What's Hot in Homes Right Now (and Which Renos Are Worth It)

If your home was renovated somewhere between 2015 and 2022, there's a fair chance it has grey floors, grey walls or a grey kitchen. It made sense at the time, because grey felt safe and it photographed well.

Tastes have moved on, though. The homes getting attention in 2026 are warmer and softer, and they feel like someone actually lives in them.

Below are the design trends worth knowing about. After that is the part most sellers really want answered: which jobs are worth paying for before you list, and which ones you're better off leaving for the next owner.

5 trends taking over Aussie homes

1. Warm neutrals are the new white. Stark whites and cool greys are out. Think clay, sand, oatmeal and soft creams. Pantone's 2026 colour of the year, Cloud Dancer, is a soft, warm white that sets the tone.
2. Colour is back, but softer. Olive and sage greens, terracotta, powder blue and the odd touch of burgundy are all showing up, often in kitchens and bathrooms where you'd once have seen white.
3. Matte, natural and touchable. Glossy finishes are giving way to timber, stone, linen and matte surfaces. If you want to run your hand over it, it's on trend.
4. Bring the outside in. Indoor plants, plenty of natural light and windows that look out onto greenery. Designers call it biophilic design, which is a fancy name for rooms that feel good to sit in.
5. Soft curves. Arched doorways, rounded benchtops and curvy furniture are softening up the boxy look.

Underneath all of this is a move away from the display-home look. People are happy to mix a vintage piece from Nan's place with something new, and a home that looks lived-in is now a good thing.

Renos worth doing before you sell

The advice we give most sellers is to focus on presentation rather than renovation. Buyers respond to how a home feels when they walk through it, and they rarely pay extra just because you spent a lot.

The jobs that usually pay their way:

• Fresh paint. It's the cheapest way to make a home feel newer. Stick to warm neutrals and leave the olive feature wall for your next place.
• Street appeal. Tidy the garden, put down fresh mulch and give the driveway a clean. Buyers start forming an opinion before they've got out of the car.
• Lighting. Warm globes and a couple of updated fittings cost very little, and they change the feel of a room more than you'd expect.
• Flooring. Worn carpet puts buyers off quickly. New carpet or a timber-look floor usually earns back what it costs.
• Declutter and style. Decluttering costs nothing, and professional styling often returns several times its cost because buyers can picture themselves living there.

Natural light and an outdoor entertaining area sit near the top of most buyers' wish lists. Before inspections, open every blind, clean the windows and set up the deck the way you'd actually use it on a weekend.

What to skip

A full kitchen or bathroom renovation right before you sell. It's tempting, but these big jobs typically return only 50 to 80% of their cost. A $50,000 kitchen might add around $30,000 to the price.

A refresh is usually the better option. New tapware and handles, a fresh splashback, re-grouting and a deep clean can bring a tired kitchen or bathroom up to date for much less.

Bold trend choices. A terracotta kitchen can look amazing if you're staying put for years. If you're about to sell, though, it narrows the number of buyers who'll love it, so it's safer to keep things warm and simple.

Big projects on a tight timeline. Rushed trades and unfinished work tend to hurt more than they help. If a job can't be finished properly before the photos are taken, it's better left alone.

Quick weekend wins

Got a free Saturday? Try these.

• Swap every cool white globe for warm white
• Change cabinet handles in the kitchen or bathroom
• Add a couple of big indoor plants
• Clear benchtops down to three items or fewer
• Wash the windows and pull back the curtains
• Fresh mulch and a new doormat out the front

Thinking about selling and not sure what's worth doing? We're happy to come over and walk through your home with you. We'll give you an honest view of what's worth fixing and what buyers won't even notice.

KORE Shire Partners
Shop 21, Bangor Shopping Centre,
121 Yala Road, Bangor
02 8515 0255 | koreshirepartners.com.au

Sources

• The Leader: Interior design trends 2026, Australian style forecast
• Henley: Top five interior trends for 2026
• Canberra Times: Interior design trends in Australian homes for 2026
• Stone Ambassador: 2026 Design Trends Forecast
• Mozo: How to add value to your home in 2026
• Collings: Should I renovate before selling?
• Property Update: What homebuyers really want this spring