New construction trends for 2025
If you are someone in the market for new construction or just love design like I do, you’ll probably love hearing about what’s trending in the new home market. Each year, all over the country in larger metropolitan areas, builders host a parade of homes, showcasing the latest in new construction in all price points.
Exterior trends
A lot of stone
If you’ve driven past a new construction neighborhood in the last few years, you’ve largely seen all white exteriors. Many times the brick was painted white or a lot of new construction homes have been using board and batten. Well now, I’m seeing more color (yay!) on exteriors and a lot of stone.
You have to be careful when choosing stone because it can be so demanding in terms of the color palette options you have. A limestone like you see in the photo above is the most neutral and versatile choice and one I would recommend.
More color
If you’re tired of the all white exterior, you’re not alone and builders are starting to get the memo, while there were still plenty of white homes, I did see color used far more frequently than in years past. Blue and dark gray/blues were used a lot as were lighter toned neutrals and even soft sages.
More white windows than black
I knew the black window trend wouldn’t last forever, and if the homes I visited are any indication, it seems builders and homeowners are starting to default back to using white windows. I actually only think I saw a small handful of homes that had black windows, the rest were white.
Now, of course this is a controversial take, because if you’ve made the decision to go with black windows you obviously feel very strongly about them, however, if you want my opinion in terms of the most timeless window option, the answer is always a white window for a lighter home.
Interior trends
Open concept
Open concept floor plans are nothing new, and the homes I toured were very open concept. Almost as if you can see everything as soon as you walk in the house. Now, this has pluses and minuses of course, but it overwhelmingly this layout is the most popular.
Dedicated office
With the work from home trend only increasing a dedicated home office is pretty much a standard in new construction. In the overly open-concept floor plans I saw, this was the only space that was a bit tucked away on the main floor.
Black fixtures still huge
While builders and homeowners may be moving away from black windows they don’t seem to be moving away from using black fixtures all throughout the home. Black knobs and pulls and plumbing fixtures are the most popular choice right now, but I was happy to snap this photo:
I also noticed a lot of gold fixtures and these have been trending for a while and aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
Because you do have choices, and if you’re wondering what my choice is for the most timeless look it’s going with either polished nickel, chrome or unlaqured brass.
The color black
Does anyone remember why we tired so fast of the gray trend? It wasn’t because gray is just the worst neutral in the world, it’s because we way overused gray.
Gray flooring, gray countertops, gray cabinets, gray furniture, gray decor, etc. Well guess which color is the new (not so new it’s been trending for a few years now) gray? Black!
Mark my words, black will soon go the way of gray and everyone will be rushing to remove black from their home.
Builders are still embracing black heavily. I saw black staircases, plumbing fixtures, lights, accent walls, door handles, knobs/pulls, fireplaces. Way too much black!
Expansive kitchen island
A large kitchen island is pretty much standard these days and aids in the ease of entertaining friends and family and doubles as an impressive work station. Most islands had a sink in them and honestly, unless you have an overly large space, this is the most practical design decision.
Gray and white cabinets
I was pretty bummed to see cool gray colors back on a lot of kitchen cabinets. I think in an effort to get away from the all white kitchens that some people tend to be tiring of, builders are bringing back gray.
Gray is a perfectly great choice, but it’s warm grays that are the more classic look here. Cool gray colors especially when paired with a lot of black and stark white walls start to look too clinical.
Quartz is still king
Quartz is not going anywhere in terms of popularity, as most of the homes I toured featured a warm white quartz. I did see some dark quartzite that was pretty, but a bit hard to make work in terms of choosing a suitable backsplash.
When you’re going with Quartzite, which is a natural material, because it has a lot of movement and variation, the best paring for your backsplash. is to just wrap the material on the walls as well.
Subway tile
I saw a lot of subway tile used for the kitchen backsplash and honestly, this was one of the best design decisions I noticed. Subway tile is so versatile and so easy to design around. There are also many price points of subway tile, too, and the handmade subway tile is elegant enough for luxury kitchens.
Accent walls
Accent walls have been trending off and on for years and from what I saw during the new construction tour, they’re very big right now. Accent walls are another design decision that gets people pretty heated. Here’s my take: If you want to do an accent wall in a contained main living space, you should go all in. Do all four walls and really embrace it.
Accent walls on a fireplace wall is a good compromise in an open concept space where you want some color but you don’t want to overwhelm the space.
I saw a lot of accent walls in bedrooms, and I don’t mind doing just one wall in a bedroom, although again, if you have the budget, the biggest impact will be if you do all four walls.
A lot of white walls
White walls are really trending and besides accent wall colors, this was really the only color I noticed in the new construction homes I toured.
They are so trendy that I often have clients think unless they are doing white walls their home won’t be fresh and modern. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Truth be told, many homes have fixed elements that are simply too earthy for white walls. Instead these homes demand warmer neutrals to make the space look fresh and modern. You know what really dates your home and makes it look out-of-date? Pairing stark white walls with earthy or tuscan finishes.
White walls are so tricky. and unless you are decorating with a lot of white or have an art and fabrics budget in the tens of thousands, are very hard to pull off. Many times they end up looking too cool and clinical for a home.
If you’re building a new home today, even if you have very timeless finishes, I’m inviting you to look at warmer neutrals for walls. Even off-whites can be hard to pull off well without a large decorating budget. Warm neutrals are where it’s at!
Trim work
I noticed a lot of trim work on the walls, which I love and will always recommend. Nothing will give your space character faster than trim work; especially in a new construction home. Board and batten, shiplap, and more complex trim designs were everywhere.
Although I didn’t observe this in the spec homes I toured, moody wall colors are big right now in home design. Do you know the secret to pulling off these dramatic colors? Trim work!
Neutral spaces with wooden tones throughout
Black and white interiors with tiny splashes of color are still the most popular look but I was pleasantly surprised to see more wooden tones throughout, which really helps to warm up the black and white trend.
Upstairs loft
Engineered wood in light brown tones
Every single home in each price point had engineered wood, which I think is a very practical design choice. ASK DANIEL
Mismatched stone/tile and paint colors
It was no surprise to see that a color consultant hadn’t been consulted when all the hard finishes and I saw a barrage of undertones in each space. A lot of taupe flooring in bathrooms paired with too cool cabinet colors or countertops.
Too many white walls in bathrooms that would have been better in a warm neutral to pick up on the neutrals in the space…this is why it’s so important to get your fixed elements right, color and undertone wise!
A focus on outdoor living
Outdoor living and creating indoor/outdoor spaces to facilitate ease of entertaining has been huge since the pandemic and only continues to get bigger. I love this trend and personally think the investment you make on the outside your home is never a bad choice.
Adding a large patio or screened in porch easily doubles your entertaining space! I’m so excited to see this trend continue.
