interior design news

Elegant traditional style to lead home design in 2026, Houzz predicts

The experts at Houzz have made their 2026 home design predictions, and if Houston homeowners follow the trends, next year homes will be filled with traditional design with sleek Art Deco details. There will be a few modern touches sprinkled throughout, too, in the form of updated fixtures and countertops.

The interior design platform developed its top 11 design trend predictions after surveying its community of more than 70 million homeowners and 3 million construction and design professionals. Here is a closer look at their predictions for 2026 home design:

Traditional style
Homeowners who embraced their "cottagecore"-inspired English-style kitchens in 2025 are getting the green light to extend the traditional style outside of the kitchen and into the rest of the home. Houzz's report said traditional design is making a subtle, elegant return "led by English country and Tudor influences."

In kitchens, homeowners can rely on arched range hoods and rich wood cabinetry to bring the English charm, while the rest of the home can introduce "curves, arches, and scalloped edges to soften spaces."

"Built-ins, paneling, and detailed millwork add depth and character," the report added. "Earthy tones like olive green, taupe, and deep brown, along with stained woods and muted blues or burgundies, reinforce the timeless appeal."

Flat-panel cabinets and vanities
This may seem contradictory to the overall traditional style, but Houzz suggests flat-panel cabinets provide a timeless look in traditional- or transitional-style areas of the home. Their sleek surfaces make for easy cleaning (especially in a well-loved kitchen) and homeowners are opting for real wood tones or matte finishes to highlight the minimalist aesthetic while still feeling cozy and inviting.

Houzz 2026 home design predictions, flat-panel cabinets and vanities Flat-panel cabinetry provides a seamless look that is also practical for being easy to clean.Photo by JM Real Estate Photography / Celaya | Soloway Interiors

Flat-panel cabinetry is the second-most popular cabinet style, following the classic Shaker cabinets, according to Houzz's 2025 "Kitchen Trends Study."

Natural stone slabs
"Quiet elegance" seems to be an ongoing theme for 2026, and homeowners are seeking out natural stone countertops and backsplashes to turn this idea into reality. Materials like quartzite and marble make a space feel "organic and luxurious" without drawing too much attention to it. And when paired with flat-panel, real wood cabinets, these countertops can create a classic look.

Checkerboard
Checkerboard tile flooring is emerging as a top design trend for both homeowners and renters that want to add character to their kitchens or bathrooms. Houzz said professional designers are taking the trend up a notch by introducing jewel tones like emerald, oxblood, and burgundy rather than relying on the classic black and white tiles.

"High-quality materials like honed marble and handmade terra cotta elevate the look and age gracefully over time, striking a balance between timeless charm and modern flair," the report said.

However, renters can achieve a similar look by using peel-and-stick checkerboard tile, which is a popular and affordable option to spruce up drab apartment flooring without making a permanent change.

Wall-mounted bathroom faucets
A recent Houzz study analyzing popular bathroom trends revealed faucets are the No. 1 most upgraded fixture during renovation projects, and the most sought-after replacement is for wall-mounted faucets due to their "sleek, streamlined look and practical benefits."

"By mounting the spout and handles above the sink, countertops stay clear, making cleaning easier," the report said. "Wall-mounted faucets also save valuable space in compact vanities, freeing up countertops for essentials."

Wall-mounted faucets also offer greater flexibility than deck-mounted ones because they can work with vessel sinks, double sinks, and custom-made sinks, the report added.

Zoned built-ins
This trending living room feature is a solution for maximizing space while adding functionality. Built-in walls can combine the TV space with the fireplace, storage, and even beverage stations, according to Houzz.

"By maximizing wall space, they reduce the need for extra furniture, making rooms feel more open," the report said. "Custom shelving allows homeowners to display decor while closed cabinetry keeps essentials neatly tucked away."

Houzz 2026 home design predictions, rendering of a zoned built-in space This built-in wall combines a bar with the fireplace, TV, decorative shelving, and closed storage spaces.Rendering courtesy of Houzz

Designers also encourage mixing materials, textures, and colors with these spaces to increase visual interest. Homeowners can combine wood cabinetry with natural stone countertops and add glass shelving or metal accents.

The resurgence of Art Deco style
It's time to bring out all of The Great Gatsby-themed party decor from 2013 and give the home a modern 2026 refresh. Art Deco is expected to have a great revival next year, with chevron patterns, brass metal accents, and jewel tones all making grand returns to the spotlight.

"This trend blends historical sophistication with contemporary sensibilities, creating spaces that feel opulent and modern," Houzz said.

Houzz 2026 home design predictions, warm yellow accents

Photo by Miranda Estes / Jackson Design Build

Warm yellow accents make a space feel homey and comfortable.

Warm yellow accents
Design enthusiasts who haven't quite perfected their spaces yet are probably missing an earthy accent color. Houzz said yellow tones like ocher, mustard, and honey are becoming top choices for adding warmth to a room. Homeowners can implement these colors in furniture like a velvet sofa, wall paint, or textiles like pillow covers or throw blankets.

Outdoor gardens
If there's any lesson to take from this year to the next, it's that everyone needs to touch more grass. And Houzz has revealed more and more homeowners are turning their lawns into outdoor gardens blooming with hedges, planters, and other greenery. In addition to creating little "destinations" such as a fire lounge, reading nook, and dining patio, landscape architects are also designing natural or man-made pathways to "define boundaries while maintaining flow and cohesion."

"This creates a sense of discovery even in compact yards and makes outdoor spaces appear larger and more intentional," the report said. "The result is a layered landscape that feels structured and inviting with multiple places to relax, entertain, and connect with nature."

Transparent renovation projects and "immersive visualization" through the use of augmented reality
Houzz's final two home design predictions for 2026 are less about design and more about the logistics of planning a renovation project.

According to the report, homeowners are seeking "more openness and clarity" when it comes to the timeline for renovation projects, and they desire better communication from their hired professionals. Expectations are especially high for a costly endeavor, Houzz said, with homeowners requesting "digital project dashboards complete with easy-to-follow schedules, visual progress updates, and payment timelines" to keep them informed about every step of the process.

Homeowners are additionally turning toward augmented reality (AR) models to help them visualize how their finished spaces will look before any demolition work begins, Houzz added.

"Seeing the finished space digitally before demo day is quickly becoming the norm rather than the exception," the report said.

home design home design trends houzz

inside long weekend

How a Houston couple's Santa Fe ranch inspired their family-friendly hotspot

Photo by Marco Wang

Buildings on the family's ranch inspired the custom bar canopy.

In just under three months, Long Weekend — the new family-friendly, breakfast-to-dinner hotspot — has settled in to its home in Lazybrook/Timbergrove, just a smidge west of the Heights. The 20,000-square-foot property manages to house a quaint cafe, full-scale restaurant and bar, private dining space, and a menagerie of outdoor spaces for cocktails, dining, lounging, concerts, plus dedicated kid’s zones like the arts-and-crafts-focused “Creative Canyon,” offering a calm, creative retreat for younger guests, and the “Rowdy Roundabout,” which provides an outdoor adventure playground through the trees that encourages exploration and imagination.

The concept and design for Long Weekend was born when Houston couple Paige and Andrew Alvis longed for a space for growing families like theirs to kick back and relax, the way they do at their family ranch outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. “People are desperate for a nice place to go with their kids,” Paige tells CultureMap. “You hardly see a child on a screen here.”

The Alvises enlisted global architecture, design, and brand strategy firm Harrison to carry their vision through to the finish line. The result is an elegantly-executed space that combines high-end finishes with a uniquely-casual ethos for the neighborhood.

“The concept altogether was about cowboy ranch life, just life on the ranch. A lot of times that’s centered around family, and we didn’t want it to be too upscale,” Paige explains. “We still wanted a neighborhood-casual place where kids could be entertained. Part of that is also going to be different families later in life. People who come in and want to have a nice meal can sit inside and kids aren’t in their way — it’s just part of being a neighborhood restaurant and knowing what our clientele was going to be. We really spent the money to make the decor items nice and good quality because we wanted it to last and we wanted it to feel upscale, but still casual. It’s a casual vibe, while being nice.”

The color story, materials, and finishes were designed by Harrison, with approval from the Alvises, who focused their attention on the art and decor. Antler-adorned lighting fixtures and tapestries were sourced in Round Top, a large elk mount and chopped piñon wood from the family ranch, and a smorgasbord of decorative items from Twisted Arrow Goods in Oak Forest all play harmoniously against more functional pieces, like the custom wood and leather booths by Eagle Chair.

Everything about Long Weekend is authentic to the ranch aesthetic — polypropylene “leathers” be gone. From the first design brief, Harrison’s Keith Anderson understood the assignment.

“It was really important to Paige and Andrew that we keep the finishes as real and authentic as possible,” he explains. “So, we spec'ed real leather from Carroll Leather, Garrett Leather, and Barbarossa Leather and sourced the solid wood tabletops from Old Dominion. It was critical to ensure the true guest touchpoints, as in items the guests would be physically touching the most, upheld the brand values of quality and authenticity.”

These warm leathers and hides join additional textural delights, such as aged corten steel, raw oak, and natural limestone. While appealing to the sensibilities of elevated design, the modernist, double-sided fireplace — central to the interior dining room — is an aqua fire made from water vapor and is completely safe for wandering little hands.

In the foyer, two fully-dressed saddles sit atop swiveling posts, accessible to smaller guests via step stools. The oversized lanterns are vintage Ralph Lauren. Keep a keen eye out for the custom Long Weekend logo branded into the hide backdrop, all custom made for the perfect family photo opportunity. Only three feet away, Austin-based artist Kyle Bunting has created a nearly wall-sized custom art piece inspired by a photo of Indian Head Mountain, taken from the family ranch. Bunting cut and dyed each piece of hide to his exact specifications, the outcome being a stunning collage capturing the expansive vistas in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Beyond the foyer, guests are met by a giant Forno Classico pizza oven to the right, and the kitchen and bar to the left. Aside from a pass through, the kitchen — which cooks menu items over open live oak, hickory, and cherrywood — is hidden behind the large interior bar. The highlight of the bar area is the custom canopy. It draws guests into what becomes a more intimate experience than the main dining room.

“When we first started the project, Andrew shared an album from the annual Indian Head trail ride he and his father have with friends and colleagues,” explains Anderson. “This photography was huge in helping our team tap into the story we wanted to tell. One of the images was taken from the inside of the horse barn. The old, weathered wall planks allowed sunlight to leak in, and there were these slivers of dappled light all around. We wanted the bar canopy to emulate this effect, and it serves as a great example of how brand storytelling doesn't always shout. Much like a written story, it's oftentimes in the smaller details, the pieces that the guest has to interpret and put together themselves, that bring it all together into a rich, layered tale.”

Layered lighting fixtures populate the overhead zones throughout the restaurant. Textured metal pendants accentuated by flattering amber glass sconces at the booth level all either reflect off of high gloss fired tiles or absorb into porous breeze block. Desert Steel is responsible for the cactus sculptures that line the back wall, looking out over the dining room. A side patio runs down one side, complete with tent canvas awnings for shade and climbing five-star jasmine and olive trees that are sure to fill the air with their intoxicating fragrances when matured.

Once outside, a large covered porch extends the width of the restaurant and substantial outdoor bar, bookended by a limestone fireplace, complete with a mount from Green Pastures, and the live music stage that showcases Texas country acts on Friday and Saturday nights.

The remaining outdoor spaces begin with outdoor dining areas shaded by mature trees by day and illuminated by string lighting by night. For all intents and purposes, the line of demarcation for the more fast-and-loose kid’s zones is a limestone-bordered stream that cuts across the property. The bubbling stream and its inhabitants — turtles and small fish — keep little ones who are perhaps too young for the “Rowdy Roundabout” entertained while their families enjoy their meals.

A wooden bridge crosses the stream, allowing guests to access the more casual, umbrella-topped picnic tables and fire pit area before the space concludes into the objectively-impressive “Rowdy Roundabout.”

The towering play structure includes ladders, steps, slides, and agility-course-worthy sky tunnels, all atop a very plush and forgiving turf foundation for those kiddos who may fall victim to the lessons of gravitational pull.

All in all, Long Weekend delivers the goods — there is truly something for everyone. The restaurant is becoming increasingly well known for its family-friendly lineup of seasonal activities and activations. Keep an eye on its events calendar as plans include a s’mores night, a kickoff to summer party, and so much more.

Photo by Marco Wang

Buildings on the family's ranch inspired the custom bar canopy.

long weekend restaurant design