Homebuyers

Summer Design Trends: Staycations and Softness Set the Tone This Season

It’s summertime, and “the living is easy,” but this year things feel a bit more “squeezy.”

Thanks to inflation, job insecurity, and global instability, many people are staying closer to home this season. But that doesn’t mean they’re giving up on summer’s good vibes. Homeowners are simply bringing those vibes home.

Staycation ideas, even “quiet-cations” (complete with digital detoxes), are back on the table as individuals look to turn their abodes into softer, safer, more comfortable spaces. And many may be able to turn to home equity loans to finance the changes to their homes.

“People want to come home to, or stay home in, an environment that brings the heart rate down and envelops them with a gentle hug,” said interior designer and wellness coach Jamie Rae Walker.

With that in mind, here are some summer decor trends gaining momentum. Get ready to rethink, refresh, and make the most of your home as the weather finally warms.

Earthy is the new black this summer

Warm, earthy hues as trending this season, according to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report.

“After years of cool-toned minimalism, homeowners are excited to create spaces that feel rich, personal, and a little bit indulgent,” said Cathleen Gruver, lead interior designer of the Northern Virginia-based Gruver Cooley.

“Rust, terracotta, deep chocolate, sage, these colors are having such a moment because they work with natural light rather than fighting it,” said Gruver. “They look beautiful in the golden-hour glow of summer.”

Homeowners wanting to test this direction without committing might try painting one accent wall in a warm clay tone. That’s often “enough to transform a room’s entire feeling,” said Gruver.

Get ready for some curves

Continuing the move away from modern, rigid decor, curves and soft geometry are replacing sharp lines and stark angles.

“Hard lines and sleek surfaces are beautiful in photos, but they can feel cold to actually live in,” said Gruver. “Arched doorways, rounded islands, and scalloped tile details bring a sense of movement and ease to a room.”

Anyone looking to embrace softer decor without a full renovation might try swapping out rectangular mirrors for round ones or replacing square throw pillows with a bolster or a curved form.

Nostalgia is showing up on the home front

 While the world may feel in flux, people are seeking stability in the past, as searches for nostalgic spaces are trending on Houzz. This can include adding antiques and older photos to a home.

“It’s very possible to easily implement old-world character into your current living space, and summer is the best time of year to do the hunting,” said Walker. “Go to vintage markets, thrift shops, and flea markets where you can find antique pieces that will last forever.”

A trick Wyckoff, N.J.-based luxury interior designer Jennifer Pacca uses to capture this trend is hanging black-and-white photos in fancy frames clustered together in a gallery formation.

Gruver thinks this idea is also about recapturing joy.

“People are carving out dedicated corners for board games, cards, and even mahjong, analog activities that pull everyone away from screens and into the same room,” said Gruver.

Take backyard compact spaces to the max

Outside is the place to be in summer, and that means making the most of whatever backyard space you’ve got. That’s true even if that space is small.

“People either create or gravitate toward spots that feel more intimate within a larger space, a theme that occurs outdoors as well,” said Walker.

With that in mind, Walker suggests using pebbles or slate pavers from a big garden supply company as a creative way to create a path to a little bistro table, with a couple of garden benches outside.

“Solar lights are also the most cost-effective, attractive way to add cozy ambiance to small outdoor spaces where no one wants to leave,” said Walker. 

Pacca added that she always starts by thinking in terms of multifunctionality. For example, if adding a fire pit (with a cover) could that double as a dining table?

Wellness rooms are a welcome addition

 Spa vacations are not a luxury everyone can afford right now. But setting up a wellness retreat at home is doable.

In fact, in the Houzz summer trends report, searches for “wellness room” are up 164%, with the use of “calming” as a design keyword spiking 139%.

“When clients ask me how to approach this on a budget, I always say to start with the sensory layer: dimmable lighting is non-negotiable,” said Gruver. “Then a diffuser, natural-fiber textiles, and a clutter-free space do more than most people expect.”

In a pinch, just claiming a small section of sanctuary space can also be effective. “Sometimes a room divider can be a wonderful way to designate some privacy for a meditative area with books and special objects,” said Walker.

Gather some European garden romanticism this summer 

If you can’t travel to Europe this year, what says Europe can’t travel to you?

Houzz found that creating European-inspired spaces at home is a major summer decor trend for U.S. homeowners in 2026. Searches for “French courtyards” and “Italian courtyards” searches are up, with “English cottage patios” soaring 121%.

“European garden romanticism is essentially the ‘travel-isn’t-in-the-budget-this-year’ trend,” said Gruver. “Homeowners want that lush, storied feeling of a French or Italian courtyard without the flight.”

The good news is that a small table for two, a few pots of herbs or climbing roses against a fence, and some string lights can get you surprisingly close to that feeling. This year’s overarching summer decor goal is intimacy and softness. It doesn’t require scale.

How homeowners are financing summer home improvements

For homeowners eyeing upgrades but hesitant to drain savings, tapping home equity can be one way to fund summer home improvements.

Options such as a home equity line of credit (HELOC), cash-out refinance, or second mortgage can help homeowners spread out the cost of projects, from wellness rooms to backyard upgrades.

In many local housing markets, rising home values have left owners with equity they can use to refresh their spaces without paying entirely out of pocket.