6 Residential Design Trends To Watch

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, hosted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) in Las Vegas February 25-27, Interior Design Editor in Chief Cindy Allen talked industry trends with a panel of esteemed designers. Joined by Alison Damonte, principal of her namesake firm, Goil Amornvivat, principal and founder of AMMOR Architecture, and Bahar Zaeem and Shima Radfar, principals and cofounders of Toronto-based RZ Interiors, Allen offered insights into six key residential design trends. Hint: There’s no shortage of visual intrigue via kitchens, curves, and color.

Read on to discover how designers are approaching home interiors and see highlights from Interior Design‘s KBIS panel, “Tomorrow: Innovation, Resilience, and Growth.”

Explore Top Residential Design Trends

Personalizing The Impersonal

“What’s your secret sauce?” Allen asked panelists. For Damonte, color plays a large role. “I’ve always loved color and I’ve always had confidence in using color,” she shared. “I’ve gotten more confident in telling clients I think it needs to be colorful.” Whether using unexpected pops, such as pink tile grout, or creating fresh patterns with various materials, Damonte’s work leans into the element of surprise. As for Amornvivat, the key to original designs often lies in the client’s wishlist. “We like to break the code; we look for the DNA of what it’s all about,” he said, noting that the firm’s “secret power” is listening to clients. From incorporating a client’s vintage furnishings to repurposing original details from a home’s existing structure, careful listening continues to deliver results.

Connecting With Nature

When it comes to great design, natural elements offer a sense of calm, especially in urban scapes like New York or Toronto. “We do a lot of indoor-outdoor kitchens,” shared the design duo from RZ Interiors, noting that these spaces maintain their function in Toronto’s cold winters. Clear sight lines into a home’s backyard also offer a means of bringing the outdoors in as do home accents, like pool furniture placed strategically indoors.

Honoring Historic Builds

Panelists agreed refreshing historic structures is a labor of love, though RZ Interiors admittedly shared that they work mostly on new builds given client demand in Toronto. Amornvivat and Damonte, however, encounter plenty of interest in historic renovations. From prewar New York apartments with quirky details to a 1960s Berkley home, the panelists shared some of their most memorable home updates, noting the design gems that result from preserving original accents and character.

Sinuous Shapes

Curved furnishings and architectural details are all the rage, shared Allen, to which panelists enthusiastically agreed. “The investment home market is very saturated in Toronto so homeowners want something new,” said Zaeem and Radfar, noting the interest in fresh forms and curated aesthetics. Most requests to add a touch of flair center on the main floor of a home and primary bedroom, the RZ Interiors team shared. From arched doorways to sinuous sofas, there’s no shortage of visual intrigue on display in residential design.

Optimal Organization

From tiny apartments to expansive homes, organizational systems matter. “Everything is storage—clients want nothing on countertops,” agreed panelists. “They’re always looking for the cubby, looking for places to hide stuff” added Amornvivat, noting that in Manhattan, a serene home carries extra importance given the intensity of the city.

Kitchens In All Shapes And Sizes

Kitchen design remains a high priority for clients, said panelists, including homes with multiple prep areas as well as compact butler kitchens,. And no two kitchens are alike, creating a ripe canvas to showcase a touch of whimsy. “For someone in the music industry, I added personality into the kitchen with tiles that mimic the look of records,” said Damonte. The growing interest in expressive kitchens reflects the shifting role of the space in the home as prep areas invite visual intrigue and speak to each homeowner’s taste.