With mortgage rates near 7%, more Americans are choosing to change the house they have rather than shop for another one.
1. Moving Is Still Expensive
Mortgage rates are hovering near 7%, making a new home considerably harder to justify for many owners. That is helping push some households toward renovation instead of relocation.
2. Homeowners Are Using More Renovation Financing
Bank of America Institute found homeowners are increasingly using home-equity lines of credit for renovations, suggesting some are tapping existing equity to improve their current homes instead of buying another property.
3. Furniture Spending Is Holding Up
Renters aren’t sitting this trend out. Furniture spending among renters rose 5.8% in July, according to Bank of America data cited by Barron’s, as people put more effort into making existing spaces work better.
4. Warm, Personal Rooms Are Back
The ultra-minimalist look is losing some ground to richer colors, vintage pieces and layered textures. Houzz and designers are reporting stronger interest in spaces with more personality rather than rooms that look interchangeable.
5. Vintage Is Having a Moment
Fall 2026 design trends are bringing back walnut, tapestry-style upholstery, vintage lighting and flea-market finds. The appeal is partly practical: older-looking pieces can make a room feel collected rather than newly furnished.
6. Staying Put Creates a Bigger Decorating Budget
The housing market is sluggish, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped spending on their homes. High-end homeowners in particular are putting money into renovations and furnishings because moving no longer looks like the only way to get a different-feeling home.