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8 hot home trends for summer and beyond
As open windows bring breezes indoors, many homeowners are taking a fresh look at their living spaces. Softer design elements, places for games and wellness, and earth-friendly choices are just a few ideas highlighted in the 2026 Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report, which shares results from an analysis of year-over-year growth in searches on Houzz from January through March 2026 compared with the same period last year. Could any of them uplift your own home? Have a look.
1. Curves and Soft Geometry
Design by Schloegel Design Remodel; photo by Matthew Anderson
Design elements with soft silhouettes, such as scalloped edges, arches, and wavy designs, create an easygoing feel that’s just right for summer. The kitchen is a particular focus: Searches for “arched range hood” are up by 177%; “arched pantry door,” by 130%; “rounded kitchen island,” by 123%; and “curved peninsula and islands,” by 61%. Among tile types, searches for “scalloped tile” have more than tripled, while searches for “wave tile” have risen by 38%. Even staircases, which tend to be more linear, aren’t sitting out the trend; searches for “curved staircase” are up by 66%.
Try this: Bring in gently rounded kitchen counter stools or an island curved at one end, as seen in this kitchen by Schloegel Design Remodel.
2. Tactile Textures
Design by Vision Interiors
Texture is having a major moment, with growing interest in surfaces that add depth and a touchable nature. Sandstone, which is made of weathered sand grains and feels great under bare feet, has seen a big jump in particular, with search volume up by 257%. Among wall finishes, searches for linen wallpaper have more than doubled, those for Venetian plaster and seagrass wallpaper are both up by 94%, and those for limewash interior paint are up by 53%. The tactile boost doesn’t stop at finishes either, as searches for wainscoting — a decorative and protective architectural detail that adds dimension — are up by 32%. And for floors, searches for travertine are up by 84%, while those for terra cotta, a ceramic made of baked clay often seen in the sunny Southwest, are up by 55%.
Try this: Clad an accent wall in a material with a luxurious feel, as Vision Interiors did in the bedroom seen here.
3. Warm, Earthy Colors
Design by Northside Design Collective; photo by Jack Robert Photography
Colors are taking a sophisticated, earthy turn in living spaces. Searches for “rust colors,” for example, have nearly tripled, while those for “chocolate brown” are up by two and a half times. The forest is calling too, nodding to lakeside camps and fireside sing-alongs: “Mushroom color” is up by 69%; “olive green,” by 57%; and “sage,” by 55%. Rounding out the trend are searches for “taupe,” up by 50%, and “cream,” up by 44%.
Try this: Layer in earthy hues through accent chairs, pillows, rugs, and curtains, as Northside Design Collective did in this living area. Not sure which colors are for you? Have your designer put together an easily revisable digital mood board.
4. Nostalgic Spaces
Design by Refined Interiors
Long summer days create the perfect opportunity to unplug, gather with family and friends, and rediscover the simple pleasures of analog entertainment. As vacations allow for more connection with family and friends, it’s no wonder that searches are on the rise for rooms designed to bring people together through shared activities and entertainment. “Card room” is up by 129%, for instance; “puzzle room,” by 51%; “board game room,” by 45%; and “poker room” and “playroom,” both by 38%. But the biggest winner in gaming areas? That would be “mahjong room,” up by a whopping 20 times. As for other spaces, searches for “speakeasy” are up by 75%, conjuring the Roaring Twenties, and searches for “bibliothèque” are up by 191%, indicating a yearning to bring French libraries of the past into the home today.
Try this: Creating a space for connection and play can be as simple as setting any board game, puzzle, or deck of cards on a table and pulling up some seats. Refined Interiors placed a 3D tic-tac-toe board in the cocoon-style room corner seen here, but consider it dealer’s choice. Bonus points for closed storage that can house a range of games while keeping the look tidy.
5. Wellness Retreats
Design by Tays & Co. Design Studios; architecture by Marka Architecture; cabinetry by Tischler Wood; photo by Taylor Hall O’Brien
Many people are increasingly considering the home a sanctuary. No wonder, then, that searches for “wellness rooms” and “calming” are up by 164% and 139%, respectively. “Biophilic design,” which focuses on bringing natural elements into built environments, has ticked upward by 112%, and “spa,” which needs no explanation, has risen by 68%. Fitting in physical fitness without leaving home is on the upswing, too, with searches for “home gym” up by 46%. “Sensory room” may be a new concept for some folks, but searches around these spaces that use lighting, sounds, textures, and more to soothe the mind and body have gone up by 43%. And yoga, which is about as ancient a body-mind practice as it gets, is up by 20%.
Try this: Create a restorative atmosphere with sensory elements such as dimmable lighting, soft textiles, calming scents, and nature-inspired sounds. Consider carving out a quiet corner for relaxation or exercise with nearby shelving to stow related items — books, free weights, foam rollers, towels, and the like — as Tays & Co. Design Studios did in the room here. Notice too how Marka Architecture gave the room plenty of natural light and a connection to the outdoors.
6. Eco-Friendly Choices
Design by Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction
Running barefoot on the grass, watching a river dance in the rain, catching rays on the beach … warmer weather often means more communing with Mother Nature. And that can have its own ripple effect of making planet-friendly choices for the home. Searches for “solar energy” have surged by more than 17 times, for starters. Among materials, searches for “repurposed materials” nearly tripled; those for “permeable patio” are up by 137%; “recycled glass countertop,” by 84%; and “bamboo flooring,” by 32%. “Low-voltage lighting,” which saves energy and is kinder to wildlife, is up by 162%, and “native landscape,” which tends to require less supplemental water and provide better shelter and sustenance for wildlife, is up by 59%. Looking at architecture, “passive house,” meaning a home that has a lower carbon footprint and energy use than a traditional one,” is up by 37%. And the blanket term “sustainable,” which can be applied to any number of interior and exterior elements, is up by 42%.
Try this: The home seen here, by Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction, has eco-friendly solar panels and native landscaping. Planting native grasses and wildflowers in a front yard can be a fun project for the whole family that supports long-term environmental goals while enhancing the beauty of the property.
7. Compact Outdoor Areas
Design by The Design Shop; construction by New Leaf Custom Homes; photo by Costa Christ
As homeowners look to maximize the square footage of their outdoor living spaces, interest in smaller-scale landscapes is on the rise. Searches for “small front yards” are up by 79%; “small courtyards,” by 63%; “small patio garden,” by 57%; and “small backyards,” by 43%. A small patio can feel like a lush retreat with the right container plantings, and trellises can turn a one-dimensional ground-level garden into an immersive experience.
Try this: A thoughtful layout and furnishings can help compact spaces feel welcoming and expansive, as with this patio built by New Leaf Custom Homes. Working with a larger area? Consider parceling it into zones, or converting some square footage into storage or low-maintenance native plantings.
8. European Garden Romanticism
Design by CLC Landscape Design
Thoughts of summer adventures abroad — wandering down cobblestone streets, perhaps enjoying a cuppa, pastry, or glass of vino along the way — might be behind this European-inspired trend. Searches for “French courtyards” are up by 481%; “Italian courtyards,” by 352%; “cottage patios,” by 204%; and “English cottage patios,” by 131%. If you love rambling roses or a fountain the birds flock to, and perhaps some sculptural stone planters set on beds of crunchy gravel, you’re in the right frame of mind.
Try this: French and Italian courtyards have an orderly sensibility, as in the space by CLC Landscape Design seen here. Consider structuring garden beds with crisp edging and distinct planting layers. Add a classic water feature and some stone planters, and you might feel positively transported no matter where your garden is.
This story was produced by Houzz and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
