It’s not groundbreaking to say that the sterile rooms and stark palettes that defined the early 2020s are over. In 2026, buyers want homes that evoke warmth, richness, character, full-on coziness, and cocooning spaces that draw inspiration from nature. At least that’s what agents on the ground tell me. If you’re selling your home and looking for insight on what’s in and what’s out for the new year, these are the home trends buyers have left behind in 2025, and the ones bringing in that cozy, knit-sweater feeling they crave in 2026, according to experts.
Credit: Joseph Hendrickson/Shutterstock
All-White, Glossy Kitchens Are Out
All-white, glossy kitchens are out. What once read “clean and modern” now screams flat, cold, and generic. “These all-white, high-gloss kitchens of the early 2020s are officially [over],” says New York Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agent Hannah Jackson. She says her clients have described them as “feeling like a rental,” “boring,” and “basic” at showings.
“People are done living inside what feels like a rental showroom,” says Anngelica Mohabir of Determined by Design, a design firm that focuses on Black and brown communities. “The all-white kitchen had its moment, but now it reads sterile, predictable, and frankly, a little soulless. Homeowners want spaces with pulse — not a monochrome box that looks wiped clean of personality.”
And it’s no secret that all-white surfaces require a lot of maintenance. “Glossy fronts show marks right away, while bright white across walls, cabinetry, and counters flatlines the room,” says Jake Fry, founder of Smallworks, a custom home builder company in Vancouver, Canada. “Families tell me that they tire of the upkeep, and it no longer feels like a working kitchen. Many of my recent clients have requested the removal of these finishes, even in homes built only a few years prior.”
Credit: Petra Ford
Earth-Tone Palettes Have Taken Over Kitchens
Agents are seeing a significant shift toward warmer earth-tone palettes in the heart of the home. “Paint colors like soft taupes, muted greens, and warm grays are trending, and buyers are pairing these tones with natural wood cabinetry, textured stone countertops, and matte finishes instead of glossy surfaces,” says Sain Rhodes, a real estate expert and customer success manager at Clever Offers. “White is not entirely gone; it’s often used as an accent, like on backsplashes or trim, to maintain a sense of brightness, but the dominant color scheme is now much richer and layered.”
Virginia Coldwell Banker Premier Agent Nicole Lewis echoes this sentiment. “I’m seeing a lot more greens, particularly in sage and deeper earth tones, which is lovely and speaks to the call of nature, particularly with the number of butcher block countertops I’m seeing,” says Lewis. “It’s almost as if we’re bringing outside and natural tones inside.”
As nature flows with the breeze, so do kitchen colors and surfaces that reflect natural fluidity, motion and visual dimension. “Warm woods, moody greens, earthy taupes, and stone with actual movement are taking over because they feel lived-in, not lab-tested,” says Mohabir. “Textures are back — honed surfaces, plaster walls, veined stone — and they bring nuance white-on-white never could. White isn’t gone, but it’s being used like punctuation, not the whole paragraph.”
Credit: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images
The All-White Bedroom Era Is Over, Too
Just as buyers scroll past listings with white glossy kitchens, they’re doing the same with white-on-white bedrooms. “All-white bedrooms no longer appeal to buyers because they feel sterile and lack personality,” says Rhodes. “People are seeking a sense of comfort and calm in their personal spaces, and all-white rooms fail to convey warmth or coziness. Buyers frequently mention they want their bedrooms to feel like retreats, which is difficult to achieve with walls and furniture that are entirely white.”
Interior Designer Lauren Saab echoes this sentiment. “Clients say they want the bedroom to feel cocooned, so a pure white palette fights against that goal.”
Bedrooms Are Going Warm, Earthy, and Calm
“In bedrooms, we’re seeing an embrace of warmer, more muted tones such as soft beiges, earthy greens, deep blues, and even muted terracotta,” says Rhodes. “White still has a role, often on trim, accents, or bedding, but it’s no longer dominating the space. Buyers are drawn to these richer colors because they make a bedroom feel intimate and layered, which is exactly what today’s homeowners want.”
Ben Kruse, a New Jersey-based realtor and founder of Choose Kruse, sees the same shift. “Warm neutrals, clay tones, sage greens, and muted blues are taking over, ” he says. “White still appears in trim, bedding, or accents, but rarely as the dominant color. Buyers prefer bedrooms that create a sense of calm through layered textures and soft contrast.”
For even warmer tones, Saab recommends softer moss, muted cocoa, and creamy oat shades, with pops of crisp white bedding to lift the palette.
Reading Nooks Will Take Over 2026
As part of this overall trend towards comfort and coziness, in 2026, more buyers will seek more quiet corners to escape to, where they can unplug from devices and recharge, according to a recent Zillow trend report, which states that reading nooks showed up 48% more often in listings. These intimate retreats appear hidden beneath staircases, nestled beside sunlit windows, and carved into niches in larger rooms, states the report.
Kruse says these ultra-cozy escapes can be tailored to buyers’ unique tastes. “Reading nooks feel intimate, functional, and easy to personalize,” he says. “Buyers love small corners with built-ins, warm lighting, and layered textures, as they create comfort without sacrificing a full room.” It’s a simple way to add character and charm.
“Reading nooks are on the rise because they’re charming and instantly cozy in larger rooms,” says Saab. “A built-in bench, soft lighting, and a cluster of books turn a quiet corner into an inviting moment. People respond to the charm and comfort these small spaces offer, and they love that a nook can feel personal without requiring a renovation.”
Further Reading
Create Your Own Interior Design Mood Board | Apartment Therapy
62 of the Very Best Gifts from Etsy to Give Anyone, Anytime This Year
53 Unique Uncommon Goods Gifts Guaranteed to Wow Your Giftees