The post The Anti-Staging Home Trend Is Changing How Americans Decorate Their Spaces first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
A growing number of homeowners are putting personal comfort and everyday enjoyment ahead of creating a home that looks universally appealing to future buyers.
Houzz’s 2025 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report suggests that many residents are moving away from the idea that every room needs to feel neutral and resale-ready. Instead, homeowners are embracing richer colors, layered textures, meaningful details, and spaces designed around the way they actually live.
The shift does not mean homeowners have stopped thinking about resale value. Instead, the trend points to changing priorities, with many people choosing to enjoy their homes now while accepting that some updates may need adjusting later if they decide to sell.
Homeowners are choosing personal style over a safe look
A 2025 Thumbtack homeowner survey found that 76% of surveyed homeowners said they were designing their homes for themselves rather than future buyers. The survey included 1,000 U.S. homeowners ages 22 to 65, making it a useful look at that group’s preferences rather than a complete picture of every homeowner in the country.
The same Thumbtack survey found that 84% of respondents prioritized projects that brought happiness over financial return. Among respondents planning to sell, 68% said they made the same choice, showing that personal enjoyment can influence decisions even among people thinking about a future move.
That shift is showing up in how people think about their homes. Rather than treating every design choice as an investment decision, many homeowners appear more interested in creating spaces that reflect their tastes and routines.
Related: Goodbye, Sterile White: Why 2026 Kitchens Are Getting Warmer, Richer, and a Lot More Personal
Color and texture are moving into the spotlight
Design professionals surveyed by Houzz reported seeing more expressive choices in homes, including jewel tones, wallpaper, painted doors, playful patterns, layered textures, and handcrafted finishes. Houzz described the trend as a move away from resale-driven decisions toward more deeply personal design choices.
Strong examples include rooms with bolder color choices, wallpaper on walls or ceilings, statement surfaces, and details that add personality. Houzz’s professional respondents pointed to these elements as part of a broader interest in creating more individual interiors.
Texture is also becoming an important part of the conversation. Materials such as bouclé, grasscloth, plaster, zellige tile, fluting, and handcrafted details were among the finishes highlighted in trend reporting.
The result is not necessarily a home filled with bold choices everywhere. The evidence supports a move toward spaces that feel more lived in, personal, and connected to the people who use them.
Related: The Best Paint Colors for a Quiet Luxury Look That Designers Love
Renovations remain a major part of home life
The trend is happening alongside continued renovation activity. Houzz’s 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study reported that 54% of surveyed homeowners renovated in 2025 and 52% decorated, with median renovation spending reported at $20,000 among the study group.
These figures come from Houzz users, including surveyed renovating U.S. homeowners, so they provide important context but should not be treated as a complete national measurement of all homeowners.
The trend also includes renewed interest in restoring and reusing existing pieces. Thumbtack and Redfin’s 2026 trend release reported that furniture reupholstery requests increased 63% year over year on Thumbtack’s platform, which the companies connected with growing interest in upcycling and restoring furniture instead of simply replacing it.
Resale value still plays a role
The move toward more personal homes does not mean resale has disappeared from homeowners’ minds. Houzz’s 2026 kitchen study found that 25% of renovating homeowners cited improving resale value as a renovation trigger. At the same time, 41% cited dissatisfaction with their old kitchen’s style and 38% cited deterioration or dysfunction.
Real estate guidance continues to focus on updates that can appeal to future buyers. The National Association of Realtors has highlighted upgrades such as a new steel front door, closet renovation, windows, and kitchen work as projects with estimated resale cost recovery. It also reports that fresh paint is commonly recommended before listing a home.
For homeowners, that can mean separating the home they enjoy living in from the home they may eventually prepare to sell.
A more personal future for home design
The current design movement is less about abandoning traditional advice and more about changing the balance between personal enjoyment and future market appeal.
Homes may increasingly include stronger colors, meaningful objects, flexible rooms, and layouts created around daily activities. NAHB’s 2026 design analysis highlighted flexible spaces that combine work, wellness, and play, reflecting changing ideas about how residents use their homes.
For people planning updates, the takeaway is simple: a home can be both functional and personal. The latest design direction suggests many homeowners want spaces that feel like their own first, while keeping resale in mind for later.
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