- Bigger Rooms- We're spending more time at home- cooking, enjoying family and entertaining so homeowners favor large open spaces. Combining the kitchen and formal dining room or family room to make a great room has become very popular.
- Bare Floors- People are ripping out their carpeting and installing harder floor surfaces like ceramic tiles, hardwood or laminates. It's easier to clean, more stain resistant and less likely to collect dust.
- Reuse- In remodeling reuse trumps recycling. Reusing something you already have in a new way is a frugal solution that creates less waste.
- Product knowledge- Homeowners pay attention to price as well as news about product recalls, defects and durability. They're asking where their drywall is manufactured and how the look of wood cabinets will change as it ages. They're asking more questions and doing more product research.
- Kitchen Upgrades- If you can freshen only one room in your home, it probably will be the kitchen. People investing in their homes are looking for the greatest value, and an upgraded kitchen gives back. It’s a selling point when putting your house on the market, a convenience if you plan to stay and a point of pride when family and friends visit.
- Simpler Designs- Less is more in 2010. Homeowners are getting back to basics with clean, simple, timeless designs that create a comfortable home that’s less ornate and easier to maintain. They are choosing products and styles that are affordable and functional.
- Looking Ahead- People are considering how the changes will affect them in their mature years. Bathroom remodels typically include the installation of grab bars, curbless showers, wider doors, higher toilets and taller vanities.
- Going Green- How green a homeowner gets still depends on how much more they might have to spend for energy-efficient or environmentally sound product. Still, more are looking at such products as tankless water heaters and dual-flush toilets, which save energy and water.
- Muted Colors- Dusty blues, muddy browns and muted purples are pushing greens, golds and bright colors from indoor and outdoor design palettes. Homeowners are gravitating towards calm, comforting colors and are embracing such shades as gray, eggplant, taupe and earthtones.
- Paying Cash- More homeowners are saving for projects so they can pay as they go.
