With the publication of the Future Homes Standard due in Autumn, this represents an important step in the UK’s transition towards building zero carbon homes. But what are the implications of low carbon technology on showhome design? Megan Doherty, senior client account manager, Edward Thomas Interiors shares her insight…

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) will help housebuilders and developers plan and invest in low carbon technology to reduce emissions and make sustainable living more achievable for all.

But as more of these technologies are integrated into new homes, how do they influence interior design?

When briefing an interior design partner, housebuilders and developers are advised to detail what renewables are included, where they are located, and the product specification/size. From a design perspective, this means we can plan and adapt a room’s appearance accordingly.

For example, where double panel or double height radiators are used, these can limit the space so we must be more creative, perhaps adding decorative elements such as covers or shelving. Conversely, where air source heat pumps are installed with underfloor heating, we don’t have to consider radiator positions, which gives more design flexibility. This is especially useful in bathrooms and ensuites where extra storage space is always welcome!

Having these early conversations with your design team can help avoid frustrations for homeowners. Something as simple as advising on the position of a smart heating thermostat to ensure it doesn’t create an unwanted focal point shows attention to detail that can make a real difference.

These briefings are equally important for highlighting any house type or layout changes. The drive for energy efficiency means some properties now have smaller windows. In these homes, maximising natural light is essential so talk to your designers about practical solutions. These might include deliberately positioning mirrors opposite light sources for reflection, using light fabrics such as voiles, or prioritising additional lighting.

Actually, lighting is probably one of the most impacted areas of design. Recessed downlighters or spotlights used to feature prominently in new homes and were great for creating bright, welcoming spaces with plenty of warmth. But unfortunately, they’re not energy efficient and their use is now very much limited to kitchens and bathrooms. Of course, this isn’t a deterrent for us, and we’ve risen to the challenge by sourcing fabulous alternatives such as rechargeable wall lights or pendant points to ensure the same impact!

Much of what the FHS will mandate is aligning with modern living trends and our collective commitment to future proof our homes. I read recently that UK homeowners will only move on average once every 20 years, so our homes and their interiors must be more adaptable. Showhomes should display where renewables leave room for creativity and flexibility, highlighting where thoughtful design and energy efficiency go hand in hand.

For more information go to, www.rdr.link/dbf041

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A new homes sales centre is the first physical space a potential purchaser will encounter. So how do you make the right first impression? And what are today’s househunters expecting? Steve Hird, director of specialist new homes interior designers, Edward Thomas Interiors, shares his insight…

A sales centre is the first opportunity a housebuilder has to showcase its brand and its product. Basic design principles indicate it should be a bright, well-lit space that is easy to locate and navigate. But beyond that, what are today’s househunters expecting?

The first question is a matter of layout. Traditionally, a sales complex was a converted double garage, located prominently at the development’s entrance. This location is still favourable but we’re finding housebuilders are now seeking alternatives to the (sometimes sterile) double garage set up. Most commonly this is a house, which makes sense as it immediately shows their product, but other spaces we’ve been asked to design have included converted bin and cycle stores. These can be more straightforward for developers to transform, and result in less disruption when reconverting at the end of the development’s selling period.

Once inside a sales centre, styling, or ‘zoning’, different spaces is essential. Typically, this will include working areas for the sales team alongside meet and greet/browsing spaces, private offices, casual seating, and an options/choices studio. By creating space for various activities, not only will it help a housebuilder get to know purchasers better, but it also allows for multiple purchasers to be assisted, who may be at varying stages of the house buying journey.

Of course, the key to successful design for these ‘zones’ is comfort. Buying a house is a major life decision so creating a relaxed space is important. Househunters don’t want to feel like they’ve stepped into someone’s office. Our most common brief now is for a sales centre to feel welcoming and informal. Selling is almost secondary to ‘the experience’.

Housebuilders seek to instil that ‘at home’ feeling on arrival, so as a minimum, sales centres need to have varied seating options, a pleasant fragrance or scent, and plenty of greenery. But it goes further than this. A growing trend is to create ‘living/family room’ style set-ups. So you might have bistro/bar seating where househunters can review house types and plot positions, or a fireplace for people to sit beside and choose options and upgrades.

Speaking of options studios, the presentation for these has evolved significantly. Not only is choosing options a joyful part of the buying journey (that can be documented on social media) but this personalisation is also one of the drivers for choosing a new build home. Housebuilders have therefore recognised this needs a dedicated space, somewhere that feels exclusive. This can be a private room or stylishly partitioned ‘zone’ in the sales centre (the previously mentioned living room and fireplace being an example), or something even more imaginative. One we designed recently took over a three-storey house, so it had ‘meet and greet’ at ground floor, the standard range on the middle floor and upgrades on the top, deliberately designed to feel like club level!

Integral to the successful design of any options studio, or sales complex, is quality materials. An increasingly popular request is bespoke furniture. For options studios this could be a floor to ceiling storage unit with shelving and drawers to easily display different ranges. For sales centres it’s desks and sideboards with in-built lighting and invisible storage space.

Remembering that the average lifespan of a sales centre is 3+ years, investment in quality materials and furniture can really ensure it stands the test of time. Strike the right balance between workplace and retail space, experience and function, personal and professional, and the end result should be an inviting atmosphere that will entice househunters to make their move.

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Typically, the most common goal for a showhome is to attract a widespread audience. So with the New Year marking a great time for change, housebuilders looking to brief new showhomes or refresh existing ones should be aware of upcoming interior design trends. Our resident expert, Steve Hird, director of showhome interior design specialists, Edward Thomas Interiors, highlights what to watch in 2025…

“The big benefit of many of the trends we expect to be popular this year is they are not age specific, meaning they can be used as boldly or subtly as necessary, from small styling details through to bespoke furniture, statement wall treatments or full explosions of colour.

“Speaking of colour, this is the question we’re asked most when it comes to new trends. Shades we expect to take centre stage are those from the rich, earthy, autumnal family. Think burnt orange, rust, plum, and any of the wine reds. Plus not forgetting Mocha Mousse, a rich, warming brown that was recently announced as the Pantone Colour of the Year.

“How colour is used can make a showhome more distinctive, and one of our favourite emerging paint trends is colour drenching. This is all about being confident, bold and unapologetic about colour. Choose a single colour and “drench” the room, including the ceiling, furniture, woodwork and floor, or create a tonal room. By this I mean use shades of the same colour across the room. It’s equally playful but creates a more elevated, sophisticated look, and would work well in a luxury house that is ideal for families with older children.

“Patterns and texture are other common queries. Stripes made a comeback last summer and look set to grow in popularity. We don’t expect these to remain limited to accessories, instead they’ll take over upholstery, curtains and wallpapers. So in a downsizer home we might use elegant ticking stripes but in a first-time buyer property, these could be bolder, block or candy versions.

“When it comes to texture, be advised to expect the unexpected! Textured wallpapers, decorative plaster finishes, dado and picture rails, even concrete wall. art can help make an eye-catching feature so don’t be afraid of briefing your design team to think out of the ordinary. A statement piece makes a great conversation starter, especially for social media content.

“Finally, Arts & Crafts is a style enjoying a resurgence right now, following Habitat’s collaboration with Morris & Co that was unveiled last autumn. How we might incorporate this style will vary depending on the demographic. For example, in retirement living or downsizer properties, we could use these prints in fabrics or statement wallpapers, but in a first-time buyer or young family home, they could be seen in detailing such as turned wood table legs, floor lamps or plant pot holders.

“With the goal of a showhome to be both memorable and inspirational, considering these design trends as part of your next brief could help set your development apart.”

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Edward Thomas Interiors has delivered a Homebuyer Hub for St. Modwen Homes’ West Works development in Longbridge, Birmingham, that references the site’s importance in automotive history.

The West Works project will transform the former MG Rover factory site into a residential community. The Homebuyer Hub is where prospective buyers will meet sales staff, review house types and plans and will act as both an information centre and workplace.

The site was a base for car manufacturing for more than a century so an industrial aesthetic was chosen. The Hub features locally sourced artwork and accessories, as well as items depicting classic Rover cars and scenes from the production line, while its colour palette incorporates deep blue, grey and tan alongside oak, leather and antique bronze for an upmarket feel.

As well as the Homebuyer Hub, Edward Thomas Interiors has also installed two showhomes at West Works,  the two-bedroom Bridget and the three-bedroom Rose.

Bridget has a monochrome palette with a tobacco brown accent colour, modern industrial furniture and bold wallpapers, and the Rose features soft pinks and luxurious fabrics as well as vibrant children’s bedrooms.

Concept drawings have also been prepared for an additional showhome.

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There’s no denying a professionally designed show home is a housebuilder’s primary marketing tool but when a development really needs to stand out, how else can developers use interior design more creatively? Steve Hird, director at Edward Thomas Interiors, highlights three recent case studies of unorthodox thinking.

I’ve written previously about where housebuilders can take cues from retail so an interesting brief, we fulfilled recently was for a high street retail store. Our client, a retirement living developer, had several developments in close proximity so to attract purchasers from a wider catchment, set up a retail store as a ‘hub’.

The location for this was a quintessential market town so our brief was to make the store as much of a destination as the town itself. A country chic design was installed, using furniture, wallcoverings and accessories that were representative of the client’s brand. The idea being it would be familiar but not corporate. House hunters could take time learning about the different developments and gain a sense of the lifestyle before selecting one to visit and view more closely.

Virtual show homes
Pre-marketing plays an essential role ahead of the launch of any development. But what information can you provide over and above a basic floor plan and site layout?

When a client was releasing homes for sale 12 months ahead of build, they needed more marketing collateral to support early sales. We were commissioned to produce a series of virtual showhomes, devising three deliberately contrasting designs to help house hunters understand the range of homes available and how the space within them could be used.

Not only were these CGIs given to all those who pre-registered their interest but they were also used to attract overseas purchasers and investors. We then later designed three physical showhomes, meaning interested house hunters could take inspiration from six different concepts, which greatly increased the sales rate.

Design for digital
As VR technology, video walkthroughs and interactive screens become more commonplace in the house buying journey, space needs to be accommodated for these. In sales centres, it’s advisable to plan these from the outset rather than adding later, as they require dedicated space and room to move.

For interactive screens, a zoned space within the sales office works well as it allows house hunters to view while they wait but also means a sales advisor can be nearby to present or demonstrate if required. Where developers offer site tours through VR, we’ve created separate cinema-style rooms to ensure these can take place privately and not distract from the main selling areas.

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One reason for buying a new home is because it can be entirely personalised. Steve Hird, director at Edward Thomas Interiors, looks at the evolution of options suites and why housebuilders should take cues from retail.

As buyers are exposed to more choices via social media and online platforms, the expectation for an ‘experience’ or ‘journey’ is even more prevalent. High street stores and car retailers are creating incredible, Instagrammable spaces for potential purchasers and housebuilders need to follow suit.

In the last decade or so, the sales centre concept has really evolved and a significant part of this is the presentation of options and upgrades. It’s no longer acceptable to portion a tiny corner of the sales cabin with a handful of choices. To remain competitive, housebuilders now need a dedicated area, away from the main point of enquiry, where purchasers aren’t rushed and can make decisions in peace.

So, what should an options centre look like?

A standalone space is preferable. It’s private, will have plenty of room for display and, unlike using a room within a showhome, it does not disrupt the natural flow of a house. A converted double garage has typically been the default choice for many developers but more recently, we’re seeing purpose-designed sales centres that are single level yet subtly subdivided so an options suite is positioned in an annex or side room.

In terms of presentation, this is where the retail example is crucial. All choices must be displayed to sell, meaning they are visible, easily comparable, and easy to understand what the standard range is and what is an upgrade. This includes essential options such as cabinetry, tiling and flooring but newer displays we’ve incorporated show electrical sockets, taps, sinks, shower heads and splashbacks.

A growing trend to watch is digital technology. Some housebuilders have requested in-built touchscreens or VR rooms where purchasers can mix and match their options and see how they will look. So for instance how kitchen cabinetry compares with worktops, how bathrooms look with full or half height tiling, how flooring matches, etc.

The final question is whether an options suite should follow a ‘template’ layout or be designed bespoke to suit the development.

Retaining brand identity is important, so colourways & materials should match the wider sales centre. This ensures the purchaser’s journey within the sales complex remains intact. However, an options suite is all about personalisation, so if there are opportunities to incorporate elements of the local area then this is advisable as it helps reinforce the purchaser’s connection (and commitment) to the development.

All this being said, the space must suit the customer profile too. If your development is aimed at first-time buyers, it’s no good having an exclusive, high-end hotel feel options suite that is unattainable. Similarly, if your product is executive, high six or seven figure homes, you don’t want a sparsely furnished or overly corporate environment. As always with design, the devil’s in the detail.

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Interior design for the retirement living sector requires a different approach to private residential. Potential homeowners are looking for a change of home, and also a change of lifestyle too. Steve Hird, director at Edward Thomas Interiors highlights how retirement living developers can use interior design to attract buyers.

Since Covid, the retirement sector has evolved to focus on the homeowner experience and the sociable, inclusive and connected lifestyle they can enjoy. This has translated into design briefs, with the overarching directive to be age appropriate but not old fashioned.

Try before you buy suite as designed and installed by Edward Thomas Interiors.

For individual show apartments, our approach is heavily resident-centric. We create an imaginary homeowner, are they single or in a couple, what are their hobbies and interests, how do they want to live? All this informs our designs. So show apartments might illustrate activities that are based around the home e.g. painting, sewing, reading, or include examples of how other pastimes might be enjoyed e.g. equipment neatly stored for fishing or birdwatching.

Of course, there’s a practical element to demonstrate too. At this stage of life, homeowners are often downsizing so it’s important to show how furniture might fit and different configurations of space, including how to overcome any pinch points or tricky layouts such as sloping ceilings.

           Retirement Living apartments suites as designed and installed by Edward Thomas Interiors.

Remembering that the upheaval of moving can be a deterrent so offering a solution can help set a development apart. Similarly, we’re also working with developers to deliver curtain and light packages to make it easier for new homeowners on moving day.

Of course, with the retirement market it’s not solely the new homeowner that needs to be reassured. Family and friends will often want to view and ask questions too. We design some developments with a guest suite, somewhere for visitors to stay alongside their loved one, and some even with a gender-neutral guest bedroom for grandchildren. But a popular tool is the ‘try before you buy’ suite. These are apartments designed like showhomes but with a more ‘lived-in’ feel. The idea being that potential purchasers can stay overnight or for a couple of nights to truly envision themselves in the home, understand room sizes and layouts, test kitchen and bathroom appliances, and ultimately make a more informed decision.

Try before you buy suite as designed and installed by Edward Thomas Interiors.

This concept is being taken a step further to introduce a show suite that encompasses a whole floor. This means homeowners can see a variety of apartment designs; some are fully furnished, some part-furnished and some allow for optional add-ons such as furniture, artwork and wallpaper, meaning the purchaser can build their own show apartment.

This innovation not only gives developers opportunities to showcase different layouts but is a new sales tool they can promote. On one site, there’d been no reservations for three months but after designing and installing six apartments within a show suite, four properties sold within eight weeks so it can be highly effective.”

Want to know more?

More information on Edward Thomas Interiors

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There’s no denying that show homes are one of a housebuilder’s most important marketing tools; people will always want to touch, feel and experience a home.

But when markets are challenging, and competition high, how do you keep a show home current to maximise its value? Steve Hird, director at Edward Thomas Interiors argues it’s all in the detail.

First and foremost, a show home is there to add value and help house hunters become more invested in a potential move. Ultimately a customer is buying a blank canvas, so a well-designed show home should make the buying journey more exciting, inspiring potential purchasers to think creatively. Not forgetting of course, they can also be exceptionally useful tools for plots that are compromised or to showcase a new house type that people ‘don’t get’ on plan.

Where to start?

Before issuing a brief to your interiors team, think about longevity, location and layout. How long do you expect to be selling from this show home? The average lifespan is between two and three years, so its design needs to be as forward thinking as possible. Furniture and fabrics typically follow fashion, so you can look to this industry for examples of trends that will be upcoming.

Showhomes designed, styled and refreshed by Edward Thomas Interiors.

Location is just as critical. If a show home isn’t specifically designed for a location or house type, it can end up with furniture that doesn’t enhance the space(s), or a design that simply doesn’t match the neighbourhood. It needs to have relevance so draw inspiration from local landmarks, sports teams, heritage, or the environment.

Of course, presentation and styling are essential. If there’s features of the layout you want highlighted, discuss these with your design team from the outset, don’t make them an afterthought. Pick out details that video or photograph well, this is essential not just for your own social media content but to encourage visitors to post and share their discoveries too.

Once a show home has launched, remember not to neglect it. This includes basic housekeeping like replacing room diffusers and hand soaps, washing or steaming bed linen and towels to avoid sun damage, but can also incorporate more significant upgrades. Show home refreshes are popular right now, from big budget overhauls to more thoughtful alterations, and can be implemented for various reasons.

Showhomes designed, styled and refreshed by Edward Thomas Interiors.

Some of these are simply age-related, they just need a revamp to modernise colours, materials or lighting. Some are trend-led, so a children’s playroom might now be better suited as a home office. Some are about illustrating how a family can grow with a home, for example, we’ve just updated a nursery to remove the cot and replace with a child’s bed.

Then of course there’s customer feedback. We want to remove any negative obstacles. If a room layout is proving awkward or if visitors are struggling to visualise space, then redo it. For example, we’ve replaced bunk beds with twin beds to better showcase the size of a room.

It’s important that refreshes are undertaken for a purpose though, not just the sake of change. A successful show home design should maintain a healthy footfall, adding value to the house buying process and translating into a strong sales rate.

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For most people, a home is the most expensive purchase they’ll make. So how can you style a house for them without breaking their — or your — bank? Steve Hird, director at interior design specialists, Edward Thomas Interiors shares his top tips.

As we continue facing escalating costs of living, one of the most common briefs we’re encountering is to show how developers can embrace cost conscious design and sustainable materials yet also create interiors with impact. A bespoke look on a budget, if you will.

Be space smart

The majority of today’s new homes follow an open plan layout, particularly on the ground floor, so our advice is to avoid creating pinch points with bulky objects or furniture. This ensures the home’s logical flow can still be followed.

You can subtly subdivide these rooms with wall treatments (see below) and clever lighting to create space for different activities e.g. relaxing, dining, home working.

We also seek to inspire potential home buyers by showing how they can reclaim underutilised spaces such as under the stairs, landings, hallways and alcoves with thoughtful pieces of furniture including ladder desks, occasional chairs and sideboards.Lastly, we advocate vertical thinking! TV’s, drinks stations and shelving can all be wall-mounted while bar storage, hanging planters or even pot and pan racks can be added to ceilings as stylish.

Wonderwall(s)

Wallcoverings are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to transform a room, and they don’t have to include all four walls! Feature wallpapering and panelling is very on trend and immediately adds a luxe look. But one of the most versatile treatments is painting. This can be applied in many ways, from full to half-height walls or more creatively with abstract shapes and colour block panels to frame focal points or ‘zone’ rooms for specific activities. You can even paint a ceiling canopy to add depth or make a child’s bedroom more playful.Multi-purpose items

Imagination is the limit when it comes to the uses for furniture and accessories. Much like we advocate not being tied down by the conventional badging of rooms, you can apply the same logic to everyday items. For example, we paired two sideboards together and wall hung these as a bespoke TV/ media unit. We’ve used Ikea cubed furniture to make seemingly built-in wall storage. One of our favourites we spotted recently was two breadbins joined together to make a ‘breadside table’.

Want to know more?

For more information, go to www.rdr.link/dap042

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The recent Resi Happy Homes 2023 report revealed a shift in how consumers view homes, returning to wellbeing, happiness and a renewed focus on multipurpose spaces that are both cheaper to run and enable meaningful connections. Steve Hird, director at interior design specialists, Edward Thomas Interiors looks at how we can reclaim homes with thoughtful interiors.

Reading the Sunday Times coverage of the Happy Homes Report, a standout point was about re-prioritising home use and tailoring space more towards lifestyles and hobbies than worrying about resale values. This is a trend we’ve been seeing in interiors for a while. The role of the home as multifunctional has evolved significantly post-Covid and has become a common part of a housebuilder’s brief.

So how is this achieved? As consumer attention is drawn to their own wellbeing, there’s a surface level of styling that can be introduced. For instance, how furniture is positioned to maximise daylight and views, or encourage interaction, or to avoid creating inaccessible spaces.

But there’s more to it than this. It’s important to show how a house will be used on a daily basis, both practically and imaginatively. Now this might be how rooms can be dual-purpose such as kitchens with home working stations, or bedrooms with a day bed alongside craft space, but more frequently it’s about using underutilised spaces.

Could a built-in cupboard accommodate a desk to shut away at the end of the day, be transformed as a home bar or used as a secret pantry? Can transitional spaces like landings, hallways or alcoves become useful? Reclaiming spaces like these for moments of quiet reflection, or to indulge in a hobby is key. It could be something as simple as a cosy chair on the landing for crafts or reading, to a ladder desk in the hallway for home working.

An increasingly popular space is the designer bootroom, or as I prefer to call it, the ‘bootility, where the utility morphs into a boot room! Often reserved for the chore of laundry, utilities are becoming more stylised as homeowners seek to recapture as much space as possible.

Bench seating and bespoke units allow for tidy storage of coats, boots, wet weather & seasonal sports gear, bike helmets and pet accessories, as well as the more traditional cleaning and washing equipment. Bootilities often have an exterior door too, so are great for getting outdoors and creating a designated entrance for four-legged family members!

For those in smaller properties, or apartments with single level living, this shouldn’t be a deterrent when it comes to multipurpose spaces. Physical partitions such as temporary screens make obvious distinctions but consider using walls and ceilings to mount TV’s, make vertical gardens, or create hanging bar storage. Wall treatments, including panelling, colour block painting or living walls, are a subtle way to subdivide space.

Another key finding from the report was that 73% of happy homeowners describe their homes as ‘relaxed’, ‘organised’ and ‘sociable’ – three traits a well-designed, multipurpose interior will ensure.

Want to know more?

For more information, go to www.rdr.link/xxx

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