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Zillow analyzed its listings data to determine the top five home trends to watch for in the New Year, and while it may be 2023, not 2020, many pandemic-era home fads still live on.

Don’t worry
Take, for example, segmented views. The past three decades have seen contractors tear down walls to create open-concept spaces, but more than a quarter of all Zillow listings mention “privacy” or “private spaces,” a 7 percent increase over with last year.

“The pandemic exposed the fatal flaw of the open plan, as everyone lived, worked and studied at home: the lack of privacy. A soundless space for video calls or a quiet room for reading became more desirable than ever, ” says the study.

Homeowners with open floor plans will look to divide their space through furniture layout and design to create private nooks and crannies, Zillow predicts.

Room to roam
Backyards are also still a luxury and are highlighted in one out of every five Zillow listing descriptions. Mentions of patios and pools also increased, up more than 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively, in 2022.

“The growing popularity of outdoor features suggests that the pandemic has changed the way we want to live for the better, preparing the backyard for a 2023 evolution,” says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert. “When the pandemic forced all the fun outside, homeowners reclaimed their yards from kids or dogs. Now they’re rethinking how that space can serve as an extension of their home in new, creative ways.”

In 2023, Zillow says to look for outdoor home gyms, natural pools alive with plants, edible gardens and outdoor rooms for dining, relaxation and quiet reflection.

Get together
Speaking of entertaining—and just general everyday life—kitchen islands are growing in functionality and desirability.

Zillow listings that mention a kitchen island saw a 19 percent increase in 2022 as people move further away from formal dining rooms and embrace the casual comfort of kitchen gatherings.

Expect to see these islands stand out with contrasting paint colors or wood stains and different ceiling materials, Zillow predicts. The trend of repurposing unique furniture or old tables as islands will also grow in 2023, the company says.

Improvement and maintenance
Many more home improvements are on the horizon, especially for newer homeowners.

A new Zillow study finds that 48 percent of homeowners younger than 40 have tapped equity in their home in the past two years, most often to pay for home improvement projects.

However, 90 percent of those homeowners under 40 who took out a home equity line of credit or second mortgage, or chose a cash-out refinance, have not yet spent all of the money they borrowed, suggested that 2023 could be the year they end it all. renovation projects on their to-do list.

What’s in the bank? Improvements that make homes more sustainable, low-maintenance, and high-tech. Investing in drought-resistant landscaping and smart home systems are energy-efficient projects that can help save money and the environment, as well as increase a home’s value. when it’s time to sell.

Mirror mirror
One trend you may not have seen coming is the return of mirrored walls and ceilings, which are now appearing 12 percent more often in listings on Zillow.

We’re not talking about 1970s panels, per se, but vintage mirrored surfaces applied to a grid for a three elegant Parisian feeling.

Don’t you want this shiny upgrade to feel extraordinary? Embrace the closeted look and go bold in a room alone.