People all over the world want to stay in beautiful homes. Some want to improve their homes on a budget while others aim for expensive home improvement projects. This explains why the cost of home improvements has almost doubled in the last decade, reaching $280 billion in 2005 alone.

But times are changing and a recent survey of general contractors, painters, floor installers and interior designers in nine states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, Virginia and Washington) can give us a clear idea of the latest home improvement trends.

Owing to the recent recession. homeowners appear to be investing in less expensive projects like routine replacements, system upgrades and mid-range rather than upscale improvements. These smaller jobs are better for homeowners since they usually provide a greater return of investment.

Tile floors are popular choices of homeowners from Seattle to Virginia. A close second is laminate flooring that is similar to wood. There seems to be a gradual movement toward natural materials that originate from sustainable resources that are affordable, recyclable and easy to maintain.

Large family rooms and sunrooms are more popular than ever, since more entertaining is done at home. Likewise, a lot of people prefer a gym, master suites, hearth-room kitchens, screened porches and elegant bathrooms in their homes. Since home building materials like wood are getting expensive every day, the majority are turning to cheaper and durable alternatives to improve their homes. These are just some of the trends that you’ll find in many homes today.

By: Marcy Monroe