Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 saw record home sales in Canada. This market is expected to continue being hot in 2022. That means, if you’re considering selling your home, now is the ideal time to do so.

But when selling your home, there’s a lot you’ll have to consider- from market conditions, cleaning, inspections, appraisals, staging to packing for your big move. One aspect that should top this list is your home’s design. That’s because your designs are some of the first thing potential buyers will notice when they walk into your home.

Fortunately, they’re also a detail you can easily control. To get the most out of your home selling process, consider these 8 popular home design trends that experts recommend to wow buyers in 2022:

Add Eco-Friendly Appliances and Fixtures

Over the past few years, millennials (Canada’s largest demographic), has been a driving force in the country’s housing market. But one common aspect with this cohort is their focus on sustainable living features. In fact, a survey has found that one-third of millennials will initiate or deepen their consumer investment in an eco-friendly service or product- and that includes the homes they choose to buy and live in.

Some of eco-friendly home design trends that’ll attract millennial buyers and increase your ROI in 2022 include:

• Low-Flow Water Appliances: According to NRC, you should replace the water-consuming fixtures, such as toilets, faucets, and showerheads with those with flow rates of 4.8L/flush, 4L/minute, and 7.6 L/minute respectively. You could go an extra mile to dramatically save water bills by adding ENERGY STAR® certified appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
• Energy-Efficient Windows: Doors and windows account for 25% of your home’s heat loss. Hence, upgrading to energy-efficient windows will help you or your potential buyer save money on utilities, an attractive feature for millennials.
• Native Landscaping: Surprisingly, native flora is an eco-friendly aspect millennials are watching out for. Local greenery and plants helps curb biodiversity loss, creates a better wildlife habitat, and excellent pest resistance. These perks can add your home’s eco-friendly appeal.

Health and Wellness Spaces

With COVID-19 restrictions and work-from-home directives to curb the pandemic, homes have become an “all-purpose” territory for families. From designated offices, study rooms to play areas, everyone now need their own space. Couple that with mental health concerns, reduced access to health and wellness facilities, and competing schedules, and you’ll get buyers with high prioritization of personal care spaces. Today, at-home well amenities that had been deemed as luxuries are most homebuyers’ must-haves.

As such, you can enhance the quality of life in your home and intrigue potential buyers with spa-inspired bathrooms, reading nooks, gym, or meditation areas. If your home isn’t large enough to section off a room for wellness retreat, you can make simple adjustments to air purifiers, natural light, and add indoor plants to make prospective buyers feel better in your home.

A Fresh Coat of Paint- Calming Hues and Tones

Paint colours that give a calming effect are a vital selling point in 2022. That includes natural hues and soft earth tones, as well as different shades of green, blue, beige, and brown. In fact, a recent survey has shown that using more classic palette will bring the feel of nature indoors in a subtle and calming way. Moreover, some paint hues are known to increase your home’s value by 1.6%, which translates to $11,533 for an average home priced at $720,850.

Exterior Home Improvements

Most Canadians are looking to the outdoors for a break after spending an entire day working indoors. In fact, front porches are seeing a huge comeback. So, don’t forget about your exteriors when considering home design trends- it’ll only take imagination and effort to turn the outdoors into a comforting oasis.

For instance, painting the front door, floorboards, brick, power-washing the siding, and adding lighting fixtures can make a huge difference when sprucing up your curb appeal. You can also consider adding window boxes, flowers, and young trees that require minimal maintenance to add life to your home’s exterior. While at it, add some comfy furniture that blends with your home’s exterior and interior.

Call us for help on how to spruce up your outdoor area to increase value and appeal potential homebuyers.

Designated Work-From-Home Spaces

Did you know that over 80% of teleworkers want to continue working at least half of their hours from home even after the pandemic is over? Hence, you should try turning a bedroom, basement, or attic into a work-from-home office. Ensure that you make the space is both functional and aesthetically-pleasing to foster productivity. You can do that by positioning the desk near the window for natural light and adding a bookshelf and a few succulents.

Note that Canadians working from home due to the pandemic restrictions are eligible to claim a $500 deduction for home office expenses, which makes this update more feasible. Moreover, given the high demand for this trend, it can help intrigue more buyers.

Call our experts, and we’ll help you highlight your designated workspace and market it to attract more competitive offers.

Luxurious Kitchen Updates

Families have always wanted a place to come together in their homes, making the kitchen a main focal point of the house. In fact, kitchen updates are amongst top home renovations that resonate most with buyers.

But while 2022 buyers want luxurious updates and retouches, you don’t have to renovate the entire kitchen to make a difference. To help you create a kitchen that buyers will love, here are renovations you can do without breaking the bank:

• A fresh coat of calm, nature-inspired paint colours can make all the difference
• Updating the hardware to make your kitchen stand out and add personality
• Adding light fixtures will bring in more light for a fresh look and feel in your kitchen

Accent Walls to Make a Statement

Accent walls are known to give a home character. While accent walls have been a home design feature for a while, you can expect bolder moves in 2022. These on-trend options include:

• Textured wallpaper
• Jewel or metallic tones
• Painted ceilings
• Wood paneling
• Built-in shelves
• Sprawling wall tiles

Key Note: Depending on potential buyers, a design feature might do more harm than good. So, call our top-notch real estate pros before adding an accent wall. We’ll offer insights and tips on how to add an accent wall that’ll make a statement and attract buyers.

Outdoor Siding Upgrades

Renovating the exterior siding can make even an old home feel and look new and increase your resale value. That’s because it not only spruce up the curb appeal, but it can keep your home interior warm and protected from Canada’s harsh winters, hence it adds your home’s functionality.

Typically, adding new sidings ranges from $4.80- $51.60 per square foot depending on the siding materials you choose. Wood, fibre-cement, brick, vinyl, stone, or metal can infuse the outdoor character and enhance your curb appeal.

However, there are other aspects to consider when updating the siding. For instance, brick adds more sophistication, but it’s costlier and more susceptible to salt erosion, making it less enticing for coastal homes. Conversely, vinyl is affordable, doesn’t fade, and is easy to maintain, but it cracks easily when exposed to weather elements.

Popular Home Design Trends to Watch Out For In 2022

Canadian homebuyers know exactly what they’re looking for in a home. So, give your home an edge over the competition with these simple and attractive facelift before listing your home. These design trends will infuse personality into your home and help you sell faster and for more.

But keep in mind that your home doesn’t necessarily need all these changes to attract qualified buyers. We can help you determine which design trends to add to your home and boost your resale value. We’ll run a comparative market analysis (CMA) on your home to help you understand what features would sell best in your area.

Call us today to schedule your free seller’s consultation!