The end of the year is quickly approaching, which means it’s time for the annual home trends and designs blog! Here at Taylor Morrison, we recognize the importance of thoughtfully designed homes—from flooring materials to furniture textures, lighting choices, and architectural design—and are committed to constructing functional, efficient, and fashionable homes specially customized to anticipate consumers’ needs and appeal to their emotions.
For the fifth year in a row, we invited our design and architectural experts to share the latest, highly anticipated home trends centered around well-being:
Meet the Neighbors
If the pandemic proved anything, it’s that people crave frequent social interaction. So much so that one popular design element is making a big comeback—centered all around bringing communities closer together.
“We are seeing more and more homeowners setting up inviting outdoor seating areas right in their front yards,” shared our National Director of Design and Model Experience, Lee Crowder. “By adding a few lounge chairs, a fire pit and some cafe lighting, all of a sudden you have an incredible space where you can enjoy being outside with your loved ones. As an added bonus, you might even befriend your neighbors.”
Indoor and Outdoor Connectivity
In addition to fostering a sense of community, front-yard living speaks to the overarching new home design trend of indoor and outdoor connectivity.
“No matter where it is—be it the back, side or front of a home—more connection between inside and outside living is a growing trend,” explained our Vice President of Product Design, Brian Juedes. “And the addition of fresh air and natural lighting also boasts important health benefits.”
With remote and flexible work here to stay, Taylor Morrison is incorporating a new iteration of office spaces into its architectural plans. Known as “Tech Spaces,” these smaller alcoves conserve square footage and offer a sense of comfort and privacy when working from home.
“As long as there are companies allowing team members the flexibility to work from home, we need to accommodate that in our home designs. No one wants to be working from a kitchen island anymore,” shared Juedes.
Rather than sharing one full-sized office, homebuyers can opt for two smaller tech spaces—which is especially beneficial for households with multiple individuals working from home.
Did you know Taylor Morrison has an amazing Design studio? Read all about what to expect during your appointment here.
Fire and Spice
For the last three years, our design pros have studied home trends and designs and compiled a palette of paint colors for the 2023 Color Collection in collaboration with Sherwin-Williams. This year’s palette is centered around the paint company’s 2023 Color of the Year, Redend Point (SW 9081). Redend Point is a great addition to any home and is sure to be a staple in cozy living room design.
“While overall warm and cozy, the color is versatile and can be used with the same charcoals and bright whites that we’ve seen trending for so long. Redend Point is a good paint choice for a whole room without making the walls too dark or overwhelming, but can also add a pop of color to cabinetry or a kitchen island,” Crowder said.
In addition to Redend Point, we’ve included Foxhall Green (SW 9184) and Edler White (SW 7014), which are part of our interior paint colors! Be sure to also check out Dorian Gray (SW 7017) to show the versatility of combining a warm tone with greys and whites.
Warming Up White
The last few years have been dominated by a simple color palette consisting of bright whites and cool greys. Moving away from this interior trend, many homeowners opt for more colorful design options. But what about those who designed their homes around the all-white trend and are now seeing their homes phase out of style?
“Adding soft, warm tones and light wood accents can immediately add warmth and bring cool tones into the new trends we are seeing today,” Crowder shared.
Tying it back to Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year, Redend Point is an example of a warm color that pairs especially well with cooler tones. Crowder shares encouraging insight on this year’s color trends:
“Named after a sandstone rock formation in the United Kingdom, Redend Point is an example of nature highlighting how some colors work well together. In photos of the formation, you can see the reddish-sand color of the rock wall paired with the gray pebbles on the beach. So, if nature can pull off a combo of warm and cool colors—so can you.”
Ready for even more home trends and designs? Check out our blog on design tips to maximize space in your home here.
Clutter-Free Comfort in Home Trends and Design
Organization is key to well-being, especially with so many still operating in a hybrid environment.
“Living in a home that works for your lifestyle makes life easier,” said Crowder. “When you have a home that is in order, it creates a calm and relaxing environment. You can spend more time with family and less time stressing over your space.”
Whether you’re a DIYer or prefer professional assistance, help is available at all price points.
“You can hire incredible services from ‘The Home Edit’ to come and personally organize your home. Or you can watch their Netflix series, ‘Get Organized with The Home Edit,’ and buy their line of products at Walmart to do it yourself,” explained Crowder.
Newest Trends in Home Design: Elevation Fascination
Throughout the country, Craftsmen and Farmhouse designs have reigned supreme over other elevation styles. However, homeowners are starting to show an appetite for exterior designs that mix traditional and modern styles, also known as “soft transitional.”
According to a John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey of 1,184 homeowners, 50 percent of homeowners in California prefer a mix of traditional and modern designs, compared to 34 percent of buyers in the Northwest. Juedes explains further:
“Modern farmhouse continues across the country, but right alongside that is modern contemporary, transitional styles. These designs continue to grow in popularity on both the inside and outside of our homes.”
Modern Redesign with MINE
In 2023, expect to see modern-shaped furniture incorporated into new home trends and designs. Think curved lines, rounded silhouettes and clean finishes—modern furniture is whimsical and sleek.
“Plush, overstuffed upholstery pieces not only meet the modern criteria but are also cozy and inviting,” Crowder noted.
For homebuyers looking to incorporate contemporary design elements in their home, Taylor Morrison has partnered with MINE design services, a company known for its modern furniture selections. In addition to Taylor Morrison’s suite of digital tools—like the reservation system that allows buyers to design, customize and price out homes online—customers have complimentary access to a handful of MINE’s digital tools to help decorate their homes with furniture pieces found in Taylor Morrison’s model homes.
Passionate About Laminate
Looking for durability, price, and appearance in your flooring selection? Laminate flooring could be the answer! It’s a popular alternative to traditional hardwood with many notable benefits.
“Laminate flooring combines the beauty of wood with the toughness of an engineered material. Manufacturers are now able to capture the beauty of a realistic hardwood aesthetic, not only from a color standpoint, but also when it comes to touch and feel,” said Crowder. “Laminate is easier to maintain than wood and is a flooring that will perform better and last longer.”
From Outside In
With an increased focus on sustainability in home trends and designs, many are relying on outdoor elements to decorate—bringing organic and nature-inspired features inside the home. For example, one of the latest home design trends is large, floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase natural landscapes. Plus, these gorgeous windows act as a natural mood booster in states that receive consistent sunlight.
Try adding native plants inside your home to preserve local biodiversity and add a natural touch. Match your décor, paint and flooring to outdoor element to help blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. This produces a wonderful illusion of openness inside the home!
Meet Lee Crowder
As the National Director of Design and Model Experience, Lee Crowder always has her finger on the pulse of what’s trending and timeless in home design. With nearly two decades of design experience at Taylor Morrison, Crowder’s expertise and unique insight into the psyche of homebuyers has made her a go-to subject matter expert for the media—she is regularly featured in national and trade publications like Forbes, The Spruce, the Los Angeles Times, Kitchen & Bath Design News, and more. Today, she leads a team of design and color experts across the country to implement Taylor Morrison’s national design and model home strategy, key initiatives, and programs.
Meet Brian Juedes
Brian Juedes is the National Vice President of Product Design at Taylor Morrison and leads efforts to improve operational efficiency through architectural design. With 35 years of professional experience and more than two decades in residential design, Juedes has designed more than a quarter of a million homes across the country. At Taylor Morrison, he is responsible for refining and rationalizing floor plans across all markets and building homes that are more efficient and attractive to consumers. Juedes is one of only three professionals in Arizona to hold a license in architecture, civil engineering and structural engineering—and he is the only one to specialize in residential construction.
