Current Industry Trends and Why They Matter
Here at SCREENEZE® we like to stay informed on all-things within our industry. Regularly we share news articles that we’ve found particularly interesting or valuable to homeowners, installers, and dealers, but at times we find that more information is valuable. For these reasons and more, we’ve decided to write about some current industry trends and related topics that will help homeowners, installers, and dealers gain a better grasp of the construction and home improvement landscapes.
Home Offices
With hospitalizations low and much of the total population vaccinated, we are starting to get back to a new “normal,” which includes going back to work. One key lesson learned by many over the last few years is that employees can work from home and/or utilize a hybrid schedule to accommodate daily life without interfering with their jobs. As these hybrid schedules and flexible working accommodations continue alongside Zoom meetings, it is important for many homeowners to have a workspace that is both functional as well as visually appealing. As this trend expands over the year, it is expected that employees will work towards creating a spot that is both productive and comfortable.
Outdoor Spaces & Features
The addition of nicer, more comfortable outdoor features is one that has been on-the-rise since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to grow, day-by-day. With people spending more time at home, they are finding it increasingly important to have a comfortable space that also keeps out pests, protects from the sun, and looks aesthetically-pleasing. Everything from new outdoor furniture to SCREENEZE® screened porches to firepits to sun awnings have been added to individual’s homes so far, with plenty more improvements to be made in the upcoming future. While all outdoor spaces and features are unique, you can draw inspiration for your next outdoor space and/or feature from our social media or our website.
Texture & Defined Decor
One very interesting trend that is making its way through 2022 is the use of textures and very definitive decor to accent an entire room. Homeowners are using incomplete brush strokes, rough paints, and the balance between soft and hard textures to make their internal and external rooms stand out. Some examples of this trend are creating a faux brick wall, a stucco-esc appearing wall, and/or a faux marble wall. This takes the previous trend of simply painting one accent wall to a whole new level! Pillows, chairs, tables, and other furniture are also able to have the appearance of unusual textures, using paint, interesting weaving patterns, and sandpaper/a sanding machine.
Technology in All Design
As technology and its role within our society continues to grow and evolve, so does its role within home improvement and adaptation. Homes now have internal technology that allow for finger-print scanning (as a mode of unlocking doors), built-in televisions/screens, voice-activated systems that can automatically do as told on command, and so much more. More homeowners are adding these adaptations and others to their homes than ever before, with the possibilities being endless. Not only do the new homes themselves have numerous technological capabilities, but the devices used to draw out and plan the homes themselves are becoming more advanced, too.
Sustainable Choices
Most modern-day homeowners care about the environment and how sustainable their actions are. Nowadays, supplies used in the actual construction of new homes tend to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, with the push from homeowners being the driving force. Homeowners want low-emitting homes that can function as anticipated while still being mindful of the environment. Current trends of younger homeowners specifically care what resources are being used and where they are supplied from, making them more willing to pay higher prices than their older homeowner counterparts.
Connectivity to Nature
Being able to access and enjoy nature has become a recent trend in home renovation, with homeowners adding screened porches, expanding their lawn and garden space, as well as constructing houses with more surrounding nature-scapes. In a not-so-literal way, homeowners are also adding more in-home plants and flowers, while painting and decorating with very neutral colors (like greens, whites, tans, and beiges). While this isn’t a purely 2022 trend, it is a highly important one for those within the industry to be aware of.
Sources
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/home-renovation-trends-2022
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/40-home-design-trends-that-will-shape-2022-stsetivw-vs~144187632
Technology Utilized
Similar to the home renovation trend, technology is everywhere and ever-present in today’s world. From the tools used to build the house to the technology placed within the walls, this is a trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon, and is quite literally used in all phases of construction. Many construction experts urge those within the industry to start adapting the newest technologies available if they haven’t already, as the need and expectation of advanced technologies in the near future is increasing rapidly.
New Single Family & Residential Projects
Despite recent uncertainty and fluctuation within the housing market, construction experts and analysts predict a rise in single-family homes and other residential projects as 2022 progresses. There will no doubt continue to be stresses within both categories, but the belief of future growth during this calendar year is relatively unanimous. Alongside this expected trend, it will be ever-so important to follow general manufacturing updates and any holds within the supply chain.
Data Drives All
The data doesn’t lie; in fact it tells the truth more accurately than any other source. In 2022, those within the construction industry care about the data: what it means, how to implement it into next month’s activities, and how the work can be improved so that the data improves. Using data will improve internal and external operations while ultimately saving the business money and time in the long-run. The heightened use of data across all operations should increase efficiency extensively, which perfectly explains why this is an up-and-coming trend of 2022.
Sustainable Practices & Climate Awareness
As seen in many other industries, individuals care about the environment and being responsible when it comes to best, most sustainable practices. Many businesses have changed their operations to produce less waste, with others working towards net zero emissions. This is an imperfect trend that has been growing rapidly since the early 2000s and continues to grow exponentially year-after-year due to worsening weather conditions and climate changes worldwide. Many of those working within the construction industry have also noticed that their customers and consumers are demanding more sustainable practices, which is also driving change for businesses.
Sources
https://constructionblog.autodesk.com/construction-trends-2022/
https://www.constructconnect.com/blog/top-5-commercial-construction-trends-2022
Have you seen some new and interesting trends recently that we didn’t list? Let us know on social media what these new trends are and how important they are becoming!
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