Must-Have Townhome Design Trends

Townhouses or townhomes or row houses (or whatever you want to call them) aren’t going anywhere. This affordable, urban alternative to single-family homes is itself a major trend, and builders anticipate an increased need for townhomes, this year and beyond. The increase in townhome popularity is driven by affordability, location (in urban, walkable neighborhoods), and demographics. According to Robert Dietz, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, “Demographics are playing an important role, as the peak age of Millennials moves into their early 30s. These demographic tailwinds will continue to cause demand for single-family homes to expand.”

The increase in demand for townhome units has influenced their design and layout. In this article, we’ll dive into the trends we’re seeing — both specific to townhomes and in general for interior design.

House-Like Floor Plans

Townhome layouts have become increasingly more house-like, which only increases their appeal. Jeff Benach describes the design of his Chicago-based townhome project, Lexington Homes: “Townhomes typically tend to be long and narrow, but by shifting the footprint to be wide instead of deep, we gave these homes a more expansive feel in the configuration of the open-concept kitchen and great room.”

Wider Doors and Hallways

To maximize overall expansiveness, builders design the interiors of townhouses with wider doors and hallways. This makes a space feel larger and more luxurious, while making these homes more practical for people who need more space to maneuver.

Open Floor Plans

To make new built townhomes feel more modern and on trend, builders are incorporating more open floor plans into townhome designs. While open floor plans are far from being a new design trend, leveraging the popularity of this style of layout makes townhomes more appealing to Millennials and young families. 

Rooftop Decks

Townhomes generally come with a very small yard, so a rooftop deck provides an additional and private outdoor space where you can relax with family or friends and bring some greenspace into the home. Roof decks may include furniture, plants, lighting, and, if allowed, grills.

Natural Light

Homebuyers are not interested in the dark homes of yesteryear. They want bright homes with plenty of natural light, and builders are responding to this design trend. Building townhomes wide instead of deep helps bring natural light into the home thanks to strategically placed skylights, too.

Deryl Patterson, Founder and President of Housing Design Matters, understands the desire for natural lighting, and shares how builders make their townhomes feel bright and airy. “One challenge to townhome design is finding natural light – especially for the interior units. This is often why interior units are a tough sell.

This is why I often advocate making the interior unit wider by a couple of feet than the end units. Those end units have the opportunity for light on three sides – believe me, this makes a huge difference!”

Green and Smart

Townhome buyers want energy efficient homes, built with eco-friendly materials. Ultimately, this trend is good for both the wallet and the planet. Often, green homes are smart homes, and there are smart home technologies that make a home more environmentally friendly. Smart, green homes are increasingly standard, and homebuyers expect these features when shopping for a townhouse.

Interior Design

Interior design trends for townhomes bring the hottest styles into these modern homes. Homebuyers can go all out decorating their new townhome to make it an on trend, and luxurious space.

Mixed Metals

According to Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl, Co-Founders of Studio Life.Style, “Mixing of metals will continue to take precedence, but it will come along with the mixing of textured materials. A variety of textures help add depth and contrast, creating a multi-dimensional room.”

Velvet

Soft, rich, deep, luxurious — these are all words that describe velvet, 2019’s most sought-after textile. The comfort and luxury of a room skyrocket when velvet is introduced, especially when it upholsters a sofa or armchair. If you need something that is kid- or pet-friendly, look for “performance velvet.”

Artisan/Handmade

The use of unique, handmade décor, instead of mass produced objects, is a growing interior design trend. Michala Monroe, an Interior Designer, observes, “I’m seeing a lot more designers & makers reverting back to craft and finding ways to slow down. From experimenting with new materials to making limited quantities. In our world of mass production, I am see many leaning toward these smaller batches, more ‘artisanal’ or ’boutique’, if you can stand the words (I can’t).”

Start Townhouse Shopping Today!

Whichever townhome trends you go after, know that investing in a townhome is a smart decision. “I expect this market share to continue to grow and exceed the prior market share high set before the Great Recession,” states Robert Dietz, “…as builders seek to add more entry-level inventory, grapple with land and lot shortages, and develop more walkable neighborhoods.”

Ready to start shopping for a new townhouse featuring the latest design trends? NewHomeSource.com allows you to search just for townhomes in the area where you want to live, making your search easier than ever.