Houzz Says Homeowners Are Done With Minimalism — 5 Trends Taking Over

Move over, white walls, gray floors, and matching furniture. Houzz says homeowners are increasingly favoring warmer, more personal spaces.

Houzz asked nearly 50 home design and construction professionals what clients are requesting now and which ideas appear likely to stick around for its 2026 U.S. Houzz Fall Design Trends Report. The findings suggest homeowners are embracing warmer finishes, natural materials, and rooms that feel less polished and more personal.

The report highlights five home design trends homeowners can expect to see more of this fall.

Warm Paint Colors and Wood Tones Are Replacing Stark White and Gray

Houzz says the move toward warmer interiors is continuing this fall. Instead of using a single warm color as an accent, homeowners are bringing warmth to several parts of a room.

Wood cabinets and furniture can add it, as can earthy wall colors or brass and bronze finishes. Plaster-style walls and handmade-looking tile can bring in warmer tones without requiring a major remodel.

“We are seeing clients ask for more warmth, texture and character,” general contractor Nathan Svoboda of Wichita Home Works told Houzz. “Instead of plain white-and-gray spaces, homeowners are gravitating toward warm wood tones, plaster-style walls, handmade-looking tile, aged brass or bronze finishes, earthy colors and old-world or Mediterranean-inspired details.”

People Are Moving Away From Matching Furniture and Minimalism

A room doesn’t need to look like everything came from the same store. Houzz found growing interest in interiors that mix old and new pieces and leave room for things homeowners already own.

Vintage furniture can sit beside newer pieces. Artwork, family items, and furniture picked up over the years can stay rather than getting replaced just to match a new decorating scheme.

“More than any single material, clients want their homes to feel collected and personal rather than brand new and overly polished,” designer Judi Lee-Carr of Jubilee Interiors told Houzz.

Homeowners Are Choosing Personal Design Details Instead of Decorating for Resale

Houzz also found more homeowners choosing what they actually want to live with instead of sticking closely to neutral choices they think a future buyer might prefer.

That can show up in wallpaper, an unusual tile pattern, inherited furniture, or a paint color with more personality. Original features in an older home can also become part of the design rather than something automatically covered or replaced.

Materials with some variation fit this look too. A handmade tile doesn’t have to look identical from piece to piece, and an older metal finish can change with age. Those differences can make a room feel less manufactured.

Natural Stone, Wood, and Handmade Tile Are Showing More Texture

Wood cabinets and stone countertops aren’t new, but Houzz says homeowners are paying more attention to the natural differences within those materials.

Stone sinks are one example. Natural stone is also appearing in furniture and light fixtures. On countertops, honed and leathered finishes offer an alternative to highly polished stone. Handmade or high-variation tile can bring noticeable differences in color and surface from one piece to the next.

“Rather than relying on highly polished finishes, clients are gravitating toward natural wood, textured stone, handcrafted tile and materials that develop character over time,” architect Donovan Davis of Danze & Davis Architects told Houzz.

Home Design Trends Are Putting More Focus on Aging in Place and Flexible Spaces

Designers are also thinking about whether a house will continue to work for its owners years from now, according to Houzz. That can include wider paths through a room, curbless showers, easy-access storage, and layouts that don’t become difficult to use later in life. Houzz also highlights accessory dwelling units and secondary suites that can accommodate relatives, guests, or future needs.

The same idea applies to rooms inside the main house. A space designed for one purpose today may need to do something different several years from now. Planning for that possibility can give homeowners more options without requiring another major renovation.

Together, the trends show growing interest in homes that feel warmer, more personal, and better suited to how homeowners expect to live over time.

Sources

• Houzz, “5 Home Design Trends Pros Say Have Staying Power in 2026”
• Houzz, “2026 U.S. Houzz Fall Design Trends Report”
• Houzz, “2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study: Renovation Trends”
• Nathan Svoboda, general contractor at Wichita Home Works; quoted in Houzz’s 2026 home design trend report.
• Judi Lee-Carr, designer at Jubilee Interiors; quoted in Houzz’s 2026 home design trend report.
• Donovan Davis, architect at Danze & Davis Architects; quoted in Houzz’s 2026 home design trend report.

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