As the weather cools down this month, it means more outside activity in the valley. Cooler weather is the perfect time for home renovations, so let’s talk about current trends and style.
For the better part of a decade, you could almost predict what a newly remodeled home would look like before walking through the door: gray walls, white Shaker cabinets, white countertops and gray-toned flooring. It was clean, neutral and seemingly everywhere. But home design is changing.
One of the biggest trends we’re seeing in 2026 is a return to warmth, natural materials and personality. In fact, recent remodeling data shows wood cabinetry has now edged past white as the most popular choice among homeowners renovating their kitchens. Medium and natural wood tones are particularly popular, often paired with warm whites, creams, greens, and earthy colors rather than cool gray.
Another kitchen trend I particularly like is the slab backsplash. Instead of installing a traditional tile backsplash, homeowners are continuing their countertop material vertically up the wall. Quartz, quartzite and natural stone can run from the countertop all the way to the upper cabinets, or even to the ceiling behind the range. The result is a seamless, high-end appearance with fewer grout lines and easier cleanup. Nearly three in ten renovating homeowners choosing new backsplashes are now incorporating slabs.
Color is returning to the rest of the house as well. One interesting technique gaining attention is color drenching. Rather than painting the walls one color and automatically making the ceiling, doors and trim white, color drenching uses the same color—or closely related shades—across the entire room. Walls, trim, doors, and sometimes even the ceiling become one cohesive environment. Deep blues and greens can create dramatic rooms, while warmer taupes and muted earth tones can produce a much subtler version of the same effect.
We’re also seeing more natural stone, warm wood, texture and curves. Rounded islands, arched pantry doors and range hoods are softening the straight lines that have dominated contemporary interiors. Searches for rounded kitchen islands and arched kitchen elements have risen significantly this year.
Does this mean you need to tear out your white kitchen or repaint every gray wall? Absolutely not. Trends come and go, and good design should ultimately reflect the people living in the home.
But if you’re remodeling in 2026, the direction is clear: less sterile, less cookie-cutter and more warmth, texture and individuality.
And from a Realtor’s perspective, that’s a trend I am happy to see.
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