Homeowners looking to restyle a well-loved room or invest in updating a kitchen or whole house may be looking at trends for ideas. What are Oregon design professionals offering as fresh suggestions to their clients in 2026?
Timeless styles are smart longterm choices, but there’s also a place for eye-catching color, perhaps in botanical-print wallpaper, say experts at the 79-year-old Neil Kelly design and remodeling company.
The company’s design director Mary Miksch sees people increasingly prioritizing living spaces that feel grounded, warm and reflect the natural world.
Miksch said landscapes are the real stars in the Pacific Northwest and suggests when possible to simply allow windows to frame a tree, garden and other scenery.
She even sees a place for using Pantone Color Institute’s 2026 Color of the Year, the understated, off-white Cloud Dancer that some call boring.
“Cloud Dancer serves as a crisp, quiet backdrop that lets nature take center stage,” said Miksch.
Her guiding principle is that Pacific Northwest design is at its best when it reflects a sense of calm and connection to the outdoors.
“Cloud Dancer supports that approach by creating light, airy interiors that draw attention to the view outside,” she said. “It pairs beautifully with natural wood statement walls and ceilings, which are popular elements in Northwest homes.”
Neil Kelly, the largest residential design-build remodeling firm in the Northwest, releases a forecast of regional trends each January, based on their designers’ expertise and clients’ wishes to have a tasteful, highly livable home.
Past trend predictions proved to be widely popular. Last year, the company’s design experts expected to see requests for increased functionality and “comfort and joy.” They were right.
Here are the top home remodeling trends Neil Kelly designers predict will be popular in 2026.
Natural materials
As technology and AI accelerate, more people are craving authenticity and want to be surrounded by the grounding and calming presence of nature. In homes, stone, wood, organic textures and other natural materials will be featured even more prominently in refined, architectural ways.
“We are seeing a movement away from human-made, fabricated materials and a return to natural, organic materials especially in wood flooring and paneling,” said Miksch. “No one does wood products better than the Pacific Northwest.”
Botanical wallpaper
Statement wallpaper will be seen in entries, laundry rooms and powder rooms, predicts Selah Ewert, general manager of Neil Kelly Bend.
“Wallpaper is becoming an architectural detail, not an afterthought,” she said. “Botanical prints, moody landscapes, textured papers and mural-style art add personality and depth to any room.”
Bold statements won’t be limited to walls, she added.
Patterns can also play out as checkerboard floors, graphic tile layouts and block prints. New for 2026: Look for the ceiling to become the “fifth wall,” Ewert said.
Warm color hues
Designers like Matt White, general manager for Neil Kelly Eugene-Springfield, anticipate seeing less gray and white, and more warm, brown and jewel tone colors.
“There is a shift from the big splashes of white in kitchen cabinets and tile, as homeowners lean into the darker and warmer hues,” White said.
Complementary jewel tones he sees as popular are deep warm purples and rich cabernet-style reds, followed by dark natural greens and teal-blue peacock hues.
Handcrafted pieces
People who are surrounded by devices are appreciating quality craftsmanship and intricate design details more than ever, said Amanda Armstrong Sava, general manager Neil Kelly Seattle.
“More of our clients seek handcrafted custom pieces and design elements that bring meaning and artistry into everyday spaces,” she said. “Whether handrails, millwork, cabinetry or custom tile work, handcrafted pieces offer storytelling opportunities and real-life connections.”
New metallics
Popular finishes this year will include champagne bronze, brushed brass and warm nickel. People will continue to embrace nuanced mixing of metals as long as the tone and temperature feel harmonious, said Neil Kelly experts working from offices in Portland, Seattle, Bend and Eugene.
Although champagne bronze will be in the spotlight in 2026, chrome will make a comeback as an accent paired with darker tones such as rich velvet furniture with chrome legs, predicts Neil Kelly.
Vintage meets modern
There is a place to display heirlooms in a modern home, according to Neil Kelly designers.
The vintage-meets-modern trend creates spaces that feel rooted in a period like 1800s’ Victorian or 1900s’ Craftsman design by reinterpreting classic motifs for modern living.
The designers expect to see heirloom silhouettes, classic patterns and expressive details alongside modern furniture lines and simplified styling.
Mood-boosting color
The emotional quality of a space is as important as its aesthetics, and designers are prioritizing warmth, joy, personal connection to underscore home as a restorative sanctuary.
Designers, understanding that color influences human behavior, moods and decisions, will use lighter palettes in high-traffic areas, and immersive deeper tones in bedrooms and lounge areas.
Scent, sound and tactile materials will increasingly become part of whole-home design planning, said Neil Kelly.
Wellness spaces
Neil Kelly designer Matt White predicts there will be increased interest in home spaces dedicated to improving health and wellness.
“More clients are asking our team to design and build sauna rooms, steam showers and home gyms,” he said. “With infrared saunas and cold plunges trending, clients are prioritizing spaces that support daily self-care and long-term wellness in the comfort of their home.”
A place for curves
Soft, flowing contours will continue to replace straight lines and hard edges, according to Neil Kelly designers.
Curves, circles and sculptural shapes will be reflected in architecture and furniture. Arches and other rounded shapes will appear as room entrances, barrel-vaulted ceilings, rounded countertops and fluted moldings.
These forms add movement, warmth and a sense of ease, the company said.
People can learn more about timeless looks, innovative design, and sustainable building practices at Neil Kelly design centers or by attending free educational workshops. Visit www.neilkelly.com for more information.
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