Anticipated Home Extension Trends Slated for Popularity in 2025

In the realm of home renovations, a shift towards eco-conscious choices is becoming increasingly prevalent. Here are some trends that are expected to dominate the home extension landscape in Germany in 2025.

Energy Efficiency and Smart Technology

Homeowners are installing solar panels and air source heat pumps to reduce their carbon footprint. Smart tech, such as automated lights, climate control, and security systems, is also seen as a wise investment in eco-friendly home extensions.

Aesthetic Renovations and Customization

Contemporary architecture is embracing bright, punchy colors and double drenching (painting all available surfaces in two related colors) in interiors. Space-saving tactics like bench dining designs, small kitchen islands, and peninsulas are being employed to save space in ground floor kitchen and dining additions.

Broken Plan Living

The pandemic has influenced a trend towards broken plan living, with people looking for spaces that are flexible and cater to different activities and privacy levels. This is slowly replacing open plan living in home extensions, with a trend towards accommodating boot room ideas and even flower cutting rooms.

Sustainable Materials and Design

Rick Fabrizio, director of Tholos Architects, advocates for the use of natural materials and low-chemical composites in home extensions. Stone, brick, and Crittall windows remain firm favourites, but timber, tiles, and brick are being used in alternative ways. Terrazzo is also on trend, although this is sometimes a sustainable choice by default.

Charlie Avara, founder of Build by Charlie, mentions a trend towards using Japanese Shou Sugi Ban cladding, a type of charred timber cladding, due to its sustainable nature, UV resistance, and premium feel. Since Grenfell, architects are trying to encourage others in the construction industry to steer away from petrochemical insulation products and towards more eco-friendly products such as wood fibre insulation and even recycled denim insulation.

Sustainability in Planning and Design

Sustainability will increasingly form part of the brief in home extension designs. The Architects Registration Board (ARB) issued their Competence Guidelines on Sustainability, calling all registered Architects to advocate for sustainable and regenerative design, be responsible, aware, and competent at considering the wider picture and respond to the climate emergency.

Garden Rooms and Outbuildings

Garden rooms and outbuildings are becoming more popular as a type of extension, providing flexible working and separation from the main house. These structures can be designed to be sustainable, incorporating eco-insulation such as straw or wool insulation, vegetable-based concrete, mussel-beard soundproofing, ground coffee beans panels, paper-fibre plasterboard alternatives, shellfish-based stone, lab-grown and mushroom furniture.

Bespoke Properties and Planning Permission

There is an increase in clients seeking bespoke properties that cater to specific needs. Understanding the different stages involved in planning permission for extensions and using a comprehensive extension planner can guide you along the way.

Revival of 80's Architecture

80's architecture will see a resurgence in home extension trends, with circular windows, punchy colors, and primitive or geometric shapes.

Compact and Considered Extensions

Compact and considered extensions are expected to become more common due to budget constraints. Steven George, a partner and design lead at George and Co, works across Wales and the South West and has appeared on television in home renovation programs.

In conclusion, the future of home extensions is leaning towards sustainability, efficiency, and customization. By embracing these trends, homeowners can not only improve their living spaces but also contribute to a greener future.