By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, contributing editor for REALTOR® Magazine and editor of the Styled, Staged & Sold blog. Wellness, nature and personal expression are restyling homes and redefining how people live. What homeowners want from their spaces is evolving. According to a new design outlook report from the luxury brokerage Engel & Völkers, homes in 2026 are expected […]

Home Design Trends

April 6, 2026

Five home design trends this real estate company is watching in 2026

By Evelyn Long, writer and editor with a passion for classic townhomes. Home buyer preferences are shifting, and it’s influencing home layouts. Will closed floor plans replace open concepts? For years, open floor plans have been the gold standard in residential real estate. Home buyers have long been drawn to the airy feel, openness and sunlight-filled […]

Home Design Trends

March 6, 2026

Are Open Floor Plans Still Popular?