The IFDA (International Furnishings and Design Association) just released their survey findings in home design for the next ten years. According to the Future Influences: IFDA Survey homes will be smaller, healthier, and cater to aging in place. Design style is shifting to a more modern palette with clean lines and less clutter. In addition, we will be upping our home technology using sensor-activated everything all-the-while creating a space that continues to function appropriately as we age.
The IFDA’s Vision for the Future of Home survey gives us a glimpse of influences sure to alter home building, renovation, and design during the next decade. Future Influences: IFDA Survey gives us a look at key changes as compared with IFDA forecasts made in 2010. Here are some of the key takeaways.
Downsizing
The 2020 survey found that 62% of the respondents agree that homes are getting smaller vs. 20 years ago when only 49 percent expected smaller homes. Home floorplans have changed from the more formal separate living room and dining room to an open concept space and less rooms overall. This trend was predicted in 2010 and again this year for the homes of 2030. Expanding living spaces to the outdoors continues to trend as shown in both surveys.
Technology
This is an interesting topic because when we look back at the 2010 IFDA survey, it was forecast that in 2020 there would be more home equipment and furnishings adapted with voice and sensor control technology in use. The prediction fell short partly because of cyber theft and privacy concerns. Interestingly, the Future Influences: IFDA Survey 2020 predicts continued growth of this type of technology in the home. Homeowners will most likely add more home technology features with caution as they balance the ease of voice and sensor activated equipment and furnishings with security and privacy.
Design for Health and Wellbeing
In our last few blogs, we discussed the critical role design plays in creating a space that speaks to healthy living. It’s no surprise then that design for health and wellbeing ranked high on the 2020 survey. Aging-in-place garnered a whopping 96% and wellness was close by with a 94% ranking from the survey respondents as considerations in any design plan. These two design considerations were followed by sustainability with 81%. Appliances with more energy-efficient features increased from 83% in the 2010 survey to 90% in this year’s survey.
Eighty-three percent of the survey respondents said that the bathroom is where most wellness features would prevail through 2030. Bathroom mirrors and shower doors with smart glass were specific enhancements gaining advantage over multi-jet showers and smart toilets, prominent in the 2010 survey.
Popular Products
The 2020 survey sited products with multi-functionality as a continued trend through 2030. For example, 64% of survey respondents said that lighting in products as an added feature would trend more so than products that offered options to change color, cool or heat.
Quartz and wood still reign #1 for future countertop and flooring, respectively. Wallcoverings continue to trend according to the 2020 survey. All three products received a rank of 47%.
Design Style
There is a sea change occurring in design styles as projected by the IFDA survey respondents. Modern takes the number one spot with Traditional, Mid Century, and Industrial styles following significantly behind.
This trend makes sense when you think about how popular open-concept floor plans are today coupled with modern design’s clean, straight lines, uncluttered spaces, and an overall lack of fussiness. Modern design purists would tell you that if you do not have a purpose for a product then it should not be in your home…form follows function. White, beiges, and even some shades of black are the main color palette for modern design, but it can incorporate color as an accent, so long as it leans towards earthy. Modern design has a large emphasis on natural materials, so keeping things in a more natural color palette is key. Does this style sound like you? Well then, welcome to Modern Style!
Design trends over the next 10 years will continue to evolve. Will the Future Influences: IFDA Survey predictions hold true? Only time will tell…in the meantime, check out our Design Gallery to see popular design influences in our area.