Neil Kelly has released its 2026 Home Design Trends Forecast, revealing how homeowners are increasingly prioritizing living spaces that feel grounding, warm, and reflect the natural world. The report identifies nine trends that underscore a shift away from sterile, mass-produced aesthetics toward authenticity and personal connection.
Trend #1: Return to Earth. As technology and AI accelerate, the desire for the grounding presence of nature continues to grow. Natural materials such as stone, wood, and organic textures take center stage in refined, architectural ways. "We are seeing a movement away from man-made, fabricated materials and a return to natural, organic materials especially in wood flooring and paneling," shares Mary Miksch, Design Director for Neil Kelly. "No one does wood products better than the Pacific Northwest."
Trend #2: Statement Wallpaper + Pattern Play. Wallpaper is evolving into an architectural detail, with botanical prints, moody landscapes, textured papers, and mural-style art adding personality and depth. Selah Ewert, General Manager of Neil Kelly Bend, notes that pattern play can have a big impact in entries, laundry rooms, and powder baths. Ceilings are also becoming the "fifth wall" for bold statements.
Trend #3: Warm Color Hues & Blues. Warm browns and jewel tones are trending while grey and white fade. Matt White, general manager for Neil Kelly Eugene/Springfield, observes a shift from white kitchen cabinets and tile toward darker, warmer hues. Designers anticipate deep warm purples, rich cabernet reds, dark natural greens, and teal-blue peacock hues.
Trend #4: Crafted with Intention. In an increasingly digital world, homeowners crave craftsmanship and attention to detail. Amanda Armstrong Sava, general manager Neil Kelly Seattle, shares that more clients seek hand-crafted custom pieces that bring meaning and artistry into everyday spaces, such as handrails, millwork, cabinetry, or custom tilework.
Trend #5: The New Metallics. A shift toward champagne bronze, brushed brass, warm nickel, and mixed-metal moments is underway. Rather than matching every finish, clients embrace nuanced mixing as long as the tone and temperature feel harmonious. Chrome is making a comeback as an accent paired with darker tones.
Trend #6: Vintage Meets Modern. This trend honors history while reinterpreting classic motifs for modern living. Spaces feel rooted in periods like Victorian or Craftsman but are brought into contemporary homes with modern furniture lines and simplified styling.
Trend #7: Mood-Boosting Design. Emotional quality is as important as aesthetics. Designers prioritize warmth, joy, personal connection, and restorative sanctuaries. Color psychology, lighter palettes in high-traffic areas, and immersive deeper tones in bedrooms and lounges will increase. Scent, sound, and tactile materials become part of whole-home design planning.
Trend #8: Staying Ahead of the Curve. Soft, flowing curves replace straight lines and hard edges. Curves, circles, and sculptural shapes appear in architecture and furniture, adding movement and warmth. Expect curves in showers, arched openings, barrel vaulted ceilings, round countertops, and fluted moldings.
Trend #9: Designing for Health & Wellness. Matt White predicts an uptick in requests for sauna rooms, steam showers, and home gyms. "With infrared saunas and cold plunges trending, clients are prioritizing spaces that support daily self-care and long-term wellness in the comfort of their home," says White.
For more than 70 years, Neil Kelly has built a reputation for award-winning design, innovative practices, and craftsmanship. The company is a certified benefit corporation (B Corporation) with locations in Portland, Seattle, Bend, and Eugene. Homeowners can learn more at www.neilkelly.com.
