Houzz Reveals 10 Emerging UK Home Design Trends for 2026

Houzz today released the 2026 UK Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report, which identifies up-and-coming design trends based on the latest search insights* from our community of UK home professionals, homeowners and design enthusiasts. This year’s report highlights a strong shift toward specialised upgrades, with homeowners focusing on smart storage solutions, statement ceilings and dedicated analogue escapes.

1) Smart Kitchen Zoning & Layouts

 
1) Studio BN Ltd 

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%). To see how you can incorporate these features into a kitchen, it’s helpful to meet with a professional using Houzz Pro, who can help you visualise the space in a 3D Floor Plan. 

• Moveable kitchen island - 838%

• Appliance garage - 453%

• Freestanding kitchen - 271%

• Kitchen bar - 167%

• Walk-in pantry - 63%

• Kitchen coffee bar - 29%

2) Statement Ceilings

2) Studio Hooten

Homeowners are looking to the fifth wall to add drama and character to their spaces. From the rustic warmth of “exposed wooden beams” (up 79%) and “wooden ceiling” (up 36%) to the bold decorative choice of “wallpapered ceiling” (up 88%) or painted ceiling (up 31%), homeowners are using the full height of a room to make a style statement.

• Wallpapered ceiling - 88%

• Exposed wooden beams - 79%

• Wooden ceiling - 36%

• Painted ceiling - 31%

3) Reading Retreats

3) Alex Findlater Ltd

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%

4) Wellness at Home

4) GRDN | Alister Thorpe Photography

Bathrooms and gardens are being transformed into private retreats as homeowners prioritise mental and physical well-being. 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%

5) Spatial Optimisation

5) Herringbone Kitchens

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 multi-functional 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%

6) Tropical Garden Escapes

6) Imago Garden Design And Landscaping

Gardens are set to become more tropical this year, with searches for “tropical plants” up more than 6x and “tropical garden” up 3x. Homeowners are also tailoring this lush look to smaller urban plots, with interest in creating a private “tropical courtyard garden” up 317%.

• Tropical plants - 526%

• Tropical courtyard garden - 317%

• Tropical garden - 213%

7) Inclusive Bathroom Design

7) Rust Atelier | Harrison Bunning Photography

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%

8) Modern Organic & Tactile Textures

8) Souq.Studio | Anna Stathaki Photography

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%). Meanwhile, “stone walls” (up 148%) and “natural stone” (up 96%) bring an earthy, grounded feel to contemporary interiors. Not sure where to start with this trend? Work with an interior designer using Houzz Pro who can show you how it all comes together in a visual Mood Board.

• Stone wall - 148%

• Limewash - 109%

• Natural stone - 96%

• Modern organic - 91%

• Venetian plaster - 82%

9) Dark & Moody Spaces

9) Carole Crowe Interior Design

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. 

• Moody living room - 135%

• Dark ceiling - 126%

• Forest green - 115%

• Black bedroom - 79%

• Dark wood - 74%

• Dark green bedroom - 46%

10) Period Homes, Modern Living

10) Lindi Reynolds Interior Design | Jonathan Bond Photography

UK homeowners are 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%).

• Traditional bedroom - 307%

• Period bathroom - 291%

• Victorian extension - 130%

• Modern shaker kitchen - 56%

For a seamless, 5-star renovation experience, homeowners can work with a professional who uses Houzz Pro to get a project schedule, track communication and see visuals of the space before work begins. Find the right professional and get inspired for the project on Houzz.

*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.

Source : Houzz Pro

Images : 1) Studio BN Ltd, 2) Studio Hooten, 3) Alex Findlater Ltd, 4) GRDN | Alister Thorpe Photography, 5) Herringbone Kitchens, 6) Imago Garden Design And Landscaping, 7) Rust Atelier | Harrison Bunning Photography, 8) Souq.Studio | Anna Stathaki Photography, 9) Carole Crowe Interior Design, 10) Lindi Reynolds Interior Design | Jonathan Bond Photography

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