Article Surfing Archive

Want to discover 2007's hottest home design trends? Now that the New Year is here, it is time to learn what is hot and what is not in home design and decoration. The shifting nature of home design trends is once more evident this year as revealed by the results of a recent survey. Mark Nash, real estate writer, surveyed 923 real estate agents and brokers nationwide about home design trends and came up with the most popular home design trends for 2007. The survey included a list of home design features that were popular among home buyers as well as the design features of 2006.

Here are some of the home design trends of 2007 that are fast emerging and going to be popular with homebuyers this year:

Glass Tile. Glass tiles are gaining popularity over ceramic tiles due to their elegance and reflective qualities. Glass tiles come in various finishes and are superior than ceramic tiles because of the sheen and brilliance they give to the interiors. They are increasingly used in applications including bathrooms, kitchens, pools, etc and are becoming very trendy.

Engineered Stone Compounds. Engineered stone compounds are big sellers this year and are the latest in kitchen countertops. Made from quartz and synthetic compounds, they are stain and scratch resistant. Engineered slabs come in a wider range of colors than natural stone and are less expensive than granite.

Wrought iron. A feature that could boost a home's value this year is wrought iron. These are becoming strong favorites with home buyers over chain link ones because of their luxurious appearance. Also, wrought iron is more durable than aluminum and has a much better aesthetic appeal. Replacing wood or chain-link fence with wrought iron fences and gates can help maximize a property's curb appeal.

Bolder colors for trim. The survey reveals that Americans are looking away from neutral colors for their trims to find expressions in colors that are more strongly. Bolder colors and those with more depth are the trend now for trims including shutters, doors and window frames.

Home offices. With the proliferation of work-at-home professionals, homes equipped with a home office complete with fiber-optic cables for Internet connectivity are becoming a popular home design trend.

Extra storage space. The latest in home design trends is home buyers preferring extra space for storage in their homes such as linen closets, pantries, and luggage rooms.

Some of last year's home design trends that have gone cold and are most likely to die are:

Above-the-counter bathroom sinks. Avoid installing the bowl-shaped above-the-counter bathroom sinks. They are very aesthetic, but harder to maintain and clean.

Glass cabinet doors. Glass cabinet doors in kitchens have lost their appeal among home owners as they need to be kept tidy always and their revealing interiors are more of an embarrassment than embellishment.

Bamboo wood. Bamboo wood is out this year because it easily dents and is highly scratch-prone. The wood also goes out of shape in humid weather conditions.

Home builders, renovators and home owners may incorporate these latest home design trends of 2007 and benefit from them.