Houzz 2026 Emerging Trends Report reveals demand for specialised upgrades

The latest trends report from Houzz, the leading platform for home renovation and design, has uncovered the top rising trends based on the latest search insights from its community of homeowners, design enthusiasts and industry professionals – we bring you the key takeaways.

The 2026 Houzz UK Emerging Trends Report highlights a strong shift toward specialised upgrades, with homeowners focusing on smart storage solutions, wellness at home and dedicated analogue escapes.

1 - Smart Kitchen Zoning & Layouts
Kitchen layouts look set to become more fluid. Searches on Houzz for 'moveable kitchen islands' skyrocketed more than 9x, and 'freestanding kitchen' is up 3.5x. We’re also seeing increased interest in drink stations, with searches for 'kitchen bars' and 'coffee bars' up 167% and 29%, respectively. And to create a sleek, clutter-free look, homeowners are turning to clever storage solutions: 'appliance garages' (up 453%) and 'walk-in pantries' (up 63%).  

• ● Moveable kitchen island - 838%

• ● Appliance garage - 453%

• ● Freestanding kitchen - 271%

• ● Kitchen bar - 167%

• ● Walk-in pantry - 63%

• ● Kitchen coffee bar - 29%

2 - Reading Retreats

It looks like an analogue escape is booming. Homeowners are increasingly carving out dedicated spaces for reading, with searches for 'alcove bookcases' rising by a surprising 8.5x. The trend is all about creating a quiet, intellectual sanctuary within the home, with increased search traffic for 'small library', 'cosy snug' and 'reading nook' (up 317%, 161% and 22%, respectively).

• ● Alcove bookcase - 760%

• ● Small library - 317%

• ● Cosy snug - 161%

• ● Reading room - 56%

• ● Reading nook - 22%

3 - Wellness at Home
Bathrooms and gardens are being transformed into private retreats as homeowners prioritise mental and physical wellbeing. Searches on Houzz for 'meditation room' surged over 4x, while interest in 'bathroom saunas' and 'steam rooms' climbed 113% and 94%, respectively. This extends into gardens too, with popularity rising for 'garden saunas' (up 106%) and 'outdoor showers' (up 83%).

• ● Meditation room - 330%

• ● Bathroom sauna - 113%

• ● Garden sauna - 106%

• ● Steam room - 94%

• ● Outdoor shower - 83%

4 - Spatial Optimisation
As homeowners look to maximise every square inch, underused areas are being reclaimed with clever solutions. Searches for 'under stairs pantries' are up more than 3.5x, while 'hidden utilities' nearly tripled and 'under stairs bar' nearly doubled. Structurally, the 'broken plan' layout (up 36%), which uses partial walls, levels, or glass partitions to zone distinct spaces without sacrificing the light and flow of open-plan living, continues to be popular and 'Murphy beds' (up 20%) remain the go-to for multifunctional guest rooms. Homeowners are also turning to modular, steel shipping container structures as a unique and sustainable way to create entirely separate, standalone living spaces, with searches for ‘container home’ up more than 2.5x.

• ● Under stairs pantry - 275%

• ● Hidden utility - 193%

• ● Under stairs bar - 174%

• ● Container home - 171%

• ● Broken plan - 36%

• ● Murphy bed - 20%

5 - Inclusive Bathroom Design
Creating stylish spaces that work for everyone, regardless of age or mobility, is a top priority among the Houzz community. Searches for 'accessible bathrooms' are up 5x, while practical yet high-end features like 'showers with seats' (up 84%), 'walk-in showers' (37%) and seamless 'wet rooms' (up 19%) are becoming more popular.

• ● Accessible bathroom - 408%

• ● Shower with seat - 84%

• ● Walk-in shower - 37%

• ● Wet room - 19%

Other searches on the site revealed that minimalism is softening as homeowners embrace the 'modern organic' aesthetic (up 91%). This style creates a harmonious balance by pairing sleek, neutral-toned surfaces with raw, natural forms and tactile finishes like 'limewash' (up 109%) and 'Venetian plaster' (up 82%). Dark and moody decor is also gaining popularity, as homeowners embrace high-drama, cocoon-like spaces. Interest in 'moody living rooms' and 'forest green' has more than doubled, while 'black bedroom' is up 79% and 'dark green bedrooms' are up 46%. Designers on Houzz are increasingly using these deep palettes to create an enveloping effect, often complemented with the use of 'dark ceilings' (up 126%) and 'dark wood' (up 74%), which help make spaces feel cosy and intimate or bold and dramatic. 

UK homeowners are also highlighting the architectural history of their properties. Searches on Houzz for 'traditional bedrooms' are up 4x, with 'period bathrooms' following at nearly 4x. This includes structural changes like 'Victorian extensions' (up 130%) and a preference for the timeless 'modern shaker kitchen' (up 56%).

*Source: Data reflects year-over-year growth in UK-based searches on Houzz from January-March 2026 versus January-March 2025. Read the complete report here.