redrow has reconfigured one of the bedrooms into an office in their Heritage Collection 4-bedroom Marlow show home in Barnham, West Sussex. Many of their 4-bedroom properties cite the adaptable space which is available for those working from home.
Interiors that comfort and nurture
When it comes to interiors, something that’s very on-trend for 2021 is a home which exudes comfort and nurture. With us spending more time in our homes and with the need for self-care being important, investing in the comfort and luxury of our homes is something we can all appreciate. We’re not talking anything too extravagant, it’s more about creating a calm space, with simple décor and comfortable furniture. And what’s great about a new-build home is that this low-maintenance look with pale tones is very easy to achieve. When you buy a new-build home, it is decorated to a very neutral colour palette, so you’re half-way there. There is no need for you to redecorate or figure out how to get rid of any bold or brash colours, simply add your luxurious furniture, and voila!
High-quality, fast broadband
The rise in the number of people working from home has led to another 2021 home trend, and a must-have feature for homeowners. That is super-fast and super-reliable broadband. Having the whole family online at once (especially during lockdowns when home schooling is required), the need for good quality connectivity is vital. It’s one of the attractions towards buying a new-build home, because it’s on new developments that you’re more likely to find broadband services offering the fastest speeds. In fact, at the start of this year, Barratt Developments confirmed full-fibre, gigabit-capable broadband will be installed as standard across all their new-build developments, with a choice of 18 Internet Service Providers for their customers to choose from. And data from independent model Thinkbroadband which looked at broadband coverage in new-build homes in the UK for the second half of 2020, showed 88.5% of new homes built were connected to a full fibre broadband network.
More natural light
When it comes to 2021 home trends, the amount of natural light in our homes is something we can’t get enough of. It’s good for our wellbeing and mental health and brings feel good vibes into our homes. Fortunately, when it comes to the design of new-build homes, natural light ranks high as a feature. That’s why you’ll find homes from many developers with good-sized windows throughout, including bay windows and large patio doors in open-plan kitchen spaces. Thought and attention is placed on flooding as many rooms as possible with natural light for happy, healthy living.
Outside living
Probably the biggest want from homeowners is some kind of outside space to enjoy. Whether it’s landscaped communal areas on new-home developments or gardens with the potential for outdoor living, being able to extend the indoors to the outside is a big trend right now. With Covid restrictions not allowing family and friends to meet and gather indoors, it’s not surprising outdoor space is so much in demand. As people’s back gardens become an extension of the living room and homeowners look to maximise this space, so too are architects and developers thinking more carefully about how to enhance and make better space for time outdoors.
If you’re just starting your new-build home search and hope to find something which meets the 2021 home trends, then take a look at the many properties we have listed on our website. We work with developers large and small, to bring you the best selection of new homes in once place. Start your new home search with us here.
