Multigenerational Living. Ode to Joy. Mundane Made Special. Nex Gen Living. The Kitchen Connection. New Bohemia. Those are some of the trends that are shaping “The Future of Home and Lifestyle,” according to FS, a New York-based trend forecasting and consumer insights firm. As we head into High Point Market April 13-17, it’s nice to walk the show with some overarching themes in mind. So, let’s take a look at these six.

1. Multigenerational Living:

Higher housing costs, aging populations and younger people living at home longer are leading to more intergenerational households. And that means designing interiors that provide plenty of spaces for people to come together for meals, socializing and hobbies, but also places for everyone to retreat into privacy. In designing interiors for aging populations in specific, the mission is to create spaces that allow them to “thrive, not just survive,” according to FS. “Due to housing shortages, a few states in the USA have started to financially incentivize installing compact properties on pre-existing plots. Small-scale solutions that support independent living may also provide live-in care.” Well-designed environments for older people look less like care centers and more like inviting homes.

Good examples: Kiki Archi’s Breathing House, where private and open spaces flow effortlessly together; Oliver Leech Architect’s Butterfly House, a gorgeous senior-living space that looks like anything but; and Humanitas Deventer, a co-housing space in the Netherlands that subsidizes students’ rent in exchange for time spent talking with and helping older residents.

2. Ode to Joy:

Let’s face it: Life seems hard these days, and many of us could use more joy in our days and in our homes. FS sees a move toward “exaggerated sensorial statements that will infuse interiors with childlike wonder” as consumers seek novel “experiences to shake up the humdrum of everyday life.” Think touches of surrealism and whimsy. Another aspect of this trend: fashion-fueled interior design, with fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Prada bringing their aesthetic to the home. Hands-on creativity, which helps cultivate “mindful at-home escapes,” is part of this movement, too, says Jaye Anna Mize, vice president of advisory and partnerships for FS.

Good examples: Actor Seth Rogan’s Houseplant homeware brand of weed-themed and other items, plus his craft-focused reality TV show “The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down With Jennifer Robertson and Seth Rogen”; and Max Mara’s Fluffy Residence pop-up dressed entirely in its iconic Teddy bear fabric.

3. Mundane Made Special:

FS sees a move toward essentialism, or the idea that “a product should do a few things very well instead of many mediocre things — mastery over multiplicity, quality over quantity.” Notably, Mize says, “this is not a philosophy of less is more but rather do better with less.” And that means elevating everyday essentials, as well as reimagining little luxuries, sometimes through handcrafting and other artisan touches. This trend supports sustainability goals, as consumers who’ve purchased a beautiful, well-made teapot, for example, are less likely to replace it in a year or two.

Good examples: Sandeep Salter and her Salter House brand of natural and sustainable clothing and housewares; and the delightful Gohar World, which offers “accessories for the table, home and self.”

4. Nex Gen Living:

I may be aging myself but when I was in college, my dorm room had an ugly tile floor, cinderblock walls and a shared bathroom down the hall that we tried — and failed — to dress up with a few Target finds. That is not how most college students live today as dorm rooms have become places of stylish interior design. As Aurora Hinz, strategist for home and lifestyle for FS, notes, “Gen Z and Gen Alpha may never come to face drab utilitarian dorms thanks to sophisticated product offerings for dorm decorating.” What’s more, “prioritizing design quality sets students up for success, as many studies have shown that young people’s sense of self is intimately linked to their environment.” Fashion-forward dorm design may also lead younger generations to appreciate good design in a way previous generations didn’t. And that brings us to another key trend: the evolution of young internet design and lifestyle influencers into “modern tastemakers” who are big on DIY and resourcefulness.

Good example: Emily Rayna, a 23-year-old influencer and interior designer with more than 5.9 million TikTok followers.

5. The Kitchen Connection:

Today’s kitchen is being transformed by trends both low-tech and high-tech. On the low-tech end: edible and medicinal gardens, whether large plots right outside the kitchen door, lush window boxes or a few small pots scattered on the counter. The best of these “foodscaping” gardens are designed with both beauty and practicality in mind. On the high-tech end: Smart home features, AI, automation and robotics will increasingly be incorporated into kitchen design, helping people plan meals, save money, reduce waste and save time.

Good examples: The GE Profile Indoor Smart Smoker, featured at CES 2024; and indoor garden kits from companies like AeroGarden and Rise Gardens.

6. New Bohemia:

Here’s where sustainability, traditional techniques, artisanal authenticity and “buy local” come together. “Cultural and folkloric tradition draw consumers in with the rich celebration of a community’s artistic expression and values,” Hinz says. “Handmade ceramics, blown glass, needlework and dipped candles represent future heirlooms that we can savor every day.”

This trend embraces concepts like upcycling, sustainable disassembly and regenerative design, with even “the modern maker movement … interested in ways to cut down on waste, off-cuts and other unsightly leftovers from craft projects.” As people continue their renewed penchant for travel, they’ll be drawn to unique experiences off the beaten path — where they can purchase items from area craftspeople and artists. Good examples: Interdisciplinary design studio Resolve Collective, which recently created an installation of salvaged and forested materials that visitors could claim from the gallery for other upcoming projects by marking the pieces with a custom Resolve stamp; and Lucia Echavarria’s “Magnetic Midnight Maison,” an anthology of Colombian craft.