The 10 Home Trends Designers Are Betting Will Only Get Bigger in 2026

I can’t believe we’re already over halfway through 2026, which has me wondering about which home trends are going to carry on for the rest of the year. The new colors, materials, and home features that came to the fore around January 1 won’t all be relevant come the end of December, of course. But a few will continue to reign supreme. 

What will they be? I spoke with five designers across the country, and they zeroed in on these particular 10 trends. Keep an eye out for them, and let’s check in before the end of 2026 to see if they were right. 

Home design is all about personality over perfection these days, explains designer Cody Brown, the co-founder of Bridges Brown Interiors. “The biggest shift we’re seeing in the second half of 2026 is homeowners moving away from spaces that feel staged in favor of homes that tell a personal story,” he says. 

Looking to better embrace this vibe within your own house? Going the secondhand route with some furnishings is often key. “Clients are investing in collected interiors with antiques, vintage finds, handcrafted pieces, and meaningful artwork rather than filling every room with matching furniture,” Brown explains. Go ahead and buy that quirky piece, or embrace your favorite paint color no matter what the “color of the year” is. That’ll make your space feel all its own. 

Brown has also witnessed a shift in the home materials his clients are eager to incorporate into their spaces. “We’re seeing a clear departure from cool, flat minimalism,” he says. “Instead, homeowners are embracing richer wood tones, tactile materials, plaster-like finishes, statement stone, and thoughtful architectural details that create warmth without adding clutter.” 

The end result? Brown says it’s homes that “balance restraint with character.” 

Who says you have to leave home to enjoy some of your favorite spa-like amenities? “Folks are leaning into wellness these days, and we’ve received several requests to integrate saunas, steam rooms, and cold plunges into residential home designs,” explains designer Gina Elkins, the founder of Studio Casa Vita. 

Her goal, she says, is to integrate such features in a thoughtful, natural way. The idea is to “make them feel like part of the home — not a commercial gym.” That means being thoughtful about finishes, sizing, and even where you put these wellness spaces. The backyard is a natural location, but you can also thoughtfully integrate these features into basements and even bathrooms, in some cases. 

Open floor plans have been declining in popularity for years now. Beyond that, though, Elkins has also seen her clients requesting more defined spaces than ever before. “People are looking for things like built-in banquettes and ‘moments for pause’ in the home to counter the wildness of the outside world,” she says. “We play with this through ceiling heights, entry scale, and dark, moody corners.”

Remember “covecore?” Alcoves and nooks aren’t going anywhere. If you’re renovating or refreshing your kitchen, bathroom, or even bedroom, consider adding a nook for extra charm and that cozy, enclosed, cocoon-like feeling.

Having such defined spaces — and doors that open and close around these little worlds — may also play to homeowners’ hobbies and interests, adds designer Krystal Reinhard, the founder of Old Soul Design Studio. 

“Once formal, rarely used rooms are out, and we’re designing spaces for the way our clients actually live,” she says. “Homes are becoming more personalized with rooms designed around daily rituals rather than the status quo — reading rooms, listening rooms, wellness rooms, creative studios, and home libraries are just a few examples we’re seeing in demand.” 

Natural wood in the kitchen will continue to shine, according to designer Jessica Hobson. “White oak continues to be a strong contender, but I find the trend shifting to darker shades like natural walnut,” she says. 

If an all-natural-wood-finish-everywhere kitchen feels like it’s visually too much for you, an accent feature can be just as striking. Hobson suggests “going for a gorgeous wood island with painted exterior cabinets in a kitchen” instead. 

Hobson has enjoyed how open her clients have been to mixing metals lately. She says this look is “here to stay” for the foreseeable future. “It adds such a layered element of interest to the space,” she says. 

Her favorite metal pairing? Mixing aged brass with polished nickel, which feels both unexpected and fresh. 

Speaking of mixing metals, unlacquered brass is — and will continue to be — majorly on trend, explains designer Kira Young, the founder of High Tide Design. She and other designers seem to love the way this material patinas over time. “Natural character is something to be celebrated,” she says. 

One thing to know about unlacquered brass, though, is that spots and stains are par for the course. The appearance will darken, too, over time. So just be sure that you’re OK with that kind of “living” finish. 

Move over, tranquil hues! According to Hobson, bold, colorful spaces are here to stay. “I am rarely getting requests for neutral spaces anymore,” she says. “Layered, cozy spaces continue to trend for 2026 and will keep on going, so don’t be afraid to mix and pile on the pattern!” 

With that, color drenching will stay in style too, Reinhard adds. “Instead of a single accent wall, we’re designing spaces enveloped in one rich color across walls, trim, ceilings, and millwork,” she says. “Charcoal, espresso browns, aubergines, and warm blues are our go-to palette.” 

Don’t neglect the ceilings, either, Reinhard warns. “For the rest of 2026, ceilings will continue to reign through color drenching, artisan wallpaper, exposed wood beams, and custom millwork,” she says. 

“Homeowners are no longer satisfied with spaces that feel one-dimensional, which means looking up is no longer optional,” she adds. Paint is the cheapest way to make an impact here, but you have plenty of other options, including coffered ceilings, which have been on the rise again, too.