18 Home Renovation Trends for 2021

In the past year, there has been an incredible shift in the world’s everyday operation. Offices closed down, daily commutes stopped, and we did everything from education to working out in our homes. According to a study, 36.2 million Americans (which is 22% of the workforce) will be working remotely by 2025. This is an 87% increase from the number of remote workers before the pandemic. So, it should be no surprise that there were changes in renovation trends compared to previous years.

Home Renovation Trends for 2021 infographic

Here are some of the home renovation trends that we may see in 2021.

#1: Home Offices

Working from the kitchen table seemed like a great idea when you thought you would only be doing it for a few weeks. But now, it’s not as great a work-from-home solution as you thought it would. That’s why 2021 (and even beyond that) is going to see more home offices being added to renovation projects. More people are working from home than ever before, and they don’t want to take calls from the kitchen table. They need to have a dedicated office space. But even if you don’t have a spare room you can use for this purpose, there are plenty of creative ways that you can use construction tools to set up a space with some personality. In fact, one of the biggest trends on Pinterest in the past year has been “cloffices” (which is a closet that’s being used as an office).

#2: Work-from-Home Sanctuaries

Because more people are working from home, there will most likely be a growing demand for living/workspace renovations (whether it’s the transformation of bedrooms and bonus spaces to the building of custom home office structures on empty land). People will focus more on creating a functional space where they can live and work. This can include built-in furniture that can be tucked away or used for work and storage, or it can be about improving sound insulation in existing walls and other areas to create a good work environment.

People will want to spend more time designing a workspace that will maximize their concentration, motivation, and productivity. This can include things like location, colors, decorations, and furniture — all of which can have a profound effect on their mental and physical state. In fact, bright lighting has been shown to make people happier, ambient sounds can help people focus, while poor air quality can result in a drop in productivity.

#3: Multifunctional Rooms

Rooms that can be used for more than one (or even two) of the things we do in our everyday living will be more popular this year. This can include a guest room that that can be turned into an office or gym with IT components that can be used to teach yoga classes or conduct zoom meetings. And because more people are home, more time will be spent in the kitchen. Less eating out means more time behind the stove, so they need to make more room in this space. People want to create cooking spaces that will allow everyone to move through the room without creating a dead end. And in most cases, this means installing large kitchen islands that are big enough to take care of prepping, chopping, and serving at the same time.

#4: Extended Outdoor Living Spaces

Many people have been using construction tools to do an overhaul of their outdoor spaces. They’re adding hot tubs, pools, decks, and a lot more. People want to sit outside and watch things grow as the seasons change. Some of them even want to add outdoor spaces they can use all year round. This can include fireplaces or fire pits, patio/deck areas, and screened-in porches. Even outdoor kitchens have become more popular since the pandemic, and they can be as elaborate or as modest as you like. Some homeowners even add an outdoor refrigerator and dining area to their backyards, so they can create a more expanded space for entertaining. Other people invest in stovetops, counter space, and even appliances so they can have a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen.

Winter won’t last forever, and neither will the pandemic. So, people want to be able to host small outdoor gatherings again. Outdoor spaces have become more valuable in 2020, and this trend is expected to continue through 2021. Homeowners want their outdoor space to be as grand as what they have indoors — whether it’s adding a pergola, inground pool, or extra water features. And for many, the backyard has been moved into the forefront.

#5: Creating Bathroom Oases

Have you ever retreated into your bathroom in the past year just so you can get some quiet time alone? If you did, you’re not alone. Many experts say that with the right features, a bathroom can reduce stress. In fact, two in five homeowners (approximately 41%) who renovated their master bathroom said they only used that space for rest and relaxation. This will mean bathroom renovations that include soaking tubs, steam showers, as well as other smaller upgrades (such as aromatherapy shower heads and bathroom fillers that can hold a cup of tea or even a glass of wine).

Of course, no one can forget the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020. Grocery shelves had been cleared of all bathroom tissue, and bidets were selling out at home improvement stores. If you have never liked the idea of a bidet in your bathroom, that’s only the start of things. You can expect to see a number of new bathroom innovations in 2021, as homeowners put more focus on hygiene. Touchless appliances (including motion sensors for lighting) and smart temperature controls for bathroom floors will grow in popularity over the next year.

#6: Multigenerational Households

Home Renovation Trends for 2021

If the last year proved anything, it’s that togetherness and family are of the utmost importance. And this trend will continue into 2021, as more properties have been adopted with construction tools to accommodate grandparents, children, and even grandchildren. Families are living together in separate areas, so they can save money and have peace of mind when it comes to health care.

#7: Incorporating Green Solutions

There is going to be a stronger focus on incorporating green solutions in people’s homes — from adding solar panels or rainwater harvesting systems to stronger incentives for homeowners to add insulation and HVAC upgrades. This could bring in a boom of work for people in both the residential and commercial renovation industries.

There has been an eco-conscious movement that has been growing for years, and industry appears to be catching up. Aside from the environmental implications, many people felt it affect their budgets when they saw their new electric bills. And parents may be feeling it even more. Not only are many people working from home, but their kids are also spending time attending online classes, playing video games, and connecting with friends over the internet.

#8: Touchless Faucets

The demand for touchless faucets has skyrocketed in the last year, because products that offer worry-free and germ-free solutions are popular. For 2021, people will continue to tap into this kind of technology by offering hands-free and other smart faucets for residential kitchens.

#9: Entertainment Zones

In 2021, the use of contractor tools and supplies to create bars, media rooms, and outdoor entertainment spaces where friends and family can gather will increase. These areas have become more important as people spend more time at home, especially during the winter months. They want to have a warm and inviting area to which they can retreat.

#10: Soundproofed Spaces

Soft surfaces (such as carpeting) are back in style, because people want to limit the amount of sound that travels from one room to another. Even the laundry room isn’t off limits from soft surfaces and carpet. In fact, this space shouldn’t be overlooked because it can be good to have some soundproofing to silence the washing machine while you’re on a Zoom call.

#11: Background Worthy of Your Many Zoom Calls

Since the pandemic, your walls have become the unexpected star of many meetings and virtual happy hours. So, many people are dressing up their walls, which can go beyond putting on a new coat of paint. A striking look can be a way to add life to any room, which can include:

Floral wallpaper.
Fabric upholstery.
Textured finishes.
Blank walls.

All of these traits can become eye-catching built-ins for all your Zoom calls.

#12: Home Gyms

Many people are creating dedicated spaces for working out at home. In fact, treadmill sales have skyrocketed in the last year. They want to have their own gym inside their leisure properties, and that trend is expected to increase in the future.

#13: Built-In Storage

As we spend more time organizing our living spaces, we want to add more custom millwork to playrooms, closets, and pantries. Busy parents and home cooks are looking for butler pantries, because it’s a place where they don’t mind hiding away from the kids.

#14: More Natural Light

Live-work areas with a lot of natural sunlight are important to boosting productivity and staying positive, so it’s no surprise that windows and skylights have seen an increase in sales during the past year. More people are also choosing to add blinds and automation, so they can make the daylight experience more comfortable.

#15: Tiles and Porcelain

Because many people are spending their time at home, making visual upgrades has become a major part of home renovation trends. Large-format tiles can make a small space seem larger, so their use has been increasing. But there’s another bonus to this trend. Because there are less grout lines, there’s less visual clutter. It’s even easier to clean, which can be another advantage. Large tiles are being used in a number of classic patterns (such as herringbone, stacked, and brick). If you decide to go with large rectangular tiles for an area like a bathroom floor, go with a matte finish because it will give you some slip resistance. Many designers have also been building counters and floors with porcelain, which only absorbs about 0.1% of bacteria. So, it’s one of the safest materials on the market. Using extra-large format porcelain tiles instead of slabs of marble is a popular choice that’s also practical.

#16: Natural Wood Finishes

Lighter woods (such as oak) will continue to be popular well into 2021 as farmhouses and Japandi-inspired spaces start to take over, but people are going smaller. Instead of the extra-wide planks that have been popular in the last few years, there’s a growing movement toward medium-sized planks that are about five to six inches in width.

#17: Matte Black Finishes

In the past year, traditional chrome has taken a proverbial backseat to matte black fixtures and tiles. It has become a more mainstream option in bathrooms and kitchens, because people want the luxury and relaxation of a large tub as well as the modern look of a matte black shower to draw more attention to the room.

#18: Vinyl Flooring

Because family households have become fuller (due to people staying home more often), there’s a growing need for flooring options that are more family-friendly. And vinyl is both durable and waterproof. It’s also a great alternative to hardwood floors that’s easier to install and maintain. Homeowners who have to deal with flooding or want to protect their floors from being affected from wet boots can see this as a viable option as well.

Trends That Are Going Away

Here are some of the renovation trends that are going away in 2021:

Open Floor Plans — Since the pandemic, many people learned the hard way that every part of your living space needs to be in the same area.
Single-Purpose Spaces and Furnishings — Having rooms and furnishings that are used for a single purpose are becoming less fashionable. Dining rooms aren’t just for dining anymore. But even when your home can double as so many spaces, it’s important to keep some level of separation for your own sanity.
Fast Furniture — The appeal of inexpensive furniture and accessories that aren’t made well enough to use over the long term has been declining. People are customizing rooms to create a more accurate, flexible, and adaptive living space.
Minimalism — During a pandemic, less isn’t more. So, the trend toward minimalism is on its way out and will be replaced by more layered, collected, and eclectic spaces.
Neutrals — Because the maximalist look is coming back, it’s no surprise that neutrals are on their way out. People are starting to move toward more color, visual appeal, and playful designs.
Faux Anything — This year, people are going to move away from plastic and man-made materials to what looks more organic and natural.
Slipcovers for Sofas and Chairs — Because high-tech, stain-resistant fabrics are becoming more widely available on most upholstery furniture, there’s less of a need for washable slipcovers.
Terazzo — While this kind of tile has been popular in bathrooms and kitchens, it has started to become dated.
Mid-Century Modern — This design trend has been overplayed and overdone. People are moving more toward the art deco design of the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Dark Colors — Many people will continue to work from home in 2021, so multipurpose rooms are becoming more of a necessity. Dark colors limit the use of a space. And without expert lighting, a dark room is less adaptable.

If you’re looking for a place to buy construction tools online, feel free to browse through the broad selection we have at Engineer Supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tools are used in construction?

Home Renovation Trends for 2021

Construction workers have to use a variety of tools to perform a variety of tasks, which can include but may not be limited to:

Concrete
Masonry
Leveling
Woodwork
Floor work
Slab work
Bricklaying
Plastering

Every tool they use is necessary if construction workers want to get the best results.

What is the most important tool used in construction?

Finding the right constructor tools and supplies will depend on the materials with which you plan to work. Many of them can be used for wood, drywall, stone, or concrete (along with other materials). But there are a few tools with broader applications in construction that are important to have.

What kind of power tools do contractors use?

Some of the power tools used by contractors include but may not be limited to:

Cordless drills.
Chop saws.
Circular saws.
Table saws.
Impact drivers.
Orbital sanders.
Nail guns and air compressors.
Jigsaws
Oscillating cutters.

If you’re looking for one of the best places to buy construction tools online, be sure to browse through our inventory.

What kind of tools should every contractor have?

Contractors use a wide range of tools to complete their work, because they have to perform a variety of tasks. Every tool they use is important to achieving the best possible results. But aside from the contractor tools and supplies they use on the job site, they also need to have some safety tools to keep them from getting hurt in the event of an unexpected accident.

Where can I buy quality contractor tools and supplies?

If you’re looking for one the best places to buy construction tools online, you can find what you need at Engineer Supply. We have a variety of products from some of the best manufacturers in the industry, and we can offer them to you at a reasonable price. Feel free to look at what we have in stock, so you can find a product that will meet your specific needs.