As we get ready to close out the year (and what a crazy year it’s been), we thought it would be fun to revisit the most popular housing trends over the last 12 months. From overall housing designs to special add-ons and social kitchens, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best and most popular options homeowners were choosing to incorporate into their builds in 2020!

Dual Master Suites

Put simply, dual master suites are just what the name suggests: two different master suites in the home. Typically, you will have the main master suite and then a smaller, second master suite either on the opposite side of the house or a different floor. What’s driving this trend? There are several different reasons for it. One is the flexibility in living arrangements it provides. If an aging parent or grown child or other relative needs to move in, a second master suite provides the person with his or her own bathroom and privacy. It also makes a great guest suite. A second reason is the resale value. Potential buyers are intrigued by the uniqueness of a second master suite. With more and more people opting for this feature on their home builds, we’ll see how long dual master suites stays a unique option!

The Lounge/Loft

Known commonly as a family lounge, this feature is usually nestled outside of bedrooms and away from the typical great or family room and the hustle and bustle of the main house. It’s a dedicated space for a family to hang out, play games and enjoy each other’s company away from the noise or traffic of the main rooms. It also serves as a quiet, private place for kids to do homework, entertain friends out of the way of the rest of the family, or have hobbies such as sewing, crafts or video games set up. Basically, it’s a dedicated space to meet the needs of each individual family and what is important to them.

Oversized Kitchen Island

An oversized kitchen island was on the must-have list of many home buyers in 2020. Many homeowners were installing large islands that were five feet deep with 24 inch deep base cabinets and a 12 inch eating bar. An oversized island allows seating on two sides to accommodate family and friends, and also provides more workspace in the kitchen as well as extra kitchen storage. To make the island even more functional, some homeowners added an extra sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, or even a wine cooler.

Pocket Offices

While a growing number of people work from home, they don’t really need – or even want – a full-blown home office. With the availability of wireless technology, people can work from any corner of the home. Because of that, many homeowners don’t want to waste a ton of space on a dedicated home office and are instead opting for a pocket office. Although typically smaller than a traditional home office, a pocket office still provides privacy for a work space and usually affords enough room for a desk, computer, printer and office supplies. Some people may not even work in the pocket office - rather preferring a porch, sunroom, or a new location every day - but want a modest space to house their printer and office supplies.

Oversized Garages

Among the most requested new home design items are oversize or three-car garages – with more space surrounding the cars. In fact, more than 20 percent of single-family homes built each year since 2013 have included three-car garages.

With the shift to bigger/taller SUVs and pickups, today's garages are being built or remodeled to make space for the larger vehicles and provide enough room for storage. To fit the taller vehicles, the 7-foot-height overhead-door clearance has been changed to 8 feet – and some builders even go as high as 12 feet to accommodate loaded roof racks.

Outdoor Living

Remember when outdoor living entailed a deck or patio with table and chairs, maybe space for patio chairs with cushions, and a grill? Well, say goodbye to that idea and embrace more expansive outdoor living areas. Today, outdoor spaces are bigger, more stylish, sophisticated, and equipped with the latest in technology. We’re talking rear porches and patios with LCD and LED flat-screen televisions, entire kitchens with sinks, dining areas, fire pits, and fireplaces.

Balconies, terraces, and patios are being redesigned to extend the great room to the backyard – and seamlessly connect the indoors to the outdoors. Glass walls that allow spaces to open completely during warm weather are predicted to pick up in popularity. These are multiple sliding glass panels that can be fully retracted to one or both sides of the space to open it up to the outdoors. When closed, the glass panels protect the area from rain, dust, noise, insects, and strong winds.

The Contemporary Farmhouse Is Still on the Trending List

Designers agree that the farmhouse style’s popularity is increasing, especially in its modern, transitional form: light – often white – vertical siding, metal roof or roof accents, shed dormers and bump-outs, clean lines with no frills, and a main-floor master suite rather than the more traditional second-floor master.

Which of these trends was your favorite in 2020, and do you think any of these will make the 2021 trending list? We’re expecting to see a few return on the list at the end of 2021 - along with some new ones, we’re sure! We’re excited to step out of 2020 and into 2021 and see what fresh ideas a new year brings us, and we know a lot of you feel the same. As we head into the new year, let us know if a custom home is in your future for 2021. We can talk you through it and bring your dreams to life!