Overview
- Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate released its 2026 Design Trends Moving Real Estate Report outlining six forces shaping buyer decisions: a redefined starter home, paint choices that sell, influencer-driven features, flexible layouts, renewed craftsmanship, and upgraded curb appeal.
- Color is a key first-impression driver, with 40% of buyers saying paint strongly shapes their view of a home and another third saying it captures their attention.
- Flexible floor plans outweigh raw size, as 86% of respondents say adaptable layouts help them look past smaller square footage and focus on flow and multipurpose use.
- First impressions start outside, with nearly half of buyers saying they will not purchase a home that does not feel right upon entry, underscoring the value of simple, welcoming curb appeal.
- BHGRE named consumer-selected 2026 Paint Colors of the Year—Calming Coastal Blue for interiors and Soft Stone Gray for exteriors—and plans an Agent Playbook to help apply the findings, based on a thinqinsights survey of 500 U.S. adults (±4.4%).