Last Updated on March 19, 2026
As we reported last year, homeowners are spending big on remodeling! Total spending on home improvements and maintenance is expected to reach $522 billion in 2026. And believe it or not, that figure represents a slow in the growth of home remodeling spending. High costs in home affordability, as well as labor and materials, are hampering homeowners who may otherwise spend more, according to Realtor.com.
Even so, many homeowners are expected to tackle a variety of home projects this year, as the spending projection indicates. Here’s a look at key remodeling trends for 2026:
Smart design for aging in place
Whether they plan to live alone or in increasingly popular multigenerational households, homeowners are thinking ahead to the accessibility of their homes. Reports suggest that less than 4% of homes are properly suited for the disabilities common in later life. As homeowners plan for aging in place—the ability to remain safely and independently in their own home as they age—smart, integrated design choices are becoming more popular.
Read more: 3 Important things to understand about accessibility when renovating your home
Emphasis on wellness and comfort
Homeowners in 2026 are turning to a number of wellness features designed to help them live longer, healthier lives. These “silent luxuries” include everything from natural light home spas to pollutant filters and meditation pods. According to global real estate investment expo Rise, homeowners are “investing in a lifestyle where every brick, beam, and breeze is calibrated to their wellbeing.”
Read more: Silent luxury: 8 wellness features luxury home buyers are searching for right now
Warm colors and wood tones
Warm wood tones, warm neutrals, and warm pops of color are dominating the home design world in 2026. More than any paint color, people are choosing wood for their cabinets this year. Among these, more than half are choosing medium tones, signaling a shift toward an earthy warmth in the kitchen. In paint, warm neutrals are edging out the cool whites and grays that have been so popular for years. In addition, moody colors are adding big pops of personality around the house.
Read more: The popular 2026 kitchen trends are here
Stone and slab backsplashes and walls
The trend of earthy home materials continues in stone. Home decorators in 2026 are wrapping spaces like showers in stone or using methods like “tile drenching” to add contrast and color. According to Slocum and Bordelon, “we’ll be seeing fewer plain tile backsplashes and more large-format stone and slabs this year; not only that, but these backsplashes will stretch from the countertop to the wall.” In addition to creating a sense of cohesion in your home design, stone slabs allow for modernization of a space without compromising its historic design.
Read more: Bathroom design trends: What’s out and in for 2026
Outdoor entertainment zones
2026 is expected to bring in a heightened interest in defined rooms and discrete living spaces. Homeowners are trading the chaos of open floor plans for spaces that offer more privacy and a place to retreat. This trend is continuing into outdoor spaces, as well. According to Houzz, “Homeowners are treating landscapes as collections of garden rooms—distinct outdoor zones with defined purposes.” Wide, open lawns are being divided into destinations, such as dining patios, fire pit lounges, play lawns, or quiet reading nooks surrounded by greenery.
Read more: Outdoor design trends for 2025
Get in touch today to learn more about the latest home remodeling trends and how to boost the value and appeal of your home before you put it on the market.
Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate is the #1 real estate company in the Carolinas, with more than 80 offices and 1,800 agents serving communities across North and South Carolina and Georgia. As part of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the largest family-owned and operated real estate company in the United States, Howard Hanna Allen Tate offers a full suite of real estate services, including mortgage, insurance, title and relocation. For more information, visit howardhannatate.com.
