STRASBURG — When showing a house to clients, Realtor Amy Jett makes sure they see a home.

Whether it’s by helping buyers visualize where they’ll place the family Christmas tree or figure out what color to paint their front door, knowing today’s popular home trends allows Jett to help her buyers make the most informed decisions when buying their dream home.

“For me, it’s about a house that could become your home in a neighborhood that you love,” Jett said. “But maybe it has a really great basement, but it might feel a little too dark. Knowing how to transform a space from dark to light with something as simple as paint, it’s all of a sudden a great party space. You could put in a bar and suddenly everyone’s watching football at your house.”

Helping a client find a home is much more than signing on the dotted line and passing off the keys, Jett said. It’s about how her clients can use the space — whether it’s a young couple wanting to grow their family or for the crafter seeking a corner to create in.

“Clients will come to you and they will tell you the basics of what they need,” Jett said. “You want to have enough knowledge about what’s trending and popular so you can look for that perfect property that when they walk in they can call it home.”

Jett said trends come and go. Similar to seeing a fashionable haircut on one person and then on a hundred, house trends ebb and flow.

“Buying a home is the biggest investment you’re going to ever make,” she said. “You’re spending more money on that than most anything else that you’re ever going to spend money on so you want to make it perfect, or pretty close to it.”

To be able to do that, Jett said today’s buyers are looking for move-in-ready homes, which also happens to one of the biggest trends of the year. Gone are the days of purchasing homes that need massive renovations. Rather, buyers are seeking homes that need minimal changes, such as a fresh coat of paint on an accent wall or new knobs on bathroom cabinets.

Colors

As for what colors are attracting buyers right now, Jett said shades of blue are popular for inside and outside the home.

“Continental blue is becoming popular for outdoor use,” Jett said. “It’s a beautiful deep blue with a gray undertone. You can add a pop of burgundy as an accent with a bright white trim.”

Shades of blue are becoming a staple in kitchens. Jett followed the trend by updating her kitchen cabinets.

“There are different ways to make a room feel based on something as simple as what colors and where you place them. It doesn’t have to be white or gray walls. It can be an accent color — paint is inexpensive and something easy to change over time.”

Another popular exterior color palette Jett is seeing this year are muted grays, with dark wood or accent colors. It’s not quite black, she said, but almost so. Again, with a pop of white.

Dark exterior homes such as gray with black trim and a stone accent or a dark brown door, are starting to make a comeback throughout the Valley.

Cozy spaces

Inside the home, Jett said buyers are seeking rooms that feel cozy, like a reading nook in a corner of a room that can be used dual-purposely, such as an office, guest room or playroom.

“People are now starting to come out of working from home, back into working on site. Not everyone needs a dedicated office anymore.”

Wallpaper

Also in the interior, Jett said she’s noticed while showing homes to buyers, that heavier curtains are returning as well as the use of wallpaper.

“It’s so easy to use now because it’s all peel and stick,” she said. “You don’t have to use all that glue because it goes on and off easily.”

Jett, who loves a bold wallpaper statement, said she enjoys sharing her ideas with buyers who may see a blank wall, where she may see an accent wall with endless possibilities.

“When you walk into a home, it’s a blank slate,” she said. “By imagining the possibilities, such as a bright, bold, dark wallpaper with flowers, I’m helping them imagine what they could do to create their ideal space.”

Homeowners making minimal changes are updating their kitchen and bathrooms with color-appropriate appliances, fixtures, flooring and countertops as well as fresh coats of paint on cabinets.

“For several years everything was gray,” Jett said. “It’s starting to brighten up with pops of color. Lighter flooring and countertops, but having darker appliances.”

Outdoor features

Other exterior trends Jett is seeing are outdoor living spaces, impeccable views and water features.

“Gurgling water while they’re reading their book and enjoying the birds singing,” she said.