Making the Transition

Trends are defined by shifting perceptions of design as living styles change. This year, trends that have been emerging over the years will get stronger, and the infinite design possibilities in architecture and interior décor will conjure endless choices as the old makes way for the new.

Compiled by Seema Gupta

As lifestyles change, so do the living spaces. Homes are becoming less formal. The kitchen is fast becoming the epicenter of the home as it includes the dining area, and the (now popular) open layout plan extends seamlessly into the living area. So, the concept of dedicated dining or living rooms will gradually transit to become common hubs of family gatherings. Interiors will see an onslaught of both bold and neutral colours, albeit in unique combinations.Sliding doors and other movable partitions will bring the desired flexibility in multi-purpose and social gathering areas.

As aspirations grow, the bathroom will offer spa-like immersive experiences to the homeowners, complete with steam, jets and sauna. With homes and apartments shrinking in size, there will be increased attention on cleverly concealed storage spaces, under stairways, walk-in closets, and built-in cabinets.

Bringing the outdoors in with green walls, green roofs and indoor gardens, builders will incorporate outdoor spaces with the overall home design. The garden or lawn will become part of the floor plan with sliding glass doors leading to the patio.


Design for sustainable buildings will take into account both aesthetics and functionality, with a plethora of eco-friendly building materials and solutions for healthier interiors. Eliminating use of materials like asbestos and lead-based paints will eliminate harmful fumes and chemicals in the interiors.

Building material enthusiasts are taking a re-look at wood, bamboo, engineered and cross-laminated timber as alternatives to steel and concrete with respect to their quality and speed of construction, besides their high sustainable properties. The concept of pre-fabricated buildings will gather steam. Architects and builders are using modular building materials to create designs that make abundant use of glass, steel, and wood.


Building facades will be made more interesting with unique designs and new materials. At the same time, there will a desire for unobstructed views of the outside with floor-to-ceiling windows in place of walls. Advanced solutions in fenestration with high energy performance glass are making this possible, and also providing greater security to homeowners. Large-sized windows that use low e-glass, reduce artificial lighting and prevent heat and harmful UV rays from entering inside.

Lighting design will extend to private homes to create dazzling effects. Smart and Connected digital lighting-based solutions will bring intelligent functionality into lighting systems to enhance user experience.

Offices will see a blurring of spaces with loosely divided or partially segregated public and private areas. Co-working offices with open-plan designs, modular office furniture for flexibility and optimal usage, and integrated with electronics, will change the way offices are used.

There will be increasing dependence on technology and software by architects, engineers, and contractors in the planning, designing, execution and in preventive maintenance of projects.

As always, changing consumer needs and growing awareness of the possibilities that architectural design can bring to their lives, will influence trends.

More from the architects, interior designers, real estate developers, and product manufacturers in the following pages.