Ahead of the curve – Mandala Custom Homes transcends home building trends in 2021 or any other year. Prefab homes inspired by nature is the foundation of our business.
Increased environmental consciousness, along with the impacts of a global pandemic, have profoundly influenced home building trends in 2021 and likely beyond. For over two decades, Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) have been building the very best in comfort, beauty, and sustainability with every one of our prefab home designs – no matter the trend!
With such intense focus on the home this past year, we thought we’d explore what has changed – what trends have emerged – as prospective homebuilders consider what they need from their dwellings in this pandemic age.
Not surprisingly, enhanced technological capabilities have risen to the fore, as have the need for greater contact with nature. No surprise to us, of course, is the demand for prefab homes given the cost-effective sustainability they offer. Read on for more interesting home building trends homeowners are embracing this year, and likely for many years to come.
1. Smart homes
With ever-greater demand on the full-service functionality of our homes, it makes sense that automated systems and smart homes are increasing in popularity. Whether it’s a new build or a retrofit, people want more control over their lights, security, temperature, entertainment in their homes – even when they’re away.
Smart homes offer homeowners greater comfort and peace of mind not to mention better control over their consumption which helps with the utilities bill!
2. Multipurpose and open spaces
There has never been a greater demand on the home than in the past year. The need to create multi-functional spaces hit us last spring when all aspects of our lives all of a sudden happened within the confines of our houses.
Open spaces that accomodate different activities and rooms that can serve more than one role have become integral to the comfort and functionality of not just the home itself, but for us, too. We want to feel like we can work, school, and live without feeling cramped and overwhelmed.
The trend to create more open, multi-functional spaces includes looking to innovative, transparent building materials as well as furnishings to help gain space as well as light.
3. More light, less noise!
Noise can be such a potent pollutant; one that we’re exposed to outdoors, of course, but in many cases, indoors, too. A very positive home building trend this year is increased consciousness of construction methodologies and materials that help to minimize noise inside the home.
The curve of an MCH round home softens sounds and noise inside the home providing an optimal indoor environment for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation. For music lovers or when you’re able to socialize once again, MCH acoustics offer superior acoustics providing perfect sound quality to enhance the living experience in your home.
Perhaps even more beneficial is the focus on increasing and enhancing light indoors – we crave more of it! We’re happier and more productive when we are exposed to abundant natural light. This includes orienting the dwelling to maximize daylight and adding more windows and doors that allow for greater light in the home, but also utilizing artificial lighting technologies that mimic sunlight.
4. Bringing nature indoors
A foundation of the MCH approach is the vital connection to nature that is fostered in each and every one of our prefab homes. We are all attracted to nature, and there is plenty of evidence that supports the simple fact that interacting with nature is vital to health and happiness. However, when we spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, our exposure to nature and natural elements can be very limited.
A solution: bring nature indoors. Whether it’s with windows that offer a view, or specific natural and nature-inspired design elements and materials indoors, they’re all beneficial.
Nature can be experienced indoors through design strategies that replicate natural patterns in the design and finishing details. Using natural materials wherever possible is one easy strategy. Wood, bamboo, and stone easily bring nature into the home – walls, support beams, floors, and ceilings offer plenty of opportunities.
A particular study explored how different ratios of wood to other materials influenced physiological responses. The researchers found that a space containing even a moderate ratio of wood (45% coverage) provided subjects with a feeling of “comfort”. The results included significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure with significant increases in pulse rate.
MCH understands fundamentally our need to experience nature in the home. Circular living offers balance – surrounded by natural elements and nature-inspired design while enjoying abundant natural light and views helps us return inward to the self.
5. Modern minimalism
The minimalist trend continues. As it evolves, it includes the commitment to less stuff, of course, but it has expanded to promote a the use of simple forms and design incorporating quality, modern and innovative, and often, natural materials.
Modern minimalism encourages sustainability and efficiency to promote both cost-savings and a sense of space and freedom from the constraints of clutter and excess.
6. Prefab homes
Making it even more into the mainstream of home construction, prefab homes are taking off as a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective alternative. More and more, designers and architects are looking to prefab and modular construction technologies to quickly and efficiently build beautiful, environmentally friendly, and durable homes that last for generations.
Don’t we know it?! The innovative MCH offsite manufacturing method of construction to create our distinctive round homes offers forward-thinking and environmentally aware homeowners with not only exceptionally comfortable and beautiful spaces but with minimal impact on the environment.
Given our commitment to energy-efficiency and sustainability, we knew that prefab, panelized home construction was an inherently green way to build. As a result, our efforts innovating prefab home construction have been recognized by several green building certifications, including the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard.
MCH home construction allows for fast, prefabricated assembly in our specialized factory. Our approach ensures there is no exposure to the elements (as per conventional site-built construction) which can negatively impact the integrity of materials and final construction. It prevents potentially costly issues such as mildew, mold, warping, popped nails and screws, and an increased likelihood of squeaky floors.
7. Passive houses
What may be considered a home building trend, is to MCH, a building philosophy. And has been since our inception over twenty years ago.
A home should integrate with its surroundings – efficiently utilize available resources while maximizing energy and cost savings. Passive homes save the homeowner money year after year, but they also improve the health and quality of life of those who live within.
Every MCH round home is designed and built to be ENERGY STAR certified. This ensures you live comfortably no matter the season and reduce emissions as you save thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity. MCH prefab homes consistently deliver quality, durability, performance, and savings.