Fresh Home Improvement Trends to Give Your Business a Spring Boost

Spring is about new beginnings. Many homeowners are looking to hit reset after emerging from chillier weather and start home improvement projects they’ve been thinking about since the close of 2021. It’s the season for flowers, showers and remodelers.

Photo: courtesy Yurmary / stock.adobe.com

The promise of warmer temps and increased hours of sunlight has many homeowners looking to create refreshed spaces for warm-weather gatherings. And as many continue to spend time at home in the wake of the pandemic, spring is an ideal time for homeowners to focus on renovations to improve their homes’ spaces and foster happiness and well-being.

While the home improvement sector continues its year-over-year gains, certain additions and renovations will be in highest demand as mercury climbs upwards. “Many of these popular upgrades can be substantial investments, but also drive resale value,” said Hans Zandhuis, head of Ally Lending. “Offering clients feasible and flexible financing options allow customers to pre-qualify quickly with no impact to their credit and select a plan that works for their budget, tackling projects and closing deals sooner.” So, whether prospective clients are looking to upgrade curb appeal, market value, or simply enjoy their homes even more, here are some trends to watch for as home improvement professionals this spring.

Bring the office home

With remote work and hybrid workplaces here to stay, homeowners are exploring ways to merge work and home. Would-be clients may look to you for home office improvements, trading kitchen counters and tables for professional, dedicated spaces.

Purposeful spaces like home offices are on the minds of many: Searches for home offices increased by 108% in 2021, according to the 2021 Houzz Emerging Home Design Trends Report. Homeowners will look to transform under-used rooms, secondary living spaces, and breakfast rooms into custom office spaces with built-ins, smart boards, projectors, and wet bars. Stay on trend by focusing on these high-tech and productivity-driven improvements in your proposals 

Enhance space and outdoor living 

Always a popular option in warmer months, demand for outdoor spaces rose from 61% to 70% in the last year, according to an American Institute of Architect’s 2021 survey. And industry analysts expect this trend to continue in 2022. 

Interest in alfresco renovations demonstrates an excellent opportunity for home improvement businesses to grow their bottom line. Most experts believe that homeowners are more likely to invest in outdoor living spaces this year, making the outside one of the hottest spots to remodel in 2022. 

Outdoor living is all about bringing the indoors out. As a home improvement professional, that may mean introducing shade through awnings, temperature control through outdoor fans and heating elements from a functional perspective. Your conversations with prospective clients should also include things like outdoor showers, fire pits, and extensive permanent seating and dining areas. 

If your clients are planning outdoor kitchens, be sure to offer features such as high-end grills, refrigerators, and wine coolers and incorporate outdoor kitchen spaces with of-the-moment architectural features such as French or folding doors. As for finishing, consider more organic and natural materials such as ipe and travertine. 

Make sustainable and eco-friendly improvements

Homeowners are increasingly prioritizing sustainable and recycled materials when remodeling their homes. You may already know about cork, but there are other earth-friendly options to keep your eye on in the home improvement space. 

Photo: courtesy Iriana Shiyan / stock.adobe.com

Go further by finding and emphasizing materials that are non-toxic and sturdy in addition to sustainable and eco-friendly. Consider metal for railings and countertops and bioglass, made of post-consumer recycled glass, for sinks, walls, and even flooring. Keeping these newer, innovative, and mindful materials in your portfolio along with the flexibility of home improvement financing opportunities will keep you top of mind for prospective eco-friendly clients and homeowners. 

Go Japandi 

Spring home improvement trends aren’t just about what homeowners are looking for but also what these renovations look like too. Along those lines, Japandi, a mix of Japanese organizational and functional design with Scandinavian minimalism, is a design trend to watch in home design and redesign.

Building on eco-friendly foundations, think of sustainable materials in your client-builds such as recycled plastic and bamboo and natural dyes and paints. And blend function and design with built-ins and shelving to minimize clutter and emphasize natural light with large windows and skylights.

Flesh out the kitchen and bath

Among the most common room renovations, kitchen and bathrooms are traditionally some of the first places homeowners remodel. So, it’s no surprise that Zillow found more than half of homeowners surveyed would consider a bathroom renovation next year. It’s clear it will continue to be a popular ask from would-be customers this spring.

Bathrooms and kitchens can also be some of the more expensive rehabs, so you’ll want to make sure these fashionable projects are feasible and economical by offering your would-be customers flexible plans and payment choices.  

Many home renovation experts also see bold and textured finishes as significant trends to watch in the kitchen, bath, and overall home interior redesign space. Think statement and unique wallpapers with bold color contrasts between countertops and backsplash. When pitching texture with clientele, explore texture fabric applications, faux finishes like brick walls, and grasscloth to add dimension and visual interest to a room.

Homeowners are also expecting greater performance from surfaces in their homes, and countertops remain a priority. More than one-third of surveyed homeowners reportedly “splurged” on countertops, according to the 2022 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. Options like solid acrylic surfaces that are seamless and offer durability and low maintenance are seeing a rise in demand.

Answer the rise in spending

2021 was already a banner year for consumers investing in home remodeling projects, and analysts expect spending for home improvement and repairs to expand at a more robust pace this year. And while many signs point to this boom peaking in 2022, these gains in remodeling and home improvement expenditures will continue to rise until year-end. 

What does this mean for home improvement professionals? This could be the year that a potential customer finally commits to a kitchen makeover, a sunroom addition, a home office, or the party-perfect outdoor room. But with these extensive spring refreshes on the brain, many homeowners and prospective clients might not know how to make it all affordable. 

As home renovation spending continues to climb, consider adding attainable and affordable financing options like Ally Lending for your future clients. By providing clients pay-over-time, flexible solutions, you can help them conquer the most significant spring projects, builds and trends.