QUIET LUXURY first went viral at the end of 2023, but its understated ethos continues to be popular with high-net-worth clients preparing for a simpler, more peaceful lifestyle in 2026.
And now, many over-the-top finishes and grandiose spaces are taking a back seat to natural materials, slightly smaller spaces and a focus on outdoor areas, luxury reports show.
While a full-out renovation is often not advisable for clients who are listing their property, there are many simple upgrades and design choices that agents can assist their clients with when prepping a home to look its best before listing.
What design ideas should luxury clients lean into in the new year? Take a look at the trends below.
RESTRAINT
It may be a challenge in some cases, but real estate professionals should work in their advisory capacity to help rein in clients who have a penchant for all things big and bold, agents say.
“Heading into 2026, the design trend I see accelerating most is restraint,” Jackson Hole-based associate broker Latham Jenkins told Inman in an email. “Buyers are responding to homes that feel quieter, warmer and more intentional, rather than spaces that are trying too hard to make a statement.”
Likewise, home interiors that are overly styled for platforms like Instagram have largely fallen out of favor with buyers, who prefer something that feels more lived-in.
“Buyers today are design-literate,” Jenkins added. “They can spot something that feels inauthentic immediately, and those homes tend to linger.”
For similar reasons, buyers are also gravitating toward colors that evoke a “farmer’s market palette,” like butter yellow, tomato red and dill green, The Agency’s annual Red Paper noted, which also hearken back to retro shades from a simpler time. The recent move toward homestead-inspired living has likewise infused home design with a rustic flair, channeled through things like handmade ceramics, heritage patterns and objects that look like they’re one-of-a-kind, the brokerage’s report said.
TRENDING: MIMICKING NATURE
Buyers continue to be drawn to designs that embody a “quiet luxury” ethos by gravitating toward natural materials and other designs that mimic nature, agents and trend reports said.
large windows that invite natural light and a view of the outdoors, as well as neutral tones and expert craftsmanship, are really resonating with homebuyers today.
Jenkins said the move also appears to be grounded in a drive toward authenticity.
“What’s performing better is authenticity,” Jenkins said. “Natural materials, honest finishes, regional character and homes that feel specific to place rather than copy-pasted from a trend cycle.”
Nature themes are also increasingly reflected in animal prints for home fabrics on cushions, accent furniture, rugs and more, The Agency’s Red Paper noted. When paired with neutral tones and natural textures, these prints add personality to a home while remaining grounded.
IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR SPACES
Luxury buyers are increasingly prioritizing quality of life and a lifestyle that incorporates access to the outdoors, agents have reported.
“Interestingly, buyers of luxury real estate are increasingly willing to trade property size in order to achieve more lifestyle-oriented goals,” prioritizing privacy, exclusive locations, as well as access to recreation and proximity to nature.”
Agents also told Inman that intentional outdoor spaces and indoor-outdoor living have become essential for most luxury buyers.
“Natural light and indoor-outdoor flow are no longer just nice to have,” Jenkins said. “Buyers expect outdoor spaces to feel like true extensions of the home, not afterthoughts.”
Soucy, who is located in St. Petersburg, Florida, told Inman that for homes in the Sunshine State, access to the outdoors is huge.
STAGING AND LIGHTING
“If it’s a property that has been left to the family and they don’t want to spend the money or the family members can’t agree, then we do virtual staging, and virtual staging is incredibly helpful and beneficial, even for homes that are already perfect,” Soucy said.
It can be a challenge for some homebuyers to envision all the opportunities that might be available in a space, he added, and many don’t always take the time to read the full listing description.
“People are shopping with their eyes,” Soucy said. “So if I have a blank room, instead of just putting it in the description, I’ll have virtual staging set it up as a reading room or library or den or a mixed-use room where it’s like part home office, part guest room. Utility rooms are my favorite rooms to do this and show the possibilities to folks.”
“Lighting is everything,” he said. “I don’t care what the price point of your house is. I tell all my sellers, ‘When you’re going on the market, you’re getting your kid ready for their first date. You want them to look their best.’ So you don’t want light intensities to be different,” he told Inman, noting that sellers should be sure to match all the lights in one space to the same lumen intensity.
Sellers should also make sure that no light bulbs are out so that there is no question about the functionality of light fixtures.
“You only get one chance to make a big splash in the pool,” Soucy added.
“In 2026, the best agents won’t be selling design trends,” he said. “They’ll be helping clients make grounded, thoughtful decisions that remove friction and allow buyers to emotionally move in the moment they walk through the door.”
