Interior design in 2026 is moving away from the stark minimalism of the past decade and returning to warmth, character and craftsmanship. Designers report growing demand for curved furniture, architectural details, richer color palettes and the revival of traditional elements like crown molding and layered textiles. Homeowners are mixing materials, reupholstering vintage pieces and embracing jewel tones, textures and patterns—choices that make spaces feel more personal and less formulaic. These shifts aren’t new concepts, but a recalibration after years of pared-down, beige interiors. Rooms are becoming fuller and more tactile,…
Read MoreMonth: November 2025
U.S. Lumber Coalition Responds to Mass. Governor Healey
The U.S. Lumber Coalition made a statement to Massachusetts Governor Healey on the claim that lumber imports cause housing pricing affordability issues. On Oct. 14, the additional 10% tariff on softwood lumber and timber imports took into effect. This increases the current tariffs on Canadian lumber to a total of 45%. Currently, up to 85% of all U.S. lumber imports hail from Canada. While some hardwood and lumber companies across the U.S asked for federal support because of the effect of tariffs on their businesses, the U.S. Lumber Coalition is in support of enforcement…
Read MoreTile trend that’s set to take over showers and bathrooms in 2026
Bathroom design in 2026 is shifting away from minimalist white tile toward richer, more expressive finishes, with hand-painted tiles emerging as a major trend. Homeowners and designers are gravitating toward options like traditional Delft tiles because they bring pattern, character and a sense of history that modern spaces often lack. Though decorative tiles date back thousands of years—from ancient Egypt to medieval Europe and 18th-century Delftware, their renewed popularity reflects a desire for craftsmanship, imperfection and storytelling in residential design. For builders and remodelers, the appeal is practical as well…
Read MoreLowe’s CEO predicts a home renovation boom in 2026
Lowe’s CEO, Marvin Ellison is reaping a 6% boost in the chain’s stock, he expects success to continue to 2026 with an upwards trend in renovations. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, the CEO described a perfect equation for renovation activity, “Americans have “significant equity” of an “average of $400,000 in equity per home,” said Ellison. “We expect homeowners to start, at some point, to tap into these … home equity lines of credit (HELOC) to start to finance larger, more discretionary home improvement projects, because they’re going to be…
Read MoreTop Home Renovation Trends of 2025
Home renovation trends in 2025 are creating strong opportunities for builders as demand grows for performance-driven, sustainable upgrades. Clients are looking for renovations that incorporate low-carbon materials, durable finishes, improved insulation, high-efficiency mechanicals and better indoor air quality. Kitchen and bathroom remodels remain strong, with a push toward energy-saving fixtures, water-efficient features and simple, modern layouts. Exterior improvements—from upgraded roofing and siding to cohesive indoor-outdoor transitions—are also gaining traction as homeowners look to boost both resilience and curb appeal. Builders are additionally seeing increased interest in smart-home integrations and multi-functional…
Read MoreBuilding Material Prices Continued to Rise in September
Residential construction costs continued to climb in September, with overall building material prices rising at their fastest pace since early 2023. The Producer Price Index showed a 0.3% increase in final demand, driven largely by a sharp 3.5% rise in energy prices—the first energy increase in more than a year. Input prices for new residential construction rose 0.2% for the month and 3.1% year-over-year, with building materials up 3.5% from last year as inflation gradually accelerated throughout 2025. Some categories saw dramatic increases, including parts for construction machinery (+41%) and…
Read MoreCensus releases August construction report
Delayed by 42 days because of the government shutdown, the Census presented their August construction spending report this week. The overall construction in August bounced back a bit, 0.2 percent, above the revised July estimate. However it is 1.6 percent below the August 2024 estimate. Looking at private construction projects, spending rose 0.3% in August compared to July. Residential construction remains in the positive, with a reported 0.8% increase in investment. However a report from Reuters suggested, “But outlays on new single-family housing projects dropped 0.4%. Spending on multi-family housing…
Read More2026 U.S. Labor Market Outlook
New data from HireQuest indicates that the 2026 labor market is moving toward stability after several years of rapid swings in hiring trends. Survey results from more than 400 offices show that time-to-fill rates have largely steadied, job applications remain consistent and employers are leaning more heavily on flexible hiring models like contract and fractional roles. The market is shifting toward skill-based hiring, with companies emphasizing flexibility, job fit and roles that cannot be automated. Trends such as reshoring, easing tariffs and advancements in AI-driven recruiting are also influencing demand,…
Read MoreThe State of the Construction Economy: What to Expect in 2026
The construction industry is heading into 2026 with uncertainty, but also with growing opportunities in reconstruction, adaptive reuse and major technology-driven projects. While high mortgage rates, rising materials costs and labor shortages continue to challenge builders, activity is shifting toward redevelopment of aging buildings and creating new housing through conversions and ADUs. Economists note that trends like office-to-residential conversions and reconstruction work are becoming essential strategies as traditional residential demand softens. At the same time, long-term volatility in interest rates and tariffs continues to influence costs and delay projects, reinforcing…
Read MoreDesign trends popular for the last half of 2025
Designers report the market is shifting away from the neutral minimalist color schemes and design trends as we wrap up 2025. Melissa Dittmann Tracey from the The National Association of Realtors shares her insight on where these trends are heading. First she indicates that the market will gravitate towards layered textures like boucle, grasscloth, plaster, zellige tile, fluting and handcrafted details. “Texture can adds warmth, depth and subtle dimension to spaces,” said Tracey. “It also adds personality, welcoming homeowners to reach out and touch.” The pendulum of style is greatly…
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