Whether due to an obsession with home-improvement shows or for other reasons, renovation activity in the U.S. has reached record levels in the past few years. The Los Angeles Times presents some of the top trends that are being observed in the home-improvement sector, including wellness-focused design, high-tech home security, and online services.
Circadian Rhythm Lighting Tops the Home Wellness Trend List
Humans’ internal clocks (24-hour sleep-wake “circadian” cycles) were once timed to natural light. Now, we spend 90% of our time indoors, eternally bathed in faux blue light that can sabotage sleep patterns. Smart home systems increasingly incorporate adjustable color-temperature bulbs that shift from daylight blue to golden-warm nighttime hues that help the body power down.
Higher-end products include the Darwin Home Wellness Intelligence Network, which features sensor-triggered adjustments for circadian lighting, as well as air and water filtration systems. Lower-end light systems include the voice-activated Philips Hue.
Security Continues to Reign in the Home-Tech Field
“Home tech is booming in certain areas—anything to do with home security is massive right now: doorbells, security systems, cameras, garage door openers, lock sets …, ” said Grant Farnsworth, director of the Farnsworth Group, which manages the Home Improvement Research Institute.
Amazon bought video-enabled doorbell maker Ring in early 2018 for $1 billion, signaling a growing desire for such products.
The Rising Popularity of Online Services
“As labor becomes more scarce, it’s a pain to get a contractor on the line or just to show up—they’re slammed,” Farnsworth said. Enter such online services as HomeAdvisor that connect homeowners with local service professionals—from architects to appliance repair specialists.
Paintzen, an on-demand residential painting service, is a prime example of the online service trend. Its website walks customers through a project questionnaire, then offers a quote and dispatches a local painting pro. The company, based in New York, quickly expanded from its 2013 launch in a few major markets to the 11 it serves today, including Los Angeles.
DIYers Are More Likely to Be Millennials
“The younger the homeowner, the more likely they are to be a DIYer,” Farnsworth said. “A few years ago, there was a lot of rhetoric in the home-improvement industry that DIY was dead, that millennials will expect others to do things for them — not the case.”
Millennials, however, are taking a more “hybrid approach to DIY activity,” he said. “They’re doing some of the work, but seeking a contractor to help out in certain aspects.”
Seemingly unlimited design options (Home Depot lists more than 6,000 faucet choices) allows the group (or anyone) to put unique stamps on homes. “You now have the world at your fingertips, from a creativity standpoint,” Farnsworth said.
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