Apartment design priorities are expanding beyond individual living spaces as renters increasingly value shared entertainment areas, connected technology and flexible work facilities. Greystar’s 2026 Design Survey Report, based on feedback from more than 182,000 U.S. residents, identifies changing preferences that could influence the design and development of future rental communities.
The report combines three years of resident feedback collected between January 2023 and December 2025. Its findings highlight both long-standing apartment requirements and growing interest in amenities that support social interaction, recreation and work.
Practical apartment features remain central to rental decisions. Expansive closets ranked first among the surveyed preferences, with 38% of respondents indicating they would not rent an apartment without one.
Natural light attracted interest from 86% of residents, while 31% considered it essential. Fresh-air ventilation was desirable or essential to 85% of respondents, with demand reaching 87% in urban neighbourhoods.
Fitness centres and covered parking each received interest from 83% of residents. More than two-thirds of respondents said they regularly use their property's fitness facilities, while covered parking was particularly popular in the Midwest, Southwest and California.
Social and recreational amenities recorded some of the largest increases in renter interest during the three-year survey period. Demand for clubhouses and entertainment spaces climbed seven percentage points, from 55% in 2023 to 62% in 2025.
Other amenities gaining attention included gaming rooms, maker spaces, multi-sport simulators, karaoke rooms, outdoor cinemas and cafés. The findings point to growing interest in community spaces that allow residents to socialise and participate in recreational activities without leaving their properties.
For developers and design teams, these preferences provide insight into how shared spaces can be incorporated into new apartment projects and community upgrades.
Technology-related amenities also gained ground. Interest in managed Wi-Fi, which provides a private wireless network across a residential property, increased from 60% to 66% between 2023 and 2025.
Co-working spaces recorded a five-percentage-point increase, rising from 29% to 34%. The trend reflects continued demand for residential environments that accommodate remote and hybrid working arrangements.
Greystar said the survey findings are used to inform design, engineering and development decisions, including choices about apartment finishes, built-in storage and community amenities.
The survey provides developers, architects and property owners with data on the features residents consider essential and the amenities they value when selecting an apartment. Its findings suggest that successful multifamily planning increasingly requires a balance between functional apartment layouts and shared spaces that support residents' social, recreational and professional needs.
Source: Greystar.
