Top 3 Architectural Trends for 2023

01.05.2023

The concept of home as a place to live may stay the same year after year, but the way in which families choose to live changes over time. These nuances of day-to-day life impact our architecture and drive trends from year to year. Below, we’ve identified the top three trends we anticipate for 2023, which are a direct result of what we’re hearing our clients request and what we’re modifying in our floorplans.

1. The changing role of the pantry and kitchen

In 2023, pantries are no longer just for storage. We are increasingly asked to include significantly upgraded pantries that provide room for messy meal preparation, cooking, refrigeration, and storage adjacent to the main kitchen. Many of these pantries are nearly transforming into secondary kitchens unto themselves, allowing the main kitchen to function as a streamlined hub for serving more casual bites while entertaining.

Desirable kitchens will still feature prominent islands for gathering, but this year we will trend towards all appliances and clutter being hidden from view. Behind cabinetry that reads as fine furniture, appliances and utility will be totally masked. We see requests for raw, open shelving in the kitchen fading as the concept of the pristine social kitchen emerges. The drive for these changes may come from a desire to fashionably gather and entertain after so much separation during the pandemic.

2. A reconsideration of the primary bedroom suite

In the primary bedroom suite, we see a number of trends for 2023. First, we anticipate a continued trend towards dual closets for home-owning couples. These spaces often feature significant built-in cabinetry, islands, vanities, comfortable chairs for lounging and views beyond their walls, making them ideal individual retreats within the primary bedroom suite instead of mere spaces to store clothing.

Second, as closets begin to capture more square footage within the primary bedroom suite and to provide much of the utility of bedroom furnishings, the bedroom chamber itself will trend slightly smaller. While the primary bedroom will still be the most prominent bedroom within the home, its size will no longer indicate its dominance. Features including fireplaces, connection to outdoor decking or terraces, and elevated levels of millwork will all indicate its superiority.

Last, within the primary bathroom, we are seeing a trend away from soaking tubs. Many of our clients are opting to pass on the freestanding tub, choosing the luxury and utility of an oversized glass-enclosed shower with steam and varying spray features instead. In homes that may offer square footage for a tub, some clients are even opting for two smaller bathrooms within the primary bedroom suite in lieu of a large bathroom with a freestanding tub as focal point.

3. Future-forward thinking in the garage

Our last trend for 2023 sits at the intersection of electricity, technology, automobiles, and architecture. This year, we anticipate a trend towards wiring garages for electric cars, whether or not homeowners currently drive them. Increasingly our client base is thinking about owning electric vehicles, and as such our electrical walk-throughs provide for this capacity. Older homes often require upgrading overall electric service to support a charging port, and location of the port within the structure must be considered. We anticipate the request for charging ports to become commonplace within the next 5-10 years.

If these thoughts of architectural trends for the coming year have you thinking about your own home’s needs, contact us to learn how we might approach the challenge. In the interim we invite you to find inspiration in our portfolio.