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Home renovations in Silicon Valley often start trends for the rest of the nation. Trendsetters here are up on the latest features that can make your home more practical, comfortable, luxurious, and brag-worthy. We’ll look at Silicon Valley’s biggest trends in home renovation and what you can expect if you decide to include some of these trends in your own home, whether it’s undergoing major renovations or even if it’s a new build.

Smart Technology Trends

Of course, many who live in Silicon Valley are in touch with the latest smart technologies, which are worthwhile, and which are fads that don’t benefit your life as much as they promise too. The biggest smart technologies we see being added to homes in the valley include:

  • Circadian rhythm lighting: Our bodies naturally respond to the cycle of the sun, preparing for sleep as evening arrives, and waking up easier as the sun does. Our reliance on bright screens can interfere with this and make our sleep quality poor. Lighting that automatically mimics our circadian rhythms or response to the sun can significantly improve our sleep.

  • Smart sprinkler systems: It can be a struggle in the valley to use low amounts of water, but keep the law lush, and account for the occasional downpour or severe drought. The latest smart sprinkler systems can do all of that planning for you and keep your landscape lush and healthy.

  • Security systems: Monitoring your home and ensuring your family’s safety is significantly easier with the latest smart security systems on the market.

Gourmet Kitchens

The latest trends in gourmet kitchen design are all about materials and, of course, the kitchen island focal point. Consider these unusual countertop materials:

  • Stainless steel: Personal chefs will love this one, as it is so simple to clean.

  • Ceramic: Bright, glazed ceramic tile is a great material to get some color in the kitchen.

  • Butcher block: Not just wood, these countertops have a fantastic texture that adds character to minimalist kitchens.

  • Glass countertops: Glass makes for a huge statement piece, even if it does require a bit more maintenance than other materials.

It’s now common to pair any of these materials with something contrasting. Mixed materials are very in for several areas of the home, including the kitchen. For example, pair wooden cabinets with brass handles. Or, pair your solid backsplash in marble with a rustic wooden butcher block countertop.

Best Bathrooms

Bathrooms have become more important places in the home. We value them to get ready for our day and to relax or regenerate afterwards. The latest trends in bathrooms are all about getting back in touch with the luxury of a bathroom. There’s a new focus on features like seats in showers and towel warmers, that can help make your shower experience more pleasant.

If you want to take it a step further, one big trend is wet rooms. Each part of this portion of the bathroom space is designed to get wet, so you have more room to maneuver when showering and less stress about dripping everywhere. The key to these rooms is a drain in the center of the floor and a lack of a shower door or screen.

Some people aren’t into the idea of having an undefined shower space. Instead, they opt for a freestanding soaker tub that can give them all the room they need to relax and soak.

Lush Outdoor Spaces

Now more than ever, the outdoor space in a home is considered a part of the functional space. You should be able to enjoy it year-round, entertain in it easily, and use the space in any other way you want. To that end, outdoor kitchens are a huge trend. These give you a second cooking space that is more useful for when you’re entertaining, as you’re closer to the action. Plus, they can house unique appliances that you might not have space for in your indoor kitchen. Here are some unique options for your outdoor kitchen:

  • Smoker

  • Brick pizza oven

  • Grill

  • Oven

  • Half fridge or freezer

  • Dishwasher

  • Rotisserie

  • Warmer drawers

  • Sink

The layout of these appliances is very important, just as it is in a kitchen. It is best to work with a designer that has experience with gourmet kitchens, and not just landscaping, to get a functional outdoor kitchen.

Convenient Laundry Rooms

Laundry rooms have become more essential spaces over the year. More people are willing to give up space in another room to make doing laundry and keeping clothing well maintained much simpler. In an effort to make things even more straightforward, many people are moving their laundry room to the second floor to be closer to the bedroom. Why drag laundry up and down the stairs?

We’re also finding that people are adding more functional features to their laundry room, like large utility sinks and pet washing stations. If you have a cat, having a small cupboard in the space for a litter box can be a lifesaver too. Also, don’t forget to add some color and personality to your laundry room instead of leaving it minimalist, because that spice can make doing chores much more pleasant.

Beautiful Bedrooms

We can’t skip over bedrooms, especially master bedrooms. Home renovators have begun to add secondary rooms onto the master suites to serve specific functions that you might otherwise want to use the bedroom for. For example, many people have exercise rooms, yoga rooms, or nurseries attached to their master room. That way, one partner doesn’t disturb the other by trying to use the bedroom for these purposes.

Also, having a master en suite is a must. More people are including more spa-like elements in these rooms, potentially also because their exercise room is now right nearby. It’s great to hop out of the gym and directly into a sauna, for example. Or, you might add a steam shower, lit mirror, soaker tub, or other spa features to the master bathroom.

Reach out to the professionals at Fernandez Designs & Builders to discuss how these features can be added to your home.