Home life is changing, according to a recent survey of the International Furnishings and Design Association.
They surveyed nearly 2,000 members to find out what trends they expect to see for the American home. Interestingly, they forecast that formal living and dining rooms will become spaces put to many purposes, from home offices to entertainment areas and media rooms. That makes sense to me - when we moved into our home 6 years ago, we didn't see the need for a formal dining room, since when our family gets together, mostly we center around the kitchen or eat at the everyday dining table (when we're not in front of the tv). ;-) A formal dining area would just be space we'd rarely use. And as we all know, space is an in-demand commodity in the home, so my husband and I turned the formal dining area into a game/entertainment/workout area - the room is put to great use and we've been very happy, not missing a formal dining area at all.
The survey also indicated that designers see furniture becoming more multi-purpose, with modular and moveable furniture being more popular than large or built-in pieces. Buying furniture that is multi-purpose can be money-saving, and in this economy, that's a plus.
They also pointed out that nearly everyone is working at home in some form or another, so having a home office is a necessity. I can agree. I can't imagine not having a home office area. Having a separate area to keep files and use the computer keeps the other areas of the house free from the paper clutter and most times, when I want something, I know where I can find it (even if I didn't remember to file it). Having a functional desk, a hutch, a couple of files, and some bookcases works for me. Although, somehow, I still have more books than can fit into the bookcases. But, that's for another blog.
Just wanted to share the forecast regarding the home trends of the future. Don't forget to check us out at www.oakforless.com for some furniture options that will complement your home.
