6 Home Trends That Will Be Everywhere in 2026—and a Few That Won't, Says Zillow

You can learn a lot by scrolling through Zillow. Real estate listings are often the best place to scout burgeoning trends—just watch for features that listing agents are putting particular emphasis on, like certain kitchen appliances, color palettes, or materials.

Since Zillow is such a treasure trove of information, they release a home trends report every year—and its 2026 edition just dropped. So what are the common threads between the site's countless listings? And how can you integrate them into your home to elevate its aesthetic, or even increase its value? Read on to learn more.

Color Drenching

It's no surprise that color drenching continues to be all the rage—we first documented its emergence in 2023. The trend is defined by a single hue covering every surface in the room, from ceilings to trim. The look can even extend to furniture. According to Zillow's data, it will be even more prevalent next year, with mention of color drenching in listings jumping 149 percent year over year.

Reading Nooks

Spending time at home is valuable, especially if it's quality time. One of the best ways to unwind and relax is with a good book—and there's no better spot than a dedicated reading nook. Zillow notes that these nooks are appearing 48 percent more often in listings. They can be part of a larger room or tucked away under a set of stairs.

Resilient Homes

Natural disasters have caused homeowners to start thinking more and more about resiliency. 64 percent more listings on Zillow now mention flood protection, and fire safety features are also top-of-mind, doubtless due in some part to the tragic wildfires that devastated Los Angeles this year. Defensible space landscape listings are up 36 percent, and fire protection systems are up 28 percent.

Self Care

Wellness features in the home are still in high demand. Mention of these features rose 33 percent on Zillow, with spa-inspired bathrooms standing out in particular, appearing 22 percent more frequently. Upgrading your home into a more luxurious, spa-like environment is becoming increasingly top-of-mind for buyers, as people look to create relaxing escapes within their bedrooms and bathrooms.

Sports Rooms

Sports rooms are the new man cave, says Zillow, with the term "man cave" down 10 percent in listings year over year. By contrast, golf simulators and pickleball courts are now mentioned 25 percent more. For those who have the real estate, these spaces are perfect for having fun and exercising at home, without having to make an extra trip to the gym.

Personalized Rooms

People don't want their homes to look the same as everyone else's, a trend that's pushing thrifting, vintage, and secondhand design elements to the fore. Mentions of artisan craftsmanship are up 21 percent on Zillow, and vintage accents are up 17 percent.

What's Out

Not every home feature is seeing a renaissance! Juice stations, once a beloved, wellness-centric upgrade, are down 19 percent in Zillow mentions. Marble sinks are down 15 percent, likely because they're high maintenance and hard to clean.