The Design Trend That Is All About Increasing Your Home's Value

Designing your home is a major part of being a homeowner. Whether we like the home the way we bought it and opt for smaller design updates or do an entire gut renovation, we often look to design trends to help create the home of our dreams. But for many of us, our homes are not just about us — they are also about the future owners, should we choose to sell or rent it out down the line.

While there are simple upgrades you can do that will sell your home faster when the time comes, there are also things to focus on when looking to increase the value of your home while you still live in it. Cameron Johnson, the founder and CEO at Nickson Living, spoke with The Spruce about how designing with the future buyer in mind is becoming a trend in itself for many homeowners. To do this correctly, he recommends focusing on three specific sections of the home for higher resale value: outdoor renos, upgrades in the kitchen, and the addition of smart features.

Many of us focus all of our attention inside, but as many homeowners find themselves spending more time at home than before, it's just as important to take a look at the outside as well. There are some renovations, like building a pool, that won't increase the value of your home, but if you do it right, tending to your backyard and overall landscape can increase the value substantially. The main thing to focus on outdoors is your landscaping. According to realtor estimates, adding a garden and tending to your grass can add a return on investment of up to 80%, offering a huge uptick in the value of your home. Consider planting flowers, adding stepping stones or a walkway of sorts, or simply maintaining your grass to a pristine level.

If you want a simpler outdoor renovation that can help increase your home's value, consider adding a fire pit. While a pool is a huge expense that is hard to recoup in the sale of your home, a fire pit is a less expensive amenity that will appeal to most buyers and add value without causing you to spend too much. If your community allows it, you may also want to consider planting fruit trees, which have also been proven to appeal to buyers.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and no matter how big or small your kitchen is, putting your renovation money into it is a surefire way to add value. If you are focused on the future value, though, you want to make sure that your design choices don't lean too trendy and instead appeal to the masses. To do this, choose colors and cabinetry that are more timeless — interior designers swear by greige and navy for timeless cabinet hues — and try not to get too crazy with current fads.

And while a kitchen renovation is sure to add value, you don't want to go too overboard if other areas of the house need attention. If you don't plan on renovating your whole house, keep things simple in your kitchen reno, focusing on alterations like raising the cabinets to the ceiling, adding storage, or switching out your countertop for something more durable like quartz. A huge kitchen revamp in an otherwise modest home can make it look out of place and can actually negatively affect your resale when dealing with serious buyers.

If there is one trend to latch onto when renovating your home, it's the smart home trend. As younger generations begin buying homes, the need for smart features is becoming more than just a luxury. According to TechJury, over 80% of buyers say they prefer to buy a home that has smart features already available to them. There are a ton of smart options available for your home, from outdoor cameras that connect to our phones to high-tech air conditioning systems that can be programmed based on time of day. But if you want to focus on home value, consider installing smart lights, smart thermostats, security systems, and a video doorbell. While other smart features can be fun and add a bit of flair, they may not necessarily attract a buyer to pay more for your home or choose your home over others without those features.

If you want to love the home you live in, but also want to make sure you get the best value when you sell, you don't have to go overboard with home renovations. When it's time to put it on the market, these smaller upgrades will make a big impact.