What's Changed: Custom Home Design Trends for 2026
Last year, we talked about how homes work: flexible floor plans, wellness spaces, outdoor living, multigenerational layouts. Those trends haven't gone anywhere. They're still shaping how we design custom homes in Richmond every day.
But 2026 is bringing something different. This year, it's about how homes feel.
The pendulum is swinging away from stark, cool minimalism toward something warmer, richer, and more personal. Clients are asking for spaces with character and craftsmanship; homes that feel collected over time rather than assembled from a catalog. Industry data backs this up: the share of homeowners choosing traditional style rose five percentage points this year alone, signaling a renewed appreciation for comfort, classic detailing, and materials that last.
This shift plays to what custom building does best. When you're not bound by production home templates, you can make choices that reflect how you actually want to live. And how you want your home to feel a decade from now.
Here's what we're seeing shape custom home design in 2026.
The End of All-White Interiors
For years, the default palette for new construction was some combination of white walls, gray floors, and stainless steel. It photographed well. It felt safe. And now? It's run its course.
Homeowners are ready for warmth. We're seeing a clear move toward creamy whites, soft taupes, warm beiges, and canvas tones—colors that feel sun-warmed rather than clinical. Even clients who prefer lighter spaces are choosing palettes with depth and softness instead of stark contrast. Think parchment, soft stone gray, and buttery cream rather than bright white and cool gray.
Beyond the neutrals, earthy accent colors are showing up everywhere: terra cotta, sage, olive green, dusty blue, muted mustard, and warm ocher. For clients who want more drama, jewel tones like burgundy, forest green, navy, and deep charcoal are adding richness without feeling trendy. These saturated hues work particularly well in studies, dining rooms, and primary suites where a moodier atmosphere feels intentional.
This isn't just about "adding a pop of color." It's a fundamental shift in how base palettes are being chosen. The goal is atmosphere—spaces that feel calm, grounded, and inviting from the moment you walk in.
In kitchens, we're seeing terra-cotta-toned tile backsplashes paired with sage or olive cabinetry. Living rooms are leaning into buttery yellows, warm taupes, and layered natural textures like linen, wool, and rattan. Bedrooms and bathrooms are embracing muted blues and greens for a soothing, restorative quality. Even entryways and home offices—spaces that were often left neutral by default—are benefiting from warmer palettes that make them feel like destinations rather than pass-throughs.
We're seeing Richmond clients embrace this wholeheartedly. After years of cool grays and bright whites, these warmer palettes feel right at home in Virginia's landscape and light.
Green as a Grounding Neutral
Speaking of color: green has officially graduated from accent to anchor.
Sage, olive, and forest green are showing up in cabinetry, tile, upholstery, and even stone selections. It's no longer a bold choice—it's a grounding one. Green pairs naturally with warm woods, handmade tile, and deeply veined marble, creating layered interiors that feel organic and timeless rather than of-the-moment.
We're specifying green cabinetry in kitchens, green tile in bathrooms, and deep green built-ins in mudrooms and offices. In one recent project, a deep green island base paired with a creamy tile backsplash created an effortlessly earthy kitchen that felt both fresh and classic. The homeowners wanted something that wouldn't feel dated in ten years—and green, surprisingly, delivers that better than most colors.
What makes green work as a neutral is its versatility. It reads warm or cool depending on the undertone and pairs well with brass, unlacquered bronze, matte black, and nickel hardware. It complements natural stone countertops in almost any colorway. And it has staying power: unlike bold trend colors that can feel dated within a few years, green connects to nature in a way that remains relevant.
For custom homes in Virginia, this makes particular sense. Green reflects the landscape we live in—the rolling hills, mature trees, and lush summers that define this part of the country. It's a color that feels native here.
Warm and Medium Wood Tones Replace Light Oak
The blonde wood era is fading. After years of light oak dominating floors, cabinetry, and furniture, warmer and richer wood tones are taking over.
Walnut, cherry, hickory, and rift-cut white oak with warmer stains are in high demand. Clients are drawn to woods with depth and character—finishes that feel established rather than brand-new. Cerused and wire-brushed textures are adding visual interest, and darker stains are making a comeback for those who want even more richness and lushness in their spaces.
The appeal is both aesthetic and practical. Warm and medium wood tones hide wear better than their lighter counterparts, and they bring an immediate sense of warmth to new construction that can otherwise feel stark. There's a coziness to walnut cabinetry or hickory flooring that light oak simply doesn't provide.
In kitchens, we're pairing walnut or stained oak cabinetry with soft neutral walls and natural stone countertops—quartzite or marble with subtle veining that doesn't compete with the wood. The combination feels warm and sophisticated without being heavy. For island tops, butcher block and wood surfaces are returning as an alternative to stone, adding warmth and a connection to traditional craftsmanship.
In living areas and bedrooms, medium-toned flooring and wall paneling create a grounded backdrop that works with almost any furniture style. Wood beams—whether structural or applied—are adding architectural interest to great rooms and primary suites. These elements warm up double-height ceilings and open floor plans that might otherwise feel cavernous.
There's a richness to these woods that makes a home feel established from day one. That's hard to replicate with lighter, cooler tones—and it's something our Richmond clients increasingly appreciate.
Traditional Details Make a Comeback
Traditional style is back—but it's not your grandmother's version.
The new traditional feels relaxed and warm, not formal or fussy. We're seeing curves, arches, and scalloped edges soften the hard angles of modern floor plans. Rounded kitchen islands, arched range niches, barrel-vaulted ceilings in hallways, and curved sofas in living rooms are all part of this shift. These elements guide the eye, improve flow, and make spaces feel more approachable.
Millwork is returning in a big way. Paneling, wainscoting, inset cabinetry, plate racks, chair rails, picture-frame molding, and layered crown molding are showing up in new construction across all price points. These details add architectural weight and visual interest to rooms that might otherwise feel flat. In kitchens, arched range hoods and furniture-style islands with turned legs are replacing the sleek, handle-free boxes of recent years.
English country and modern Tudor influences are shaping the broader aesthetic—think stained woods, stone accents, detailed millwork, and earthy palettes that feel both timeless and inviting. There's a warmth and groundedness to this style that resonates with homeowners tired of stark, cool interiors.
We're also seeing a subtle Art Deco thread running through 2026 design. Geometric tile patterns—chevrons, star-and-cross motifs, and checkerboard layouts—are adding personality to kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and entryways. Fluted cabinet fronts, channeled upholstery, and brass accents nod to the 1920s and '30s without feeling costume-y or overdone. The key is restraint: one or two Art Deco-inspired details in a room, not a full period recreation.
The point isn't to recreate an old home. It's to give new homes the kind of character and craftsmanship that used to be standard. Richmond has always appreciated classic architecture—from Fan District rowhouses to West End Colonials. These details bring that same sense of place and quality to custom homes being built today.
Textured and Handmade Finishes
Flat, seamless surfaces are giving way to tactile, imperfect ones. The pursuit of flawlessness is being replaced by an appreciation for materials that show the hand of the maker.
Limewash and textured plaster walls are among the most requested finishes we're seeing. They add depth and movement to a room without introducing color or pattern—just subtle variation that catches light differently throughout the day. The effect is soft, organic, and impossible to replicate with paint. In dining rooms, primary bedrooms, and powder rooms, these finishes create a sense of quiet luxury that flat drywall simply can't match.
Handmade zellige tile is showing up in kitchens and bathrooms, and increasingly on floors. Its irregular edges, subtle color variation, and artisanal character create warmth that machine-made tile can't replicate. Terra-cotta zellige is particularly popular right now—it adds an earthy, grounded quality that pairs beautifully with warm wood vanities and unlacquered brass fixtures. For shower floors, smaller-format zellige offers both visual interest and natural slip resistance.
Natural stone countertops are following the same direction. Clients are gravitating toward quartzite and marble slabs with bold, organic veining—surfaces that feel sculptural and one-of-a-kind rather than uniform. Soft greens, warm browns, gold tones, and dramatic movement are in demand. These stones add quiet drama to kitchens and bathrooms without overwhelming the space. Paired with wood cabinetry and warm metals, they create a layered, collected look that feels both luxurious and approachable.
The common thread is character. These materials aren't trying to look perfect. They're trying to feel real—and that's exactly what makes them age so well. A limewashed wall develops more depth over time. Zellige tile tells a story. Natural stone becomes more beautiful with use. In a world of mass production, these finishes stand out precisely because they're not replicable.
Integrated Design That Hides the Clutter
One of the clearest shifts in 2026 is the move toward visual calm. Clients want clean sightlines and uncluttered spaces—but they also want full functionality. The solution is integrated design that tucks everything out of view.
Panel-ready appliances that blend seamlessly into cabinetry are now expected rather than exceptional. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and even coffee stations disappear behind cabinet fronts, letting the kitchen read as furniture rather than a showroom of stainless steel. Concealed range hoods—integrated into cabinetry or millwork above the cooktop—maintain clean lines while still providing ventilation.
Storage is getting smarter and less visible. Pocket-door pantries and butler's pantries hide prep zones, small appliances, and everyday clutter behind closed doors. Hydraulic-lift cabinets conceal stand mixers and other countertop appliances when not in use. Sliding backsplash panels reveal hidden storage for spices, oils, and cooking essentials. The goal is a kitchen that looks calm and curated even in the middle of daily life.
Hardware-free cabinets are part of this trend. Touch-latch doors, push-to-open mechanisms, and integrated pulls create sleek surfaces without visible handles. This works particularly well with flat-panel cabinetry, which is gaining ground even in traditional and transitional kitchens. The clean lines let material choices—wood grain, painted finishes, stone—take center stage.
We're also designing more zoned built-in walls that combine multiple functions into one cohesive feature. A single wall might integrate a fireplace, television, open display shelving, closed storage cabinets, a beverage center, and bench seating—all designed together so nothing feels added on. These built-ins reduce the need for standalone furniture, make rooms feel more spacious, and ensure every element has a place.
Lighting is moving in the same direction. Cove lighting, illuminated niches, and fixtures recessed into millwork provide ambiance without visible hardware. Instead of statement chandeliers and pendant clusters, we're seeing more architectural lighting that's built into the bones of the house—LED strips in toe kicks, backlit shelving, and indirect light sources that wash walls with soft illumination.
The best design is the kind you don't have to think about. Everything has a place—and that place is out of sight.
Garden Rooms and Zoned Outdoor Living
Outdoor living has been a priority for years. What's changing in 2026 is the approach.
Instead of thinking about outdoor spaces as a single patio or deck, landscapes are being reimagined as "garden rooms"—distinct zones with defined purposes. A dining terrace with built-in seating. A fire pit lounge with comfortable chairs arranged for conversation. A quiet reading nook surrounded by greenery. A sunny play lawn for kids. Each space is separated by low hedges, planters, trellises, stone walls, or pathways, but they all flow together as part of a larger composition.
This approach makes yards feel larger and more intentional, even on modest-sized lots. It creates a sense of discovery—you move through the landscape rather than simply looking at it. And it encourages families to actually use their outdoor spaces in different ways throughout the day and across seasons.
Hardscape and softscape work together to define these zones. Stone pathways wind through planting beds. Pergolas and arbors frame transitions. Ornamental grasses and layered shrubs create natural screens without the formality of tall fences. The materials echo what's inside—warm stone, natural wood, earthy tones—so the transition from interior to exterior feels seamless.
Year-round functionality is part of the equation. Covered structures, outdoor heaters, weatherproof furniture, and fire features extend the usable season well beyond summer. Retractable awnings and motorized screens offer flexibility as conditions change. The goal is outdoor space that works as hard as indoor space—not just a backdrop, but a destination.
What's Fading Out
Every year, some trends run their course. Here's what we're seeing less demand for:
All-white kitchens and interiors. The cool, bright, gallery-like aesthetic has lost its appeal. Clients want warmth, texture, and color—even if it's subtle.
Light blonde oak everything. Richer, warmer wood tones are taking over. Walnut, cherry, hickory, and stained white oak feel more grounded and sophisticated.
Modern farmhouse shiplap. It had a good run and brought character to a lot of homes. But the look has been overdone, and clients are ready to move on.
Stark minimalism without texture. Clean lines are still valued, but not at the expense of warmth and character. Minimalism in 2026 has layers.
Chaotic pattern-mixing. Layering is welcome, but with intention. Mixing patterns works when there's a unifying thread—color, scale, or material. Without that, it reads as cluttered rather than collected.
Visible smart home technology. Keypads, touchscreens, and speaker grilles mounted on every wall are out. Technology should be invisible, integrated into the architecture rather than displayed as a feature.
Infinity pools and over-the-top water features. Simpler, more naturalistic approaches to water—reflecting pools, subtle fountains, plunge pools—are replacing the showy designs of recent years.
Trends come and go. Good design sticks around.
Building for How You Want to Feel
These trends all point in the same direction: homes that feel warm, grounded, and personal. Spaces with character and craftsmanship. Materials that age gracefully. Design that supports real life without calling attention to itself.
What's encouraging about 2026 is that it's not about chasing novelty. It's about returning to ideas that work—quality materials, thoughtful details, spaces designed for how people actually live. The homes being built this year will still feel right in twenty years because they're rooted in principles that don't go out of style.
The best custom home isn't the trendiest one. It's the one that feels like you—built around how your family lives, finished with materials you'll love for decades, and designed with intention from the very first conversation.
That's what we do at Keel Custom Homes. We help Richmond families navigate the choices, simplify the process, and build homes that feel right from the moment they move in.