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, transparent renovation projects

Photo courtesy of Houzz

Homeowners want more clarity and transparency when it comes to planning their renovation projects, according to Houzz.

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

box it up

Meet the Houston design store that can turn anything into a lamp

Courtesy of Boxwood Interiors

This bespoke chandelier features crystals, coral, and baroque pearls.

Along the live-oak-shaded-street of West Alabama, mere steps away from The University of Saint Thomas and Menil Collection campuses, sits a charming design boutique lovingly converted from an old home and adjoining bodega.

Since 2007, interior designer Bret Duhon’s Boxwood Interiors has held an irrefragable steadfastness to the old guard. There are full-time, in-house specialists in multiple crafts: seamstresses, upholsterers, welders, woodworkers, painters, and specialists in lamp and chandelier fashioning. What’s more, Boxwood Interiors runs a repair shop as well.

“This store is a full service design store. We can do anything that you need done. I mean, it’s that simple,” says Duhon. “If you need lampshades made, we’ll get the lampshades made. If you need a lamp to be wired or rewired, or if you need a chandelier restrung, we’ll restring it in that department. If you need it, I can do it or I can find it.”

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Once inside, visitors are greeted by candy-filled dishes and apothecary jars, offering a sugar rush to go along with the dopamine hit that comes from engrossing oneself in the shop’s wares. A canopy of shimmering chandeliers — either handcrafted in the shop or plucked from Europe on a shopping jaunt — hang above a sea of bespoke upholstered chairs, ottomans, hand-painted dressers, nightstands, commodes, and more.

The building’s origins allow for dedicated spaces perfect for browsing. Individual rooms are devoted to bespoke pillows, lampshades and replacement parts, and a dedicated fabric and wallpaper library that includes vintage and deadstock options. Fans of a classic blue-and-white aesthetic will be thrilled to learn of a room dedicated entirely to ginger jars and other ceramic arts in the timeless colorway.

As Duhon slowly steps back from interior design, he’s thrilled with how the new era of DIY interiors is shaping up. There will always be a need for bespoke pieces and one-of-a-kind finds, or someone needing one over-the-top signature piece. However, social media has made it increasingly painless for people to put together a room themselves — which is fine by Duhon.

“Since I’m an interior designer, I try to make things or buy things that I think interior designers would like,” he says. “What’s happened is, people say, ‘I can do this,’ or ‘I can design this, I can go to Instagram.’ Then they go out shopping and looking for it. So I’ll help them with just a sofa maybe, or a sofa and two chairs, and then they’ll do the rest.”

Boxwood Interiors also sells collections of candles, home fragrances, and the like. Find luxurious scents by Antica Farmacista and Big Ass Candles, plus elegant tabletop decor and linen collections by Caspari. A newly-acquired candle collection mimics fruit and flowers in an impressively-naturalistic way, while lifelike orchids, tulips, black cherries and more will be sure to keep dinner guests on their toes.

“I try to keep things in the design realm,” says Duhon. “I may veer off a little bit, but I stay in the center lane.”

Boxwood Interiors also provides unique and creative lighting solutions. From beloved family heirlooms and ceramic crafts lovingly-made by client’s children and grandchildren, to sculptures and architectural pieces, there is seemingly nothing too complicated for Duhon and his team to transform into a lamp: “We’ve started this phrase, ‘lamp it!’ We can make anything into a lamp.”

Chandeliers and sconces receive special attention as well, even if all there is to work from is a derelict frame. Lighting is entirely customizable, stringing everything from traditional crystals to sea shells and pearls.

“I love lighting, so I think that’s where my heart and passion is,” says Duhon of his soft spot for forgotten or neglected fixtures. “I’ll say we saved its life. We buy something dirty, filthy, in a box with nicotine all over it. Then I bring it home and fix it.”

All of Duhon’s lighting fixtures pair well with any number of his custom mirrors. Whether it’s a powder room mirror paired with whimsical sconces, or something of a larger scale, complete with antique mirror glass to compliment a chandelier over the dining table — the possibilities are endless.

Color is no stranger to Boxwood Interiors. The store offers the entire line of paints and wallpapers from the English outfit Farrow & Ball. Beloved by designers and color purists alike, customers appreciate being able to see each color in person. Nearly every surface of the store has been kissed by playful pastels and papers. In some places, even the original wooden floors have received the Farrow & Ball treatment. In other rooms, Duhon personally installed herringbone patterns using fence boards for a more Old World feel.

“It’s a beautiful paint. It’s a luxury paint and it’s moody and really romantic. They make some beautiful colors. It’s something like 9-12 pigments per gallon as opposed to 2-3, so there’s depth,” explains Duhon. “I love it. We will do paint consultations for a house and that’s it. If they don’t need me as a designer and just want me to pick paint, I’ll do that, too.”

Many of the nearly 45,000 eagle-eyed Boxwood Interiors Instagram followers ask about the wall of bright blue Foo dogs on the occasion that a reel is filmed in Duhon’s office. Each perched upon its own individual gilded acanthus leaf wall shelf, the collection makes quite an impressive display.

“I have so many collections. I just started buying them, and buying them, and buying them,” explains Duhon. “So now I don’t buy them as much as I used to. I sold some recently, and then I have three or four times as many at home in display cabinets. They just bring me happiness. A lot of people think they’re ugly, but I think they’re sweet.”

Boxwood Interiors can be shopped online as well as in-store, and they will ship anywhere. Recently, Duhon hosted his first live sale on Instagram, which was a great success, even selling a chandelier to a viewer in Alabama. If someone wants something pictured in an Instagram post, they can just contact the store and they’ll be happy to ship it.

While there are antiques in the store, there are also too many other things going on to be pigeon holed into one label. Also, it’s so much more than a store. Boxwood Interiors operates under the time-honored and disappearing tradition of true craftsmanship and service. It is always chic to be the person who “knows a guy” when a friend needs something accomplished that is truly niche. Whether Houstonians realize it or not — we’ve got a guy, too.

“I’m not an antiques store. I call myself a design center. You may not need many things, just some new pillows for the sofa, and then we will make them for you,” says Duhon. “I have a great staff; I really do. We are very helpful. If you want it done, we try to get it done — I will say that about us. If you need brain surgery by Friday, just show me a video. I can do it. I never can say no. That’s my problem. I think I can do anything. I don’t mean that to sound conceited. I just mean, if you want a purple sofa, we’ll do it. I just don’t want to tell people no.”

Boxwood Interiors is located at 1320 West Alabama Street in Montrose. Follow its Instagram account for tips, tricks, and live sales.

Courtesy of Boxwood Interiors

This bespoke chandelier features crystals, coral, and baroque pearls.

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