Zillow has released its yearly report predicting home trends we should anticipate once we ring in the new year—and it strays quite a bit from last year’s brutalism and sensory gardens. After analyzing hundreds of listings from 2024 and identifying popular home features and design styles, Zillow revealed two overarching trends in next year’s homes: Old World and new tech.
Homeowners are fusing two unique themes to create sustainable living styles without abandoning nostalgic charm. Here are the five most popular features Zillow identified when scanning this year’s for-sale listings.
1. Nostalgia Never Goes Out of Style
A touch of nostalgia goes a long way, especially when climate-consciousness and energy-saving technologies take center stage in our homes. Whether you apply floral wallpaper to an accent wall or stage your living room with items from an antique excursion, Zillow’s trend report shows that you’re on par with old-world interior design aesthetics for 2025.
The brand also noted a 22% increase in bibliophilic decor and home libraries as compared to 2023. There’s no better feeling than cozying up or lounging with a good read, and your books shouldn’t be tucked away in a box after finishing. Use the novels as home decor in a floor-to-ceiling library or a quaint book nook.
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2. Spa-Inspired Wet Rooms
Spa bathrooms are a way to bring luxe style into your home, transforming a simple bathroom into a wellness oasis. What was once primarily found in high-end hotels or spas is now taking form in homes, thanks to homeowners’ recent infatuations with spa-inspired wet rooms.
Wet rooms—a waterproof room connecting a free-standing tub to a walk-in shower—are bound to make a splash in 2025, according to Zillow. These seamless rooms evoke endless relaxation and can be located anywhere throughout the home, as long as they are equipped with proper drainage and built of materials that allow for condensation.
Wellness has become an overall trend this year, with homeowners searching for ways to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life—this space brings just that. And you don’t need an impressive expanse to build a wet room. Corners with sloped ceilings often make for a great wet room—or any nook that will fit a tub.
3. Keyword: Cozy
What used to be a term coined for smaller, more cramped spaces is now an ideal keyword when searching for the perfect home. Open floor plans are in the past, and homeowners are now embracing quainter homes for their affordability and sustainability.
The report highlighted an uptick in buyers looking at cozy rooms that function for a single purpose. For example, potential buyers are searching for a dining room, den, and living room separately now, as opposed to one large area encompassing all three.
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4. Taking Climate Protection by Storm
Drought-proofing the yard, securing a home with flood-barriers, water catchment system installation—what do all of these have in common? Protection from climate fluctuations has been a key feature homeowners are searching for. Zillow mentioned that 86% of buyers highlight the importance of purchasing a home with at least one climate-resilient feature.
Weather can be unpredictable, especially if you reside in a fluctuating or storm-prone location. Expect to see people flocking to neighborhoods that already have these systems or anticipate construction in your home’s future.
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5. Electric Upgrades with a Sustainable Approach
Electric vehicle charging ports are a major feature of homes now that driving gas-less vehicles is the norm. Many listings even feature whole-home batteries to store extra energy from installed solar panels. Home buyers want value with their purchase, and environmentally friendly practices are highly prioritized.
“Technology has enabled homeowners to live more sustainably and more affordably, which is a growing priority for prospective buyers,” said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “Energy-efficient and climate-resilient home features are quickly gaining popularity as homeowners look to keep costs down, including insurance costs.”