Built to last

Building a new home, or planning to renovate? Big Ass Fans have pieced together the six home building trends to consider heading into 2024 to help focalise the scope of works and create a vibrant and stylish home that will stay on trend long after the year ends.

GALLERY  

1. Sustainability

We might be sounding like a broken record here, but sustainability through energy efficiency, & renewable energy is driving how we build and design homes. The top three considerations here are:

• Energy efficient appliances, HVAC systems, windows, insulation and lighting
• Solar panels and other renewable energy sources
• Eco friendly building materials and finishes

So, how can you incorporate Sustainability into your own home? Pick the home appliances that are energy efficient – such as ceiling fans with brushless DC motors, or appliances that adjust their output based on temperature and/or motion in the space to optimise their energy use.

2. Smart Home Technology

‘Hey Alexa’ and ‘Hey google’ were just the beginning. More home tech trends we see
occurring in 2024 are:

• Automated climate and lighting systems. Did somebody say temperature
  sensing?
• App-controlled appliances.
• Integrated home operating systems

Advanced lighting systems come in the form of more dimmable settings and whether lights can be scheduled or controlled through voice activation. What takes lighting to the next level though is the ability to adjust colour temperature for optimal mood lighting or productivity in a space. The Haiku LED light has 16 dimmable settings ranging from cool to warm to finely tune your comfort preferences.

3. Wellness and Well-being

The rise of biophilic design and spaces for self care are now creating homes that are designed to support health, wellness and quality of life through nature and clean air. Homes now include:

• Indoor air quality optimisation through filtration and ventilation
• Exposure to natural light, greenery and outdoor views
• Spaces for meditation, yoga, exercise and hobbies

But let’s start at the basics (and the easiest!) to implement in your own home. Biophilic design in the built environment is an expression of the relationship between nature, humans and buildings. It requires a sensory approach to design that considers what the place looks, smells and feels like over time, fostering a connection to nature. Including green walls, natural material, and enhancing the outdoor connection will increase your wellbeing and feelings of peace and calmness inside the home.

4. Indoor/Outdoor Living.

Big Ass Fans are BIG believers in seamlessly integrating your indoor and outdoor spaces for the extra connection to the outdoors. To achieve this, we recommend:

• Large windows and glass doors to maximise light
• Outdoor living rooms, kitchens and dining spaces
• And of course, airflow through the use of ceiling fans

It’s as simple as that, and if you love to entertain in the summer, this is a design must!

5. Flexible Living Spaces

We are already seeing architects, like CplusC Architectural Workshop create adaptable, multipurpose spaces to accommodate different needs over time. These include:

• Open floor plans with moveable room dividers
• Large multipurpose rooms vs fixed-use rooms
• Modular furniture and extendable tables

6. Unique and personalised designs

Move over cookie-cutter homes. Homes are now tailored to suit style from the beginning. We are seeing this more and more as the standard blocks of houses can now be customised with additions of arches and use of materials in the facade alone. Personalisation of homes also include:

• Custom floor plans suited to needs and lifestyles
• Personal colour palettes, materials, and finishes
• Unique built-ins and architectural details
• Features reflecting cultural heritage and personal history

One of our favorite ways to personalise a home is by adding a little corner of your own unique hobby or speciality. For example a music space, mini art gallery, hobby collection space filled with colours and details specific to your style.

These small selection of building trends are a sure fire bet to set your house apart while creating a home truly unique to you. And the best bit, most of these trends can be inexpensive decisions for long lasting homes.

Photography by Andy Macpherson Studios, Architecture by Shaun Lockyer & Builder Black Developments

Need some design inspiration to get you started? Discover Big Ass Fans Haiku Living for over 80+ pages of design featuring their Haiku ceiling fan.

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