Home remodeling surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent study, the home improvement market reached a whopping $281 billion in 2021—and it’s only expected to continue growing throughout 2022.
Even before the pandemic, home improvement spending has been on a steady incline, so it’s not too surprising that homeowners are on track to spend more than ever this year. In the summer of 2020, home improvement service Porch.com tracked 330 million Google searches (yes, you read that right) for home improvement work—up almost 40 percent from the same period in 2019.
Why? One word: Necessity. We’ve all been forced to use our houses more (and differently). Your prospects are working from home, homeschooling, and spending more time indoors than ever. They need to tweak their spaces to accommodate their new routines—and they’re going to turn to a local contractor to get the job done right.
So, how can you stay on top of the latest trends? Here are the top homeowner projects in 2022 so you can outpace the competition and grow your home remodeling business.
What’s the best way to find out what local homeowners want? See what they’re searching online. On Houzz, searches for home offices have increased by 108 percent year after year—and they’re not showing any sign of slowing down.
It’s no secret that homeowners have switched to remote work during the pandemic, and many businesses have announced the shift to permanent remote work models. So, what does that mean for your home remodeling company? The workforce will continue to embrace remote work in 2022 and beyond. It’s time to stop pushing home offices to the side. They’re here to stay.
According to data scientists at Ladders, 25 percent of all professional jobs in the United States will be remote by the end of 2022, and more remote opportunities will arise through 2023. From guest bedroom transformations to build-out exterior rooms, the demand for home offices—and other productivity-focused spaces—will only continue to increase.
We’re spending more time at home than ever, so it makes sense that homeowners want to get more use out of their spaces. At the same time, being forced to stay home has made homeowners acutely aware of their impact on the earth. Not only are they ditching single-use plastics and toxic cleaning supplies but they’re also decluttering their spaces. In 2022, more homeowners will invest in sustainability-minded improvements that match their lifestyle habits, from smart appliances to hot tubs. You might already know about cork, but there are other eco-friendly options to keep your eye on. In 2022, mindful materials will be your secret weapon to staying top of mind.
At the end of the day, your prospects want functional spaces for remote learning, entertaining, and other activities. The home isn’t just “home” anymore—it’s also the workplace, school, yoga studio…you name it. Taking cues from minimalist design and multipurpose furniture in tiny homes, popular 2022 homeowner projects will include:
Let’s face it: Spending more time at home with our families usually comes with a lack of privacy. This year, that frustration is giving homeowners the extra push they need to finally put effort into their bathroom design.
In 2021, nearly half of U.S. homeowners changed the layout of their master bathroom as part of their home renovation project—and the popularity of bathroom improvements keeps growing. Those seeking extra privacy in a crowded home are investing in bathroom renovations to expand their space, boost their bathroom’s functionality, and transform their bathroom into a personal retreat.
Homeowners aren’t just building out their bathrooms—they’re also investing in practical upgrades (think: built-in storage units in bathroom cabinets, deep vessel sinks, walk-in showers, and better bathroom lighting). If innovative, functional bathroom renovations aren’t part of your service catalog, here’s your sign to shake things up.
Staying at home more has come with more realizations about the safety of our homes. Many households now have multiple generations under the same roof, and that means accommodating elderly family members and easing their day-to-day difficulties.
Of course, aging-in-place renovations are only going to increase as baby boomers age. By 2030, all U.S. baby boomers will be aged 65 or older—and this dramatic generational shift is changing the way people design and renovate homes. To this end, home improvement experts expect to see people renovating their homes for aging in place, complete with nonslip flooring, handrails, wider doorways, and more.
At the same time, more homeowners are taking preventive measures, installing HVAC units with “whole house” air filtration or antimicrobial tile to minimize bacteria. In markets affected by extreme weather, such as Houston and Miami, homeowners will spend between $600 and $2,300 in disaster preparedness home improvements in 2022 compared to just $300 annually.
The biggest up-and-coming kitchen design trend in 2022? The statement island. Your prospects have been using their islands as hybrid workspaces, classrooms, and kitchen prep areas. Now, they’re ready to level up their design with bold-colored cabinets, vibrant countertop colors, and statement pendant lights.
At the same time, homeowners who aren’t ready for a full-blown home office are upgrading their kitchen with a double island. Instead of one long kitchen island, they’re breaking their counterspace up into two smaller islands—one for kitchen prep and another for remote working.
Kitchen design trends typically have a longer shelf life than your average home renovation trends. The evolution is incremental, gradually adjusting until one trend falls out of favor and a new one emerges.
What does that mean for your company? It might seem like double islands are a passing trend, but jumping on island transformations now can set your contractor business apart from the competition—all while giving your prospects the added space they need to amplify their kitchen’s functionality.
The home improvement industry is constantly evolving—and you need to stay on top of the latest trends to grow your contractor business and dominate the competition.
After all, 2021 was a major year for home remodeling investments, and analysts expect home improvement spending to expand at a more robust pace in 2022. It might be the year when a potential customer finally commits to a bathroom remodel, home office addition, or aging-in-place renovations.
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