If you’re in the market for a brand new home, you’ve got plenty of exciting choices. Advances in housing technology, from new materials to architectural shifts to technological innovations to design trends have laid the groundwork for some really cool stuff.

So, line up your new home loan and get talking to your builder today. Here are some of the hottest home design trends out there right now:

• Health-Conscious Homes. New home builders are now, more than ever, aware of the danger of certain products such as lead-based paints or asbestos. Synthetic materials, as well, are known to cause health issues. More and more homes are built today using materials that are more natural and rely less on things like laminates and plastics.
• Environmentally-Friendly Housing. This is one of the fastest-growing areas right now. People want homes that are sensitive to the environment. Some of these homes utilize ancient building methods and more earth-friendly building materials.
• Factory Built Housing. Prefab homes are much more than the double-wide trailers of yesteryear. These houses use modular building components made of quality materials like glass and steel. You’ll find factory built homes in all shapes and sizes now, too.
• Accessible Housing. As medical technology advances and as we become more aware of and concerned about those around us with physical challenges, these trends are reflected in our homes. High cabinets and spiral staircases are disappearing in favor of more accessible design choices.
• Adaptive Reuse Housing. More and more, people are finding ways to deal with the fallout from urban blight. Buildings that were designed for other purposes, such as warehouses and churches, are being repurposed and reused for regular housing.
• Flexible Housing. As your family grows and changes, so do your space needs. Many new homes are being designed with some flexibility in mind in terms of layout. Pocket doors, movable partitions or walls, and multipurpose rooms are replacing many of the old architectural choices of yesteryear. Many new homes even feature a “bonus” room that can be used for just about any purpose.
• Storage-friendly Housing. As people gather more and more possessions, they need more and more places to put them. From a kitchen full of “unitaskers” to linen choices, new homes have more and more storage space available to keep your things.

Photo via pnwra