Brutalist style and sensory gardens may seem at odds — but they are both hot home design trends that will rule 2024. At least, according to new predictions from Zillow.
Zillow analyzed nearly 300 home feature and design style keywords mentioned in listing descriptions, then compared those mentions to last year’s volumes to determine which have grown most in popularity.
“When certain keywords appear in a rising share of listings, it’s a signal that today’s homebuyers may be gravitating toward those features,” Zillow Home Trends Expert Amanda Pendleton said in a news release. “Savvy listing agents will highlight those trending, in-demand features when marketing a home for sale.”
Brutalist living room (via Zillow)
The keyword that’s grown most in frequency is “brutalism,” which is characterized by raw building materials and stripped-back interiors. Zillow saw a 452% increase in listing mentions for this minimalist mid-century style.
Another burgeoning trend is sensory gardens or pathways — therapeutic outdoor oases that stimulate the senses with varied textures, colors, scents, sounds and even tastes, like herbs or fruit trees. The term “sensory garden” grew in popularity by 314% in the past year.
Cold plunge pool (via Getty Images)
Outpacing hot tubs and Jacuzzis, cold plunge pools are trending, with mentions increasing by 130%. This wellness trend supposedly improves circulation and reduces inflammation, and it’s popping up more frequently on listings that boast spa-like amenities.
And when it comes to sporting courts, pickleball is undoubtedly the top trend of the year. The relatively small courts can be easily incorporated into backyards or multifamily developments.
“Pickleball courts have become a great selling feature because they appeal to athletes of all ages,” Joy Kim Metalios, a Zillow premier agent based in Connecticut, said. “I’ve seen homeowners converting their driveways into courts by using portable nets. Players with ultra-luxury homes are painting new pickleball lines on their sport courts or tennis courts. Since pickleball is such a social sport, an at-home court has become the latest entertaining feature, like an outdoor kitchen or a pizza oven.”
Mentions of pickleball courts increased by 64% on Zillow listings. Meanwhile, pickleball mentions on StreetEasy, Zillow’s New York City brand, skyrocketed by 100%.
A Murano glass chandelier featured in a bathroom (via Zillow via Getty Images)
Two art-related trends are also on the rise: Murano glass chandeliers and eclectic murals. Mentions of the handcrafted Italian light fixtures grew by 58%, while mentions of those statement murals increased by 18%.
On the flip side, home trends on their way out the door in 2024 include shou sugi ban, a Japanese technique of charring wood to create a weathered finish, that rose in popularity alongside the modern farmhouse fad of shiplap siding. Mentions of shou sugi ban in Zillow listings decreased by 69% over the past year.
Meanwhile, pandemic-era trends on the decline include the “cloffice” — a closet-slash-office — mentions of which decreased by 54%, as well as Tuscan kitchens, which fell by 45%.
An eclectic mural (via Getty Images)