It’s been a dramatic year for the construction sector, with shortages of raw materials post-Brexit and post-pandemic putting a dampener on big plans and projects and slowing down completion rates – but for many, the hopes of having their dream home built from the ground up is still well and truly alive.
If you’re one of the many affluent individuals looking to create a bespoke living space for you and your family – or perhaps just having your current home completely overhauled – then getting the ball rolling can often feel like the hardest part, and knowing exactly you want to achieve can feel like a mammoth task in itself.
Taking note of some of the latest trends in home construction and design is a great way to gain an understanding of what others are doing, and could help bring your vision to life, as well as ensuring you make the right decisions for the long-term.
A true sense of luxury is about functionality and comfort, as well as a stunning aesthetic. We asked the experts at Scrooz Fasteners to share what’s been shaping the industry this year, as well as what you should consider when having a luxury home built or renovated in 2023.
Natural light
The pandemic saw us all spending more time at home, and shone a spotlight on the need for natural light in our living spaces. Important for regulating our circadian rhythms and helping us to be more productive when working from home, creating brighter, lighter spaces has become a key trend in luxury home construction and design. And its power to increase a sense of spaciousness is also not to be overlooked, as well as its ability to help you feel more connected with nature and the outside world.
High ceilings, open spaces and large windows are all key components of this timeless trend, which will almost certainly never fall out of fashion. Exuding a sense of modern elegance, adding a skylight or doing away with heavy curtains in darker rooms, or replacing an entire wall with sliding glass doors, are all excellent ways to achieve it.
Sustainability and energy efficiency
These two words go hand in hand in 2022, with climate change and surging energy prices both key concerns for homeowners. It doesn’t matter how many zeroes there are on your bank account balance; none of us want to be spending more than necessary on gas and electric, and if it’s possible to keep bills to a minimum as well as boosting your home’s eco-credentials, then why wouldn’t you?
Raw materials like stone, wood and glass are enjoying an increase in popularity in luxury homes as we seek to make more sustainable choices, and as aesthetically pleasing and durable options, it’s not a difficult switch to make. And we’re also seeking to better insulate our homes and create an airtight envelope to keep heat in and cold out, with materials like hemp, cork and ecological wood all good choices to consider.
Ultimately, it’s about choosing effective materials that will do the job well and stand the test of time, and as the breadth of choice on the market continues to grow and competition becomes increasingly fierce, it’s easier now to find them than it ever has been before.
Smart home technology
Smart home technology is transforming the way we live, and putting convenience and accessibility at the heart of home life. This is particularly true of luxury residences, with affluent homeowners embracing integrated smart tech wholeheartedly, integrating automation through indoor and outdoor communication networks to put them in control of their abodes – and all at just a few clicks of their smartphone.
It’s now possible to control everything from lighting and heating to blinds, curtains and security cameras via a smartphone app, with the likes of Google Nest and other comparable home systems changing the game. The luxury real estate market hasn’t wasted a moment in jumping on board, with most new high-end homes now incorporating some form of smart home technology – so don’t consider having yours built or renovated without it. You’ll likely wonder how you ever lived without it.