Trendspotters foresee more spending on home environs

Gas is topping $3 a gallon. The value of the dollar is downright depressing. And nightmares about airlines are discouraging even the most seasoned travelers from booking those pleasure trips.

As a result, we’ll invest more of our disposable income in home remodeling and updates in 2008, opting to stay close to home instead of traveling. Specifically, trendspotters say, we’ll enhance our home environs with the latest gadgetry, embellishments to our decks and back yards, and new decorating schemes for ourliving areas.

This is good news for landscape architects, garden centers and home-improvement warehouses. It willhelp to know what trends the experts expect.

As we travel into our own yards, we’ll expect themto be even more of an extension of our interior living spaces. We’ll decorate them more, and we’ll want them to be more functional than ornamental. We may install interestingly shaped pools, water features andexotic gardens. And since we’ll do more and more entertainingthere, we’ll want our outdoor kitchens to be every bit as multi-featured and convenient as our indoorcooking spaces.

More and more homeowners are opting for “green” strategies to save energy dollars and help the environment.

We should look for banks to offer special mortgages and financing for homeowners embarkingupon green renovations. We’ll also see more recycled materials in construction and rehabilitation of existing structures.

As produce costs skyrocket, due in large part to the increased transportation costs, we can expect to see more home gardens. We’ll see even more growth in farmers’ markets, and community gardens will increase in popularity.

Much as we did following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when caution kept us at home—entertaining ourselves with rented movies, video games and home theater—we’ll turn inward to create our own fun and avoid the high costs and inconveniences of travel. But when we shop for more gadgets, we’ll find them more integrated into our furnishings to allow us to reduce the clutter from cables and cords, increase our storage capabilities and disguise the impersonal look of some electronics. This will even open the market for the e-clutter consultants who, for a modest fee, will organize your electronics into a seamless system.

And while we’re relaxing, we’re going to do it on trendy furnishings reminiscent of lounges and nightclubs, according to those who study home design and predict furniture and accessory trends.

When remodeling, experts recommend that you think carefully about who the next buyer of your home will be. Baby Boomers have more to spend on housing than any other population group, but many are seeking to downsize. Generation-Xers, on the other hand, are looking for space in which to expand for growing families.

Home-improvement retailers will be wise to stock lots of durable materials—such as flooring, countertops and other surfaces—with neutral colors.

And because minor kitchen remodels often pay off better at home-resale time than major remodeling,we should opt for cabinet refacing, replacement of countertops and installation of moderately priced appliances.

When remodeling baths, experts tell us to think in terms of spas. Aging Baby Boomers will want larger soaking or whirlpool baths, multiple shower heads and walk-in tubs. Remodelers will, however, invest in custom tile and use that as a means of self-expression in their homes.

In addition, remodelers will stress universal design that involves fairly subtle but important changes for older homeowners. These changes might include wider hallways and doorways, extra lighting, easier access to laundry and other features and more open floorplans.

Baby Boomers will want workshops and hobby rooms, including more storage for supplies for leisure- time activities. Home offices will continue to be popular.

According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, in the 12 months ending in September, homeowners spent $125.2 billion to remodel their homes, an increase of 6.6 percent over the $122.4 billion spent in the previous 12-month period.

With such an enormous share of homeowners’ expenses dedicated to home improvement, remodeling businesses and contractors would be wise to “seize the day” and market their services to the millions of consumers who are preparing to stay in their homes longer, living more active lives.

Mary Paulsell is the associate director/director of operations for the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She can be reached at 882-7096 or [email protected]