What tomorrow’s homes will look and feel like, according to design experts

Over the past 50 years, trends in Australian home design have continually evolved, setting the scene for what might be next on the horizon.When Metricon was established five decades ago, the biggest trend was to deliver solid brick homes with a good-sized backyard, epitomising the classic Australian dream.“What families wanted from a home in 1976 – I think it was just very simple back then, and they've changed significantly over that period of time,” says Adrian Popple, Design Director, Metricon.At the recent Metricon Love of Design 2026 summit held in Byron Bay, the big question was, what’s next? With 50 years of change to draw on, the Metricon team were ready to make predictions.Lisa Goodsall, Design Manager, Metricon says buyers now have immensely higher expectations of their home, from facades to interiors, outdoor spaces to storage.“Customers want more out of their homes, so we need to be able to offer floor plans and designs that give customers flexibility and allow for growth in the future,” she says.Flexible spaces to cater for changeOne of the top trends is a desire for flexible spaces that enable families to use their home in different ways as their needs change. If their...