Real Estate
From electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps to bold paint colors, here are the trends a professional remodeler predicts will keep growing in 2026.
A quartzite countertop sits on wood cabinetry on this kitchen island. Shelly Harrison Photography
These are the trends that emerged over the past year of renovating and remodeling — and we don’t expect them to go anywhere this year.
Bold colors
While earth tones are still popular, many clients have been gravitating toward bolder colors for walls and trim. Sometimes, even ceilings are being painted a complementary color as opposed to white. Painted cabinets are still the most popular finishes for kitchens and vanities — many of these are also bolder colors; dark and rich blues and greens have been popular. Things like built-in bookcases and entertainment centers often blend seamlessly into the surrounding trim color.
Natural materials
We are seeing white oak and walnut colors being incorporated into kitchens, baths, and elsewhere. This may be part of a trend to bring the outdoors into our homes. Natural stone for countertops is also coming back. Quartz (a manufactured product) countertops have been the more popular choice overall for quite a few years. That is mainly because of the ease of maintenance, plus the color and finish selections are seemingly endless. Recently, we have been seeing an uptick in the requests for granite and quartzite — both natural stones. Often the granite may be a unique island countertop, different than the main working countertops in the rest of the kitchen. This gives the space some pop. It is also important to more homeowners to have a truly unique piece of stone in their kitchen — a one-of-a-kind feature.
A skylight brings natural light into this shower. – Jane Messinger Photography
Natural light
This goes back to bringing the indoors into our living areas. More windows (or larger windows/transoms) that face east and south are being incorporated into designs. Larger patio doors to the outside instead of a single French glass door can make a huge difference in a room. Skylights are a great way to add light to third-floor bedrooms that may only have gable-end windows. They also help to ventilate a space.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is paramount in everything we install, whether it’s lighting/electrical, heating and cooling, or even water-saving plumbing fixtures. The Boston metro area is greener than much of the country, so this is very much a regional trend, especially with federal tax credits ending. The international building codes and stretch energy codes that dictate windows and skylights have helped a great deal in making these components of your home much more efficient. Building suppliers now offer products that exceed code, such as triple-glazed windows (three panes of insulating glass instead of the typical two) that have been in use in Europe for decades.
Sustainable wood
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) advocates for sustainable tree harvesting. There are also an endless number of manufactured wood products for building. These are made with wood byproducts that would normally be wasted. In addition, there is siding and trim made from composite materials — some more eco-friendly than others, so you need to do your homework.
Nontoxic products
Just like sustainable building materials, there are now options for products that won’t release gas toxins into your house. Virtually all paint manufacturers make low or no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints. Water-based polyurethanes have come a long way and can be used for finishing floors instead of oil-based polyurethanes, which are high in VOCs. There are eco-friendly suppliers in the Boston area that can source cabinets, countertops, tile, and flooring from recycled and/or manufactured products that do not contain formaldehyde or toxic resins, etc.
Mass Save proposes to install heat pumps in 119,000 households over the next three years. – Erin Clark/Globe Staff
Heat pumps, heat pumps, heat pumps
Mini-split systems seem to be at least part of every remodel we do. Part of that is getting an air conditioning system installed in a house that has no infrastructure for a conventional AC system. These systems can also replace the heating system — but we advise being very careful about installing a mini-split system to replace an existing heating system. Consult carefully with your HVAC contractor. Winters are harsh in New England, and replacing radiators and baseboard heat with a heat pump can be tricky. They are fantastic for cooling a house, but heating a house is different. One final note: Make sure your home has enough amperage coming into the panel for a heat pump.
Induction ranges
Part of the popularity of these is convenience and quality of cooking, but also that there is no off-gassing. A lot of families don’t want to have what amounts to a small open flame combustion appliance firing away in the heart of the home.
Maher plugged in his electric car, which he and his wife bought last year. Even though electricity now powers the car and all the utilities in the house, he noticed his electricity bills were lower this summer than when the house used oil and gas the year before.
– Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Electric vehicle chargers
More manufacturers are offering electric vehicles, and trying to charge a car on a house line volt receptacle just takes too long and is unreliable because these are at most a 15-20 amp circuit (a Level 1 charger). As with most modern appliances and fixtures, you need quite a bit of amperage to spare to install a proper car charger. A typical Level 2 car charger would start at 40 amps and go up from there. A Level 2 will charge a vehicle as much as 10 times faster than a Level 1.
Smart home systems
So many home systems now have Wi-Fi capability, you can run and monitor almost everything in your home. Anything from security to heating and cooling to lighting and even window treatments can now be linked to your phone. Remember to always install your own password to any of these home systems.
Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing. Subscribe to the Globe’s free real estate newsletter — our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design — at Boston.com/address-newsletter.
Address Newsletter
Our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design, with expert advice and insider neighborhood knowledge.
