M
ixed materials, textures and technology are just a few
of the major home trends in 2018. Homeowners
are foregoing selling and updating their current
homes with fresh ideas and innovative technologies.
Thinking of upgrading a room or two? Check out 2018’s trends
in home features and furnishings.
SMART HOME
The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to a growing network
of devices that allows objects to connect and exchange data.
These devices are increasing at a rapid pace throughout many
industries. Wearables allow consumers to track their steps
and keep a closer eye on their fitness, and connected cars
are equipped with internet access to send information to
manufacturers or, as seen on the streets of Pittsburgh, to drive
themselves. The smart home is one of the most popular and
accessible markets for IoT application.
• Everything is connected: This can include heating and
cooling your home, turning on a light with a simple command,
locking your front door from work, even checking to see
if you have milk in the refrigerator from the grocery store.
These are all features that make up a smart home. The list
continues to grow, with ways to track and monitor everything
in your home. Devices are learning how you live—when you
get up and when you leave for work—and can adjust room
temperatures, turn off lights and safeguard your home. All of
which can be monitored from your smart device.
• Energy tracking devices: These devices connect to your
electricity meter to monitor how much energy you’re using,
from tracking appliance usage to providing recommendations
on how to save on energy. If cutting down on bills is on your
list for 2018, a household monitor or individual appliance
monitor may be just what you need.
• Residential electric vehicle charging stations: Growing
in popularity, hybrid and electric vehicles need somewhere
to charge up before hitting the open road. These charging
stations are accessible at home, allowing you to charge from
a typical household socket. With advancing technologies,
higher voltage charging stations are available to charge a car as
much as four times faster than a typical charging station.
• Importance of keeping IoT devices secure: IoT devices are
growing exponentially, and security features aren’t necessarily
keeping up. There are only a few regulatory standards set in
place for IoT devices, elevating risk for security breaches. It’s
important to always authenticate your devices with unique
usernames and passwords.
OUTDOOR
Outdoor trends for 2018 are focusing on using nature to
nurture. From flower gardens and modern green spaces to
reflection pools and water features, outdoor spaces are bringing
serenity to your home. Create an outdoor living area that calls
you in with cushioned sectionals, accent pillows and outdoor
rugs that are inviting and functional. Add a focal piece such as a
fireplace or fire pit to add warmth and a relaxing ambiance to the
space.
• Patios that add style: When choosing your concrete style,
less is more. Paving in sections allows you to add interest to
the space. Whether it’s using a combination of concrete and
grass, or concrete and gravel, add depth and dimension by
varying shapes or sizes of concrete sections.
• Back decks get a facelift: Decks are getting a lot of love and
attention this year with more people wanting to spend their
time entertaining outdoors. Add multiple levels to a deck to
create separate spaces for dining, cooking, and relaxation.
No room for adding on to your deck? Get the same effect
by grouping different types of furniture together to create
distinction between the spaces. Water features are also making
a splash this year. Small whimsical fountains have a calming
flow of water to bring serenity to any area. Looking for more?
Create your own outdoor spa, with a hot tub integrated into
your deck design.
• Trends in landscaping: With homeowners spending more
time outside, ambiance is important. Whether you have a
sprawling lawn or a quaint space for outdoor living, creating
a welcoming space can be easy. Smaller areas should make
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