The world of construction has changed more in the past ten years than in any other decade, and it’s not slowing down. From eco-friendly buildings to luxury apartments designed to suit the needs of a wide variety of inhabitants, designs are constantly evolving. And the issues that need to be tackled are daunting, from climate change and the increased risk of natural disasters to a rapidly growing population and issues of housing affordability. However, the biggest challenge that’s expected to impact the world of construction in 2022 is energy conservation.

The World Green Building Council has estimated that buildings make up 40% of global energy usage, and to make matters worse, almost half of the world’s energy supply is directly or indirectly consumed by buildings. Given how much time we spend in our homes, offices and other buildings every day, it’s no surprise that reducing our environmental footprint through construction is one of the major challenges we’re facing as a species. Here are the best construction and design trends of 2022.

1. Adding An Extra Room:

In the past, adding additional space was a simple matter of buying an extended family home. But in 2022, the most common way homeowners and renters will add extra space to their homes is by converting unused areas into multifunctional spaces. In many cases, this will involve adding a small room that can serve as an office or guest bedroom. This trend is already popular in many parts of Asia and Europe, where homes are typically smaller than they are in North America and Australia. And it’s starting to become a widespread practice in North America.

2. Smarter Furniture:

The average American household owns around 33 pieces of furniture, which means that most people in the US have about a million more items to store in their closets. This is why smart furniture is a hot trend for the years ahead. In most cases, these pieces of furniture can be programmed to remember where they’re supposed to go, what times of day and even how many times they’ve been used. This is convenient for homeowners, especially those who travel frequently, as it will allow them to seamlessly swap out the furniture in their home for the one that’s currently in use.

3. Wooden wall panel:

For the past few years, wooden panel has been the most popular material for soundproofing brick walls, and this trend is expected to continue as more homeowners turn to natural materials for their home’s interior. In fact, some builders have already begun experimenting with paneling made from different types of wood and with different types of insulation. In 2022, this trend will bring us furniture that doubles as a kind of sound paneling and other kinds of eco-friendly building materials.

4. Sustainability:

With sustainability becoming one of the biggest challenges in the construction industry, manufacturers will be encouraged to use renewable energy sources. This will lead to a significant rise in clean energy, which is expected to fuel a major expansion in wind and solar energy sources. And thanks to the prominence of solar technology, this will boost demand for both porcelain and glass.

5. Open Spaces:

From the streets of New York to the suburbs of California, urban planners have been pushing for an increased focus on open spaces, and this will become a major trend in home design over the next few years. Open-air homes are expected to grow in popularity, and this will lead to a number of key changes in how we plan our homes. This includes adapting new designs for courtyards and roofs that allow for greater airflow.

6. Injecting Color Into Your Designs:

Since the 1970s, color has been a popular feature in our homes, but for the last decade it’s been largely confined to walls, furniture and other interior elements. In 2022, color will begin to be injected into almost every aspect of our homes. We’ll see this in flooring materials and other products that we use daily. And even in furniture elements like cabinets and drawers.

7. Going Underground:

In order to create more space, some homeowners will be looking to build underground. In fact, this trend is expected to become a major influence in how we design our homes in 2022. However, while digging underground is certainly unusual, it’s far from new. Many cities were built on top of an underground area in the past and while this trend is popular enough in Asia today, a growing number of homeowners in Europe and North America are starting to embrace it as well.

Conclusion:

It’s clear that the construction industry will be facing a number of major challenges over the next twelve months, especially as it relates to energy conservation. However, there are some trends that seem likely to put a stop to most of these challenges, namely the injection of colour into our homes and underground design. If you’re looking to build a new home or remodel an existing one, consider the benefits of these trends and ask the team at your local builder to make sure that you don’t miss out.