Page 77 - Lighting Magazine January 2020

NOW& NEXT with Nicole Davis
Home in 2020 Residential design trends to watch at the
beginning of the new decade.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey (HDTS) ex- amines data from hundreds of architecture firms each quarter to reveal emerging
trends in residential design. Results from the 2019 survey indicate four areas that are growing in popularity with homeowners and buyers across the country: accessibility, investment kitchens, outdoor living, and healthy homes.
Accessibility
As Baby Boomers get older, designing new homes – and retrofitting existing ones – with accessibility at the forefront is an important consideration.
And according to the HDTS, accessibility remains a popular factor for home layout design. Not only does this include easier accessibility within the home, but easier accessibility into and out of the home, single-floor design, finishing unfinished spac- es such as basements, attics, garages, and an open space layout/flexible floor plan.
Although accessibility is commonly associated with seniors, the concept is not just for the elderly. “All ages deserve a safe home,” says Mitzi Beach, in- terior designer and expert on aging in place. Even a younger person may become suddenly disabled by an accident or medical condition, and accessible so- lutions can increase their quality of life considerably.
In lighting, this means a few things: First is a focus on safety. Without proper lighting in areas such as stairs, garages, and bathrooms, the chance of an ac- cident increases.
“Bathrooms are potentially the most dangerous place in your home,” says Beach, who lends most of her interior design expertise to this area of the
Bathrooms with grab bars (or “hand assists”) as well as “comfort-height” toilets and – you guessed it – the right lighting can transform the space from potentially dangerous to safe haven. Photo courtesy of Mitzi Beach
ACCESSIBILITY REMAINS POPULAR FOR HOME LAYOUT DESIGN
Percentage of firms reporting “increasing” minus percentage reporting “decreasing.” Data from Q1 2019 compared to data from Q1 2018
■ 2018 ■ 2019 SOURCE: HDTS 2019
Easier accessibility within home
61%
Easier accessibility
into and out 50% 52%
Single-floor 43% 47% design
58% of home 40%
Finishing 46% unfinished spaces
Open space layout/ flexible floor
45%
(e.g., basements attics, garages)
plans 56%
january 2020 | enLIGHTenment Magazine 73