Houzz has released its 2026 Fall Design Trends Report. The following collection of trending home design themes came from interviews with nearly 50 home design professionals.
Warmth is the new baseline
The move away from stark white and gray interiors continues—as was seen in the 2026 U.S. Houzz Emerging Trends Report—but warmth is now less of a trend and more of a foundation for home design. Pros on Houzz say homeowners aren’t just swapping cool finishes for warm ones. They’re layering warm wood tones, earthy colors, multiple textures, and natural materials to give rooms more depth and personality.
Collected, layered interiors take hold
The shift away from minimalism also continues to gain momentum, evolving from simple accent choices into rooms that feel thoughtfully assembled over time. Pros say homeowners are favoring character, history, and personal storytelling over off-the-shelf perfection.
Character and personality matter more than perfection
Pros are seeing a deeper appreciation for materials and details that carry a sense of history. Handcrafted tile, artisan plaster, natural stone, aged metals, vintage pieces, and original architectural elements all contribute to a lived-in look that prioritizes authenticity over too-precious surfaces.
Meanwhile, homeowners are less interested in designing for resale or following a prescribed look and more interested in creating spaces that reflect their lifestyles. Pros describe clients asking for homes that feel deeply personal, whether it’s the layouts and materials they choose or the objects they display. That shift is also giving homeowners more confidence to make individual choices, including unusual tile patterns, expressive wallpaper, distinctive furnishings, and colors they love.
Natural materials get more expressive
The interest in natural materials is moving beyond simply choosing wood cabinetry or a stone countertop. Pros are seeing more appreciation for the variation, texture, and imperfections that make natural materials feel authentic. Natural stone is showing up in unexpected applications, including sinks, furniture, and lighting. Handmade and high-variation tile, honed and leathered stone, plaster, and warm wood all contribute to a more tactile look.
Pros are designing homes to evolve
Long-term livability is becoming a standard of good design rather than something homeowners address only when a need arises. The 2026 Houzz & Home Study found that nearly two-thirds of homeowners (61%) plan to stay in their homes for 11 years or more following a renovation and 44% describe their residence as a forever home.
Pros report a rise in requests for features that make a home comfortable to navigate at any stage of life, but the mindset extends well beyond physical accessibility. ADUs and secondary suites are being designed to accommodate multigenerational living, extended guest stays, rental income, and future family needs. Meanwhile, dedicated wellness amenities like saunas, cold plunges, and meditation spaces offer new ways for a home to support evolving well-being routines.
About Houzz
Houzz’s AI-driven platform for construction and design is used by more than 3 million construction and design industry professionals and over 70 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts around the world. The company’s cloud-based, project management and design software, Houzz Pro, helps pros win projects, collaborate with clients and teams, and run their businesses efficiently and profitably. Houzz Pro also provides pros and their clients with 24/7 access to project information, 3D visualizations, and financial tools. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and buy products. Houzz and Houzz Pro are available on the web and as top-rated mobile apps.
