If luxury real estate auctions are any indication, the trends of today’s high-end estates are indicative of buyers’ values. The most common mansion auction will showcase design and architectural trends that are a direct response to the cultural changes of the time. In this article, we’ll go through the top 10 current trends for luxury real estate and how we’re seeing a shift in luxury estates towards minimalism, sustainability, and an emphasis on multifunctional use.
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Turnkey Properties and New Construction
Currently, in the market, there’s a demand for newly constructed properties as well as estates that have been completely remodeled. Luxury estate buyers aren’t as interested in putting in time and money to mold a property to their unique wants, they want it to be turnkey ready. As the price of luxury homes reaches an all-time high, developers are seeing how much the selling price can be increased when they list a home as brand new.
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Secondary or Additional Units
Working from home has proved to be more than a passing trend, many luxury estate buyers want a design that creates separateness in the home. Beyond ample bedrooms and a home office, most buyers are looking for a guest house or pool house within the property. Developers are now designing homes with rooms that can be repurposed into whatever specific space the buyer wants.
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Privacy
Luxury homeowners have always been a fan of privacy, but the current trend in 2022 takes it one step further. Now privacy is thought of as a deal breaker for many buyers due to the amount of time people are spending at home. Developers and architects are going to great lengths to address this trend, not only increasing privacy between properties but even within each room. Whereas a few years ago open floor plans were huge in the market, now segmented spaces reign supreme.
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Security Features
One may not think that security features are a trend for luxury estates, but 2022 has shown that gates, privacy fencing, high-tech security, and camera systems are becoming a central focus for buyers. As the world grows more erratic, this trend will most likely be here to stay.
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Sustainability
Sustainability has become highly attractive to luxury estate buyers, be it through solar panels and energy or energy-saving appliances, generators, and all kinds of solar-powered systems. Solar rooftop panels are a cost-effective addition that increases a property’s passive energy and reduces its carbon footprint. The trend of solar panels can be seen in luxury properties that are newly constructed as well as older homes that have been newly renovated.
Locally sourced materials have also come into fashion with luxury estates, as the international shipping times have increased, and sustainability has come to the forefront of buyers’ minds. We’re seeing materials like stone and wood being used in record numbers depending on the region of the home, which reduces the carbon footprint of the property and leads to increased interest from potential buyers.
LED lighting is furthering the sustainability trend, allowing the atmosphere of the room to be changed instantly while avoiding clutter or unnecessary fixtures. LED lighting lessens the carbon footprint of the home while increasing the inhabitant’s ability to design the mood of the room as it’s connected to smart technology. It offers flexibility and variation of the mood lighting in each room that can add romanticism, serenity, or energy depending on its level of intensity.
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Minimalist Design
Minimalism in luxury estate design and décor has been on trend for several years and continues to grow in popularity. Not to be confused with sparseness or emptiness, minimalism creates a clearer function of each room’s intended use with less clutter making it more livable. If we look at the chaotic nature of the last few years, it’s no surprise that buyers and designers are interested in a calm space made with high-quality materials that offer clean lines and simplicity.
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Feminine Vintage Décor
Designers are shifting décor and room design to softer, more gentle shapes that are rounded and offer femininity. There has been a shift toward vintage pieces that are rounded such as a c-shaped sofas, chairs, or soft-edged tables. It married both the trend of the 70s design aesthetic with the romanticism of contemporary design.
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Modern Flexibility
Whereas the Modern Farmhouse was the trend of 2021, the move towards transitional design with an edge is what’s popular in 2022. Particularly with millennials, we’re seeing traditional home design with the addition of greenery, water features, outdoor kitchens, and other flexible features that can suit a myriad of lifestyles.
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Surprising Color Accents
As luxury real estate moves further and further away from beiges, browns, and sand colors, we’re seeing the continued trend of white-and-black monochromaticity for exteriors. However inside, the newest color trend is accent colors that breathe life and depth into the property. From lilac to olive, dark navy to rich vivid red, the colors we’re seeing in the new definition of luxury estates are bright. Experts say that this is due to the need to feel an escape from life into a bold, joyful, even indulgent space that is free of stress.
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Larger, More Well-Designed Bathrooms
Since the pandemic, luxury estates have been designed with significantly larger bathrooms designed more like a spa than a traditional bathroom. This design trend comes as a response to the increased stress of post-pandemic life and offers property owners the space to unwind and relax. We’re seeing earthy materials such as granite and quartz countertop, with balanced lighting, with enough space to have multiple features all in a single room. Larger showers and freestanding soaking tubs, steam rooms, and saunas are becoming the new normal for luxury estate bathrooms.
Overall, the trends for luxury estates marry function with versatility, allowing those that live on the property to change their space from day to day. As we continue to spend more time at home, the introduction of nature into livable space through natural lighting, increased greenery, and indoor/outdoor features are trends that don’t seem to be going anywhere. Platinum Luxury Auctions is a company that focuses on auction luxury homes that have adopted many of these trends and meet buyers’ requirements with elevated elegance and beauty.
