Top 10 Housing Trends Sighted at National Council of the Housing Industry Conference

1. Ditch the living room – no longer a valid or desired room.
2. Increase and support use of renewable and healthy products, materials and building processes.
3. Hide the garage. Consider side entry, rear attach or detach garage from the house.
4. Indoor/outdoor living, this is important in all markets.
5. High density housing on small lots, but attention paid to architectural details.
6. More exterior color uses, go beyond beige.
7. Create more attractive home entry, even beginning at the street by creating different ground levels to add overall interest.
8. Focus on the kitchen in general, specifically islands.
9. Details, details – interior and exterior. Don’t leave them out.
10. More natural light with windows and skylights.

Other practices and trends observed included flat screen TVs as a norm, as well as an over riding theme on the importance of creating a “sense of arrival,” “sense of place” or “wow factor.” In addition, the idea of furniture style vanities as a method to achieve emotional connection in the bath is just taking hold.