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Home design trends are fun, but they seldom last long. “Every few years there’s a new must-have finish or style, but many of those choices end up feeling dated before the remodel has even had a chance to age,” warns Matan Bodek, a licensed general contractor and CEO and founder at Modern Build Home Remodeling in Los Angeles, California. A better approach is to focus on upgrades that boost your home’s comfort, safety, efficiency, and functionality. “The best remodeling projects aren’t always the flashiest ones,” says Bodek. “Those are the improvements that continue to pay off, whether you stay in your home for another 20 years or decide to sell,” he says.
Build your list of five future-proof home projects that will stand the test of time. These are investments that make your home easier to live in, less expensive to maintain, and ready for whatever the future brings. Remember that the upgrades that protect your home will almost always outlast the upgrades that simply decorate it, says Bodek.
1. Safeguard your home from water damage.
Some of the most valuable improvements are the ones you can’t see and that get little attention on social media. A quality roof, proper waterproofing, good drainage, and correct flashing help protect the entire house from water damage, which is one of the most expensive repairs homeowners can face, says Bodek. “These aren’t exciting projects, but they’re the kind of investments that save homeowners from major headaches and costly repairs down the road,” he explains.
Humberto Marquez, founder of the home rental company Surge in Houston, Texas, agrees. “If I could give every homeowner one upgrade that’s guaranteed to pay off in the long run, it’s getting water away from your house.” He prioritizes water management projects such as grading the soil, installing gutters, getting drainage right, and making sure there are no gaps in the flashing. “We’re talking about taking a look at how the soil is laid out around your house, installing gutters with downspout extensions, making sure the roof is sealed up right, and getting the site drainage sorted out,” says Marquez.
2. Update electrical components throughout the house.
Replacing any old electrical equipment around your house helps to prepare your home for the future and avoid old home trends. “Every version of the future runs through your electrical panel,” explains Marquez. “Want to charge your car at home, heat your house with a heat pump, or have a kitchen with an induction range? A 1980s 100 amp (A) panel just won’t cut it.” And when it comes to the resale market, buyers are a lot more willing to forgive dated finishes than they are failing electrical systems, says Marquez. He recommends upgrading to a 200A panel and replacing the old HVAC system.
3. Create as many bedrooms and bathrooms as possible.
It’s also resourceful to make design decisions that result in increasing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the house. “Design trends come and go, but the way that houses are priced doesn’t change much,” explains Marquez. “Appraisers, real estate agents, and buyers have been using bed and bath count as a way to value a house for generations, and it looks like that’s not going to change anytime soon.”
Updating a 3-bedroom, 1-bath home to have an additional bathroom and maybe even another bedroom adds value in basically any market, says Marquez. When re-envisioning the space, think about turning an underused room into a full bathroom or taking a room that doesn’t conform with code for sleeping space and making it a legal bedroom. It’s also a smart idea to include flexible, multipurpose rooms that can easily shift between uses, such as a home office, guest room, and home gym.
4. Install energy-efficient windows and exterior doors.
Replacing older windows and exterior doors with high-quality, energy-efficient models is one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make, says Bodek. Besides giving your home a fresh look, these elements make a noticeable difference in everyday living. “During long, hot summers, better windows help keep indoor temperatures more consistent, reduce outside noise, lower energy bills, and improve security and overall comfort,” notes Bodek. Compared to trendy design features, the benefits of these practical upgrades never go out of style, and they’re something you will appreciate every single day.
5. Incorporate aging-in-place features.
Another best practice is to increase the longevity of your home by focusing on design for every stage of life. “You can’t predict design trends, but you can predict demographics, and America is getting older,” explains Marquez. Bodek also sees the benefit in this: “One upgrade that more homeowners are asking about is making their home easier to live in for the long term.”
These thoughtful design choices lead to a safer and more comfortable home for young families, older adults, and anyone dealing with a temporary injury. Yet, the best accessibility features are the ones you hardly notice until the day you need them, says Bodek. Some examples include a full bathroom on the main floor, wider doorways, a zero-step entry, lever-style handles, more effective lighting, and shower wall grab bars.
