Client Search Signals: Design Shifts to Watch This Summer
Design trends are moving faster than ever. Clients are showing up to meetings with fresh inspiration pulled straight from their social feeds. The key is to stay ahead and anticipate what’s next, not just react to what they’ve seen.
In a new report from Houzz, current homeowner search insights reveal several emerging design trends. These shifts will be making their way into your custom projects this summer (if they haven’t already), informing specs, sourcing, and how homes should be tailored to rising client expectations.
Wood-Drenched Spaces
The wood-drenched aesthetic takes center stage, as seen in the striking interior by MBB Design Studio featured above. Interest in “living rooms with light hardwood floors” spiked 400% year-over-year, according to Houzz search data, with “wood-paneled offices” up 43%. White oak shows strong growth in specific applications: searches for white oak kitchens are up 46%, while searches for white oak bathroom vanities have seen a 20% increase.
Why it matters: Interest in lighter floors is one thing, but the “wood-drenched” trend implies floor-to-ceiling coverage, often in a unified palette (e.g., white oak floors, walls, cabinetry, and maybe even ceilings). This triggers a few practical challenges:
- Longer lead times. Lock in orders early to avoid delays that may cascade into trim, cabinet, and flooring installs.
- Tighter communication across trades. Work closely to coordinate finishes and avoid any mismatch in stain, grain patterns, or sheen, especially when mixing prefinished and site-finished materials.
Our take: Try it in a smaller space to bring on a cocoon-like effect or use it to highlight an architectural feature like a vaulted ceiling.
Vintage Style
The report also reveals a year-over-year surge in vintage-inspired searches, with “vintage bathroom vanities” experiencing a remarkable 313% increase and the term “vintage kitchen” rising by 71%.
Why it matters: Clients love a showpiece element in their homes, and a one-of-a-kind period piece presents a valuable opportunity to create just that. In transitional spaces, a vintage element can serve as a bridge between the modern and traditional areas.
Our take: Check with architectural salvage dealers or antique stores for genuine statement pieces. And consider a retrofit with hidden technology, or features like soft-close drawers to deliver the expected conveniences.
Low-Water Landscaping
Water-conscious landscapes are gaining ground. Houzz data uncovered a 205% increase in “succulent garden” searches, a 94% increase in “Mediterranean gardens,” and a 79% boost in the term “Mediterranean landscape.” Even decomposed granite searches saw a 37% increase.
Why it matters: Though rooted in the aesthetic of desert retreats, these designs are being adopted in a range of climates as clients look to reduce maintenance and long-term water use.
Our take: You may not be in a zone where succulent or Mediterranean gardens thrive, but you can adapt to the look with native plants and warm-toned hardscapes. Decomposed granite paths, low-profile greenery, and minimal turf can also help match the feel.
Custom Beverage Stations
Homeowners continue to elevate their beverage set-ups. Coffee bars show no sign of slowing with searches up 19%. Beverage and wine fridges continue to track, with interest growing by 46%, while searches for “beverage bars” ticked up 39% and by 36% for “small wet bars.” The newer player in the mix? Interest in whiskey bars jumped an impressive 82%.
Why it matters: Spanning from a morning coffee to an after-dinner whiskey, this trend signals demand for built-in convenience and luxury at every hour of the day.
Our take: Think beyond just placement. Design for how the station will feel and function by tailoring lighting and storage to the ritual (coffee vs. cocktails).
While the report identifies a broader range of evolving interests, these select four point to deeper changes in how clients are thinking. For architects and builders, the opportunity lies in translating these signals into site-specific solutions that elevate home living.
About the Author
Pauline Hammerbeck
Pauline Hammerbeck is Editor-in-Chief of Custom Builder, where she leads coverage for custom home builders that bridges smart business strategy with high-performance design. She also serves as a Senior Editor at Pro Builder, directing products coverage and the MVP Product Awards. Her work spans architecture, real estate, retail and design. Pauline lives in an American Foursquare and has strong opinions on Brutalism. Reach her at [email protected].