There are so many cool things that people can do to their homes it's no wonder that the popular remodels change from year to year. For a long while everyone wanted a bar. Then vinyl siding, hardwood floors, and now granite. New changes are on the horizon; some you may have heard of and some that might surprise you.
First Things First
Before you get too excited about the new trends and how badly you want them, first you need to consider some of the broad strokes.
What it your budget? Many types of remodels can be done in phases, like flooring, paint, etc. so you need to decide if you have the budget to do this all at once or in steps.
Addition or Remodel? Will this home upgrade need to be in the form of remodeling an existing room or an addition? If adding on, will you be building out or building up?
Family Flow These remodels will not happen overnight, so you need to determine with your contractor how long this remodel will take and if the flow of your household will be too interrupted during a certain time of the year.
Big Remodels
Home Theaters: Bring the Big Screen into Your Home
You might have seen these additions on television in the homes of the super rich, but in reality, home theaters are not that difficult to install. Typically, a contractor will install a few platforms if you want stadium seating. The rest is about sound systems, televisions, and wiring. Of course, you will want to wire for surround sound to have the full theater effect. Whether you choose a big screen TV, Hi-Def, or projection screen is up to you. Some people have used recliners as their seating, others love seats, and still others have found actual theater seats to complete the room.
Outdoor Kitchens from the Southern States
Outdoor kitchens have been popular in the warmer climates like Texas and Arizona, simply because homeowners there can enjoy them year round. However, this trend has become so popular that outdoor kitchens have moved out of the warmer climates and are quickly catching on everywhere.
Outdoor kitchens have grills, stovetops, ovens, sinks, small refrigerators, disposals, and anything else your indoor kitchen might have. Gone are the days of running back and forth from the kitchen to the grill when you are entertaining outdoors. If you live in an area that freezes during the winter, you need to have your outdoor kitchen winterized before the first cold snap.
Small Remodels
Cypress Hardwood Flooring
Cypress has come on the flooring scene rather quickly and can already be found in many new homes. Cypress has the same hardness of hickory and the same ability in that it has many different colors, so no matter what the color scheme in your home, cypress floors are sure to match.
Concrete Staining
The great thing about staining concrete is that once stained it will not scratch, chip, or need to be restained. Concrete staining is a sharp, inexpensive method to give a little style and color to those bleak concrete pads in your garage, basement, patios, or sidewalks.
Today's Trends
These are just a few of the trends that are on their way up. Of course, granite is still popular, as are wood cabinets and copper gutters. This article was designed to inform homeowners on the new options available this year and the catch on to what has been catching on.