What Railing Trends Should Northern Virginia and Maryland Homeowners Watch?

When you’re investing in an outdoor living space, it can feel like an endless list of decisions. Decking. Layout. Paint colors. Lighting. Fans. It’s a lot, especially considering these spaces are a big investment that you’ll want to enjoy for years down the line. If you’re struggling with your railing choices, here are some top railing trends to help you focus your design and material choices.

6 Railing Trends for a Timeless Outdoor Living Space

When people think of trends, they often assume that means something popular in the moment but ultimately a fad. (Hello, pink countertops.) But when you notice these trends over time, you begin to see what people value and appreciate—regardless of the season or even the year.

As a custom high-end design and build team, we’ve seen these trends dominating the railing space year in and year out. If you’re feeling unsure about your railing choices, start with these trends.

1. Integrate lighting.

One of the biggest trends in the railing world has been the increasing use of lighting. Design and build teams have seen a consistent, exponential increase in people who are interested in integrating lighting directly into the railing system.

This likely comes down to several reasons:

• Outdoor living spaces are becoming as thoughtfully designed as any interior space. People are increasingly making these areas truly four-season rooms. As homeowners look to maximize their time in these spaces, it makes sense they want lighting for the safety, functionality, and ambiance.
• With the rise in the prevalence and availability of LEDs, it’s less expensive now to operate exterior lighting.
• As lighting becomes more common, more and more companies are accommodating for it right in the railing design. Today, you’re able to run wiring directly through the railing itself, meaning you don’t have the hazard or eyesore of all that extra wiring.

2. Opt for LEDs.

LED bulbs are increasingly popular with exterior lighting. This comes down to three major benefits.

They:

• Offer excellent light coverage.
• Plug into regular outlets. (No need to upgrade those 120-volt outlets to 220!)
• Are efficient and cost effective to run. 

LED lights as a trend is a no-brainer. They’re a great option for you, your wallet, and the planet. 

3. Make it customizable.

With the rise of smart home features, homeowners are used to being able to control and customize different aspects of their home.

With a tap on their phone, they can adjust:

• Temperature
• Lighting
• Security settings
• Blinds
• Locks
• Speakers

(Photo courtesy of Regal Ideas.)

So, it’s no surprise that the ability to control the lighting integrated into railing is an on-the-rise trend. From bulb color to dimming features, homeowners can now seamlessly adjust the lighting in their outdoor living space.

This is just one example of how people are increasingly enjoying the conveniences and amenities of the interior home in the outdoors now.

4. Use tempered glass.

As outdoor living spaces become more elaborate, beautiful, artfully designed, and functional, there’s also been a rise in the use of high-end materials. This has helped make tempered glass railings a trending choice for several years.

While using tempered glass in your railing system offers a host of benefits, it does come with a higher initial cost than most railing materials.

Despite the price tag of $400 to $600 per linear foot, many high-end custom builds are opting for this material thanks to its:

• Beauty
• Durability
• Safety
• Versatility
• View preservation

5. Mix and match pickets and railings. 

One of the big goals with any custom outdoor living space is making it feel like an organic part of the existing home. You never want to build a new screen porch or deck only to have it feel like the style, materials, and overall aesthetic are completely at odds with what’s already there.

One way to make any new structure feel more integrated is by mixing and matching from available railings and pickets (also called balusters or spindles). This approach ensures the new structure will look and feel aligned with everything from the decking board color to the shutters on the house.

If you’re having trouble finding railing components that complement each other and work in an overall design, that’s part of what you’re paying for with a custom design and build firm. If you need it, lean heavily on the expertise of your design team. They can take their industry knowledge and eye for design, combine it with your preferences and suggestions, and come up with a solution that works for your life and looks great.

(Photo courtesy TimberTech AZEK.)

6. Go classic with the coloring.

With so many options, choosing a color and style for your railings can feel challenging. But the trends, year over year, reveal that people like to go classic with their railing colors.

According to Regal Ideas, some of the most popular colors include:

• Flat black (a consistent top seller)
• White
• Textured black
• Yard bronze

As the buying trends reveal, railings are a great place to go neutral and classic. Then, when you do opt for pops of color of areas of visual interest, they complement that railing system well.

Hey, Northern Virginia and Maryland Homeowners! What Would Your Dream Railings Look Like?

Have any questions about railings? Not sure what your railing options even are? Want an expert opinion about which railing would be the best fit for your ideal outdoor living space?

Reach out to Design Builders today. For decades, we’ve been helping Northern Virginia and Maryland homeowners create custom, luxury outdoor living spaces that enhance their properties…and their lives. We’re always happy to answer questions and help!