From new techniques to new technology and new materials to new standards of building, the home remodeling industry is constantly evolving. At Christie’s Design/Build Remodeling, we are constantly staying up to date with all things remodeling, including trends. To keep you abreast of some upcoming 2024 trends, we have drafted a list of a few of our favorites.
1. Energy Efficiency Updates
Being aware of your home’s energy efficiency is not a new thing. If you have purchased an appliance in the last decade, there is a high chance you’ve seen the big yellow ‘Energy Guide’ sticker slapped on the side of the unit. With the rise in energy costs, particularly in the last few years, the importance of being energy efficient is a no-brainer.
We compiled a few ideas on how to make your home more energy efficient, besides upgrading your appliances.
- Now that the beautiful summer Colorado weather is behind us, the cost of heating your home will start to rise. Many people tend to turn their air on and then set it and forget it – leaving their home at one consistent temperature. Utilizing a smart thermostat, you can see big savings in your wintertime energy bill as you can auto-adjust the temperatures according to your lifestyle and comfort. Over time, these units will learn your typical habits and automatically adjust the temperature accordingly.
- Sticking to the topic of HVAC in your home, it may be time to upgrade your system. If you live in an older home chances are that your unit is not energy efficient. Just like the appliances in your kitchen, HVAC systems have set guidelines they have to follow for each of their products. Along with changing the air ducts in your home, upgrading to a new system can help not only lower your electric bill, but can also help to freshen the quality of the air you are breathing.
- Lighting your home can eat up about 15% of your home’s electricity. Whether you are scared of the dark and keep hallway lights on, regularly forget you have a light on, or keep flood lights on all night, switching to efficient LED lighting can do wonders. According to the Department of Energy, the average sized home can save about $225 in energy costs per year by switching to LED lighting.
- If you are in an older home, chances are that your water heater is drastically pulling from your energy, significantly raising your bill. Ranging from 15% – 17% of your energy consumption, replacing your unit with a high-efficiency heater can drastically cut down your electric bill. Depending on your type of water heater (storage water heaters, tankless, heat pump, solar water heater, etc.) you can see a drop anywhere between 10% – 50%, by upgrading to a new unit.
2. Sustainable Materials
Since humans first began building structured homes, we have played around with a lot of different materials. From wood to steel and asbestos to lead paint, some of the options have not been the best. As the decades have progressed, we have learned what to use, how to use it, and the ramifications on the planet for not being sustainable.
But what does it mean to use sustainable materials? To sum it up, sustainable materials are items that are produced with the lowest possible environmental impact. It factors in the energy efficiency of your home but it also helps rid your space from toxic materials that can affect the quality of your home and your air. Utilizing materials like bamboo that grow at a high rate and won’t deplete natural resources, can help the environmental impact of our landfills. A few more to consider:
- Countertops: Many people are starting to look for sustainable options for their kitchens and bathrooms. It is good to remember that sustainability does not mean ugly. With options ranging from bamboo, recycled paper, resin, recycled glass, recycled polyester, cement, and more, you can still have a countertop that is the focal point of your space, and can hold up to spills, scratches, and heat.
- Flooring: From cork to engineered hardwood and bamboo to wool carpet, there are endless options for replacing the flooring in your home with more sustainable materials. You can also check out our last blog, “Our 4 Favorite Flooring Options” for additional ideas.
- Windows: Upgrading your windows in a home remodel is generally a great idea. Not only does it help with the energy rating of your home, you can also get federal tax credits for the improvements. With options like vinyl, sustainably sourced wood, composite materials, and glass, there is a style for every home.
- Roof: If it is time to replace your roof, why not look into sustainable materials? Although asphalt shingles are the cheapest route, they are also one of the worst. Being a byproduct of crude oil, it is not the greatest for the environment. Sustainably sourced wood shingles, concrete tiles, fiber cement, slate tiles, and even metal roofs are all great options.
- Walls: Although most of us pass by a wall and do not think about the sustainability of the materials, there are a few different options that are becoming more popular. Wool insulation, bamboo walls, stucco and recyclable steel frames are all options that can be utilized within your remodel.
3. Accessibility – Aging in Place
Creating an accessible home is becoming a very popular trend. Aging in place refers to staying in your own home as you get older. Aging in place well, means planning for your future years before they become urgent and life-changing. This may sound like something you don’t need to think about until the distant future, but we’ve got news: It’s NEVER too early to live your best life at home! For an indepth look at aging in place, check out our blog, “Aging in Place: Growing with your Home.” Below are a few ideas on how to update your home.
- Main level of the house – consider a stair lift or transition an existing room on the main level to a master suite bedroom
- Bedroom phone or charging station for mobile devices
- Touch-activated bedside lamps
- Doorless or folding pocket doors for easy access to closet
- Ample lighting
- Accessible shelving, storage drawers, or pull-down rods
- Wide doorways
- Non-slip floor treatment
- Adjust height or install a seat extender for higher toilets
- Install grab bars
- Curb-less/barrier-free walk-in shower or tub
- Install shower seat or grab bars
- Anti-slip coating/floor treatment or mat
- Handheld showerhead
- Sink accessibility – the more shallow, the easier to clean and use
- Proximity to stove
- Hands-free faucet and/or pull-out spray faucet
- Ample lighting
- Pull-out pantry shelves
- D-shaped cabinet pulls
- Round edges for countertops
- Microwave at counter height
4. Design Trends
Giving your home a facelift doesn’t need to be a daunting task. Changing out some colors, upgrading flooring, or changing a vanity in a bathroom can drastically change your space. After this last year we have seen some interesting design trends that have been popping up in several of our projects that we have listed below!
- Brighten your bathrooms: Whether that means adding more windows for natural light or brightening up the tile in your shower, the idea of waking up to a bright airy bathroom is gaining popularity.
- Adding color to your kitchen: One design trend we don’t see going away this year is multi-colored kitchen cabinets. Now, this one has been around for a bit, but moving away from the monotone white, gray, and black, we are expecting to see more integration of natural woods and bright colors, much like in this below image of one of our recent remodels!
- Warmer color tones: Warm earth tones have been gaining popularity throughout the year, and in 2024, the ever-growing love for deep, sultry color tones will only intensify. Utilizing these colors in your interior design, or as accent walls, is an excellent way to bring in a different feel to your space.
- Mixed-use spaces: Creating a space that can have multiple uses has been a growing trend since COVID. For homeowners who are looking to maximize their space, we have turned attached garages into living spaces, made a closet a “cloffice,” or our favorite, created a mutli-use sunroom adding extra indoor/outdoor space to a home.
Updating your home with new 2024 design/build remodeling trends can feel like a daunting task. Whether you are planning on a whole home remodel or looking to make some upgrades to your home, our team at Christie’s Design/Build Remodeling is here to help bring your vision to life. Contact us for a complimentary consultation so we can discuss the home remodel that is best for you.
