In the custom home industry over the past decade, most homeowners' core concerns have been "What design is currently popular?", "What kind of design won't go out of style easily?", "What kind of design is more timeless?"..

Trends always come in cycles, and any design bears the imprint of its time, so it will eventually be overturned. However, you can't help but notice that their life cycles are not the same.

Next, I will introduce how to grasp the design trends of the future in home renovation through three questions: "What is good design?", "What design should be avoided?", and "What are the customization trends for the next 3-5 years?"

  What is good design?

Good design, three essential criteria for judgment — 1. Functional satisfaction; 2. Aesthetic satisfaction; 3. Withstands the test of time

  （一）Functional satisfaction

Functional satisfaction is relatively easy to understand; simply put, it means having enough of what is needed and a reasonable flow of movement.

  (2) Aesthetic taste satisfaction

Aesthetic taste varies from person to person, customization is about meeting individual pursuits, and the essence of design is service rather than self-indulgence.

  (3) Stand the test of time

De-stylized design; to transcend stylized thinking, think dialectically, seek the root of the problem, then dare to try, dare to break conventions, and even redefine.

Everything in this world is being created and destroyed, such as doors, which we never knew the appearance of before they were born. Of course, we also do not know what they will look like in the future, perhaps a single electronic screen can replace a door. Therefore, it should not be confined to the traditional form. Whether it is the opening method, surface design, or handle and hinges, all should be redefined with the development of technology.

Design is to solve problems, not to show off. If you design for the sake of "design," you will never achieve good design.

  What designs should be avoided?

  -- The cyclical traces are obvious, corresponding to the current trend of influencer design.

Seeing these designs repeatedly appear on various online platforms, everyone shouting that they are unique and ingenious, I looked up and saw that my own home was also filled with this stuff. Gradually, my initial joy turned into disgust, as this is a shortcut to rapid "aesthetic fatigue." At the same time, it's there to constantly remind me—my taste is not great! Every now and then, a friend comes over and might add another point to my "public shaming." To put it mildly, I deeply regret it; to put it strongly, it's a psychological torment!!!

The core reason for frequent failures in influencer design is the misuse of trendy elements, trying to imitate popular styles and then forcing a square peg into a round hole.
  ——I must dare to add a few pictures:

(Scarpa stacking, a design technique founded by Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, is also a common method in deconstruction. However, most of the time, rigidly applying this technique not only fails to achieve the desired effect but also becomes an excuse to sell more materials.)

This seems to have risen to a philosophical issue, especially in the home decoration industry, where there can be ten thousand different Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes, making the standards for evaluating design very vague. A simple "I think it looks good" can leave you speechless, and you certainly can't rudely say that my taste is bad, right? (When I'm not being self-deprecating)

But any exchangeable or debatable viewpoint must be based on a shared understanding. Regarding the future, I believe there are several points on which we can quickly reach a consensus:

  What are the customization trends for the next 3-5 years?

  (1) The trend of occurrence

1. Due to the decline in the real estate market, renovation has become a business in the existing market, and storage design is becoming increasingly important when re-renovating old houses.

2. Based on the first point, the status of the kitchen will significantly increase, and there is an urgent need to re-plan the workflow and appliances.

3. Removing the decoration, designs that highlight the natural characteristics of the material will receive more favor.

4. As the information gap is eliminated, the details of the finishing work are valued by the client, who is willing to pay for it.

5. The ability to provide a systematic solution for door, wall, and cabinet systems with a variety of materials is important.

  (2) Details are changing

  1. Storage of cabinet-type items

Before we tackle the issue of storage, we should understand: it's too difficult to change people through design. The essence of a house is not in the renovation; ultimately, it's about the people. Design according to habits, rather than trying to change them. Therefore, seriously recall and summarize your own habits. Actions that can be completed in one step should not be divided into two, and tasks that can be done conveniently here should not require several steps to be moved over there.

For example, the sideboard next to the dining area should certainly consider the functions of the kitchen, and can be equipped with a sink, steamer/oven, or water dispenser.

For example, the wardrobe must be deep enough and able to hang clothes. Currently, many clothes are oversized, and considering potential changes in body shape in the future, a wardrobe with a depth of 600mm may not meet the needs. The ceiling can be reserved at more than 620mm.

For example, in planning the layout of cabinets, under the same width, two 1-meter wide wardrobes can definitely hold more than two 0.8-meter wide wardrobes plus one 0.4-meter wide wardrobe. External drawers can definitely hold more and are more convenient to use than internal drawers.

  2. Planning of the kitchen

Renovation is a journey of regret. The mistakes made in this house will not be repeated in the next, but new errors will be waiting for you.

One of the most important reasons for this is that the rate of appliance updates is much faster than the frequency of renovations. The development of kitchen technology is based on the concept of making people "lazier" and more comfortable. Therefore, the design philosophy of cabinets mainly focuses on two aspects: the layout of appliances and the functional hardware storage.
  Based on washing, cutting, and stir-frying as the basic layout plan, the appliances are flexibly arranged in the front, middle, and back.

For example, install a garbage disposal unit under the sink (to grind and flush away wet waste to avoid odors), water purifier, and a small water heater. Next to the sink, you can install a dishwasher, fruit and vegetable washer, and a floor washer.

For example, set up a bracket on the operating area for convenient video viewing. Install corner pull-out baskets and full-height baskets (domestic prices are already relatively affordable). Arrange a kitchen refrigerator and other refrigerators (for storing cosmetics or health supplements).

  3. Natural materials

The natural materials referred to here are not specifically about the natural colors of the materials or unprocessed materials, but rather the craftsmanship that highlights the characteristics of the materials with minimal embellishment is gaining increasing popularity.

For example, the Italian semi-transparent finishing technique, full-color transparency technique, veneer inlay technique, water-based zero-degree skin feel paint, and metal paint technique.

For example, the synchronized wood grain process for paint-free products, and the imitation leather, imitation fabric, and imitation stone and metal grain processes are becoming increasingly mature. Another example is that natural marble is now more widely replacing quartz slabs, etc.
  Moreover, the natural defects of the material can be increasingly accepted by more people.

  4. The craftsmanship of closing the opening

It can be said that implementing on-site is about solving the finishing, and the quality of the finish equals the quality of the construction.

The finishing work starts from civil construction and doors and windows, with each 环节 (link) involving masons, carpenters, and painters. As the information gap narrows and minimalistic styles become popular, more and more homeowners realize the importance of these details.
  As the saying goes: It's easy to finish the inside corner, but the outside corner is a headache. Finishing the outside corner is the most important part.

  5. Systematized solutions

The same position can be handled in different ways, and different materials can be used interchangeably. There are no fixed rules or constant situations; solutions can vary widely.
  How to achieve systematic 配套 (accompanying measures), with rules and a holistic view? Note: The term "配套" is not commonly used in English in this context. A more natural translation would be "How to achieve systematic accompanying measures, with rules and a holistic view?" However, if "配套" is a specific term in the original context, it might be better to keep it as is or provide a more precise equivalent

For example, whether the baseboards are continuous throughout the entire house has a crucial impact on the overall effect during the whole-house renovation. A common challenge is that the baseboards are interrupted by doors or cabinets.

  Four, Final Summary

Strictly speaking, any design has a certain lifespan, it's just a matter of how quickly it becomes obsolete. However, to be as "timeless" as possible in renovation and customization, design can be combined with predictions of "future design trends":

1. In terms of functionality, try to reserve the electrical and water layout for "whole-house smart systems". For example,预留 the whole-house lighting system, temperature control system, and 预留 kitchen appliance interfaces.

2. In terms of design aesthetics, opt for materials that have a "natural character" and choose a systematic solution for doors, walls, and cabinets; try to avoid periodic trendy design elements.

3. In terms of construction techniques, focus on the implementation of details. Spend money where it matters, hide the refinement in the corners, in the intersections of different materials, and in the mechanisms waiting to be deciphered.

  Turin Turin

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Column:Common Materials for Whole House CustomizationWhole House Customization

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