The Most Popular Home Design Searches in 2020, According to Houzz

published Dec 26, 2020
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Credit: Marni Epstein-Mervis (courtesy of Houzz

Amid a particularly turbulent year, many people took it upon themselves to create their own oases at home in 2020. At least, that appears to be the collective sentiment in popular home design searches of the year. The home and interior design company gathered insights from U.S. homeowners and design professionals to determine the top design trends during the coronavirus pandemic. The results? The desire to take advantage of the great outdoors and recreate cozy getaways at home were both major themes, reflecting a stir-crazy year spent under quarantine. 

Houzz gathered searches from between May and July of 2020 to determine the top trends this year. The company found that outdoor searches drastically doubled since last year, with major spikes in searches for above ground pools (up 192%), outdoor chairs (up 183%), outdoor pillows (up 122%), hammocks (up 122%), fire pits (up 96%), and porch swings (up 88%). A long summer also resulted in a spike in outdoor shade searches: Covered patios (109%), outdoor umbrellas (83%), gazebos (47%), and pergolas (38%) also experienced a spike. 

Along with the great outdoors, quarantine dwellers looked to recreate the ultimate staycation experience at home. Searches for getaway-inspired designs, like a cabin (up 124%)  or lakehouse (up 71%), experienced a massive spike in searches compared to last year.

Other top trending materials included batten and board siding (up 282%), corrugated metal roofs (up 222%), wicker (up 160%), and wrought iron railings (up 146%), while top trending colors included burgundy (167%), white (91%), and navy blue (55%). It’s been a very strange year, but it’s safe to say that many quarantine dwellers tried to make the best of the circumstances. With that, here’s to the continuation of creating our own little oases in 2021 and beyond.

Check out more of Apartment Therapy’s trend pieces for the new year: