{"id":6960,"date":"2025-11-05T08:13:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T13:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=6960"},"modified":"2025-11-05T08:13:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T13:13:40","slug":"zillows-2026-home-trends-climate-comes-into-striking-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/zillows-2026-home-trends-climate-comes-into-striking-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"Zillow\u2019s 2026 Home Trends: Climate Comes Into Striking Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What will an attractive home look like in 2026? Just in time, the Zillow\u00ae Home Trends Report weighs in.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillow\u2019s press release starts off with what you might expect to see in an announcement about home design trends. In 2026, bold, dramatic hues will prevail. Whimsical spaces like reading nooks will be all the rage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But future-ready features will \u201clead the way\u201d \u2014 and by this, Zillow means climate-aware features. The phrase \u201cdisaster-ready\u201d appears in the new, otherwise jaunty press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillow scours listings to find phrases and concepts. Sharp increases in references to specific features and themes, according to the company, reveal what\u2019s top of mind for sellers and buyers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cBold Design Is Back\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Notably, Zillow Group, Inc. owns the most visited real estate website and mobile app in the United States, according to the company\u2019s press release. So, what are people reading and how are they marketing homes on these outlets today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillow\u00ae listings are becoming populated with splashy hues, and the company sees \u201cbold\u201d taking over where \u201cunderstated\u201d once prevailed. Buyers are leaning into deep, vibrant, nature-inspired hues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Amanda Pendleton, home trends expert for Zillow, says the message is undeniable. \u201cListing descriptions are short, so every word counts\u201d when listings need to catch buyers\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201ccolor drenching\u201d has spiked in Zillow\u00ae listings. This is the use of a particular paint tone for walls, ceilings, and trim. The tone is sometimes repeated on furnishings, and even the flooring. The company calls the look \u201cimmersive, dramatic and cohesive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This trend is borne out in current paint picks. More people are shifting out of the classic \u201cneutrals\u201d and into \u201cvibrant statement shades that transform entire rooms into mood-driven escapes,\u201d says Zillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Color Choice Matters\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the results of a Zillow survey done earlier this year, home buyers\u2019 offers can be more than $2,500 higher when the homes have \u201cthe right interior paint colors.\u201d The Zillow press release doesn\u2019t link to the data it reports \u2014 but it does link to its color survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White walls are out, says Zillow. In with bold hues found in nature: vibrant greens, deep blues. Zillow quotes Christie Cannon, an agent affiliated with Keller Williams in Frisco, Texas: \u201cWe’ve seen a clear shift toward nature-inspired tones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillow tags its seal of approval on olive green. An olive-toned kitchen is a buyer magnet, says the firm. \u201cA kitchen with cabinets in this shade could increase a home\u2019s sale price by about $1,600.\u201d \u200bNavy blue bedrooms draw praise as well. Zillow says the choice could result in offers more than $1,800 higher than they\u2019d otherwise be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing is clear, year after year. A freshly painted interior impresses home buyers. Repainting the walls, the doors, the ceiling, and trim is one (relatively quick and inexpensive) way to make a home look renewed, clean, and cared-for. And this does help to energize a home\u2019s resale success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArtisan, Vintage and Whimsical Styles\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new emphasis on reading nooks is a giveaway. So is the rise of the \u201cspa-inspired bathroom.\u201d People are looking to their homes for a sense of peace and comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The newer Zillow listings increasingly talk about  artisan features such as hand-crafted tile flooring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other phrases on the rise are: \u201cvintage accents\u201d (up by 17%) and \u201ctouch of whimsy\u201d (up 15%). Custom touches are overtaking builders\u2019 designs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rising interest in artisan features hints at the idea of home as having personality, rather than a mass-produced look. It certainly meshes with the reading nook trend: a special spot under the stairway, little libraries surrounded by windows or set aside in a larger room\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wellness-Focused Home Upgrades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Cravings for relaxation at home are also reflected in the many mentions of sporty areas inside and around the homes: indoor golf simulators, outdoor pickleball courts. Clearly, play and self-care is \u201cin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Words describing wellness features are up by a third, says Zillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man caves are not much of a thing these days. But rec rooms? They\u2019re big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to play a little baseball, golf, or maybe some pickleball after work? You\u2019re being seen. Batting cages show up in 18% more listings now than in last year\u2019s trend report. The appearance of the phrase \u201cgolf simulator\u201d has risen by 25%. Same for mentions of pickleball courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever happened to tennis? Anyone seen a dart board lately?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the other things we\u2019re not hearing about for 2026 include mentions of juice stations (seems they were a thing last year); and marble sinks (sorry, White House; you\u2019re pass\u00e9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buyers are taking a more \u201cfunctional\u201d turn, says Zillow. They are looking for a balance of beauty and what best supports everyday life. And speaking of functional, perhaps the ultimate example is\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rise of the \u201cDisaster-Ready Home\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Protection from flood damage and wildfires feature heavily in the listing language as we approach 2026, says the real estate sales firm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company puts the point bluntly. Buyers are looking for homes \u201cbuilt with natural disasters in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listings now increasingly name:<\/p>\n\n\n\n