Confidence among home improvement contractors remains resilient and optimistic for 2026. Data from the Q4 Contractor Activity Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group and Home Improvement Research Institute surveyed five categories of residential contractors. These include remodel, exterior, mechanical, finish and landscaping. Their outlook for the new year is for continual business and steady increases in revenue. Over half of respondents indicated that they had a year over year increase in 2025. Remodelers in particular remain optimistic, with 39% indicating their company grew in the last 3 months. Despite labor shortages, they also…
Read MoreDay: December 17, 2025
Remodeling Resilience
Despite ongoing challenges in the housing market, the renovation sector continues to grow as homeowners choose to invest in their existing homes rather than move. High interest rates, limited housing inventory and strong home equity are encouraging people to stay put and upgrade instead. Industry forecasts show steady growth in remodeling spending through the next several years, driven by aging housing stock, adaptive reuse and homeowners seeking comfort, functionality and long-term value. Remodeling now represents a much larger share of residential construction than it did in the past. Much of…
Read More8 Interior design trends Designers say are going away in 2026
As homeowners look ahead to 2026, interior design is shifting away from trends that prioritize speed, sameness and social media appeal. Designers are noting a growing rejection of fast furniture, overly staged spaces and cookie-cutter interiors in favor of durability, sustainability and personal meaning. People are becoming more intentional about what they buy, favoring quality pieces, vintage finds and designs that support real daily living rather than photo-ready moments. Design preferences are also evolving toward warmth, variety and defined spaces. Overused elements like all-white oak interiors, open-concept layouts, matching furniture…
Read MoreEnd-of-year construction outlook
The team at Nationwide Economics released their Year-End 2025 Construction Industry Report. This report highlights key industry trends and what to expect going into 2026. The prices of construction materials continued to be stable throughout 2025. Despite uncertainty over tariff implementation and their potential headwinds businesses learned from the pandemic area about smart supply chain planning. Looking to 2026, this may affect the market more or drive an increase in domestic production. While residential construction saw a cool down phase throughout 2025, demand is building up. With this recovery the…
Read MoreKitchen Design 101: Styles and Trends
Effective kitchen design starts with a clear plan that prioritizes structure and function. Layout is the foundation, guiding how movement, storage, appliances, gathering space and work areas come together. When these elements are considered from the beginning, the kitchen feels balanced and supports both everyday tasks and long-term use. A well-planned layout acts like a blueprint, ensuring the space works smoothly rather than feeling disjointed or inefficient. The design process is built around understanding how the homeowner actually uses the kitchen. Through home visits, detailed conversations and ongoing revisions, designers…
Read MoreRemodeling Sentiment Improves
Remodeling market sentiment saw an increase in Q3 2025 after a minor decrease earlier in the year. Data from the National Association of Home Builders, shows the one point increase of the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) to 60. In comparison, Q2 was a 59, and Q1 was a 63. While the year over year, RMI is down this uptick is a positive shift. NAHB also expects in 2026 for remodeling spending to increase. The National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) 2025 Remodeling Impact Report indicated that consumers spent an estimated $603 billion…
Read MoreConstruction adds 28,000 jobs in November
Construction hiring rebounded in November, signaling that labor demand has steadied after a slow start to the year. Job growth over the past three months has reversed earlier losses, with tens of thousands of positions added since late summer. Much of this improvement has come from nonresidential construction, where large projects continue to drive staffing needs despite ongoing weakness in residential construction employment. Specialty trade contractors led the hiring gains, supported by sustained demand for large nonresidential builds and increased activity in sectors like data centers, which boosted electrician hiring.…
Read MoreDecember dawned to softer lumber demand
Commodity lumber prices were mostly stable in early December as seasonal slowdowns reduced market activity. Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 prices dipped slightly to $380 per thousand board feet, down modestly from the prior week and continuing a gradual decline seen over the past month. Prices also remained notably lower than a year ago, reflecting softer demand compared to recent highs. Southern Yellow Pine prices held steady week over week at $350 per thousand board feet, but were marginally lower than a month earlier and significantly below last year’s levels. Overall, both…
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