What’s In, What’s Enduring: The 2026 Luxury Home Design Forecast for Beverly Hills

Luxury in Beverly Hills is entering a quieter, more intentional phase, one that’s defined not by spectacle but by substance. Think living spaces that are quieter, more sculpted, tactile, and rooted in a deeper sense of authenticity.

At the end of 2025, we are already beginning to see what home design in Beverly Hills luxury real estate will look like in 2026. Let’s dive into the design directions that are gaining momentum, as well as the elements that endure.

Trends That Are Here to Stay

In 2026, a lived approach will gain momentum for luxury homes in Beverly Hills

Architectural Integrity

Long-term value in Beverly Hills has always been tied to clean lines, balanced proportions, and thoughtful spatial composition. Regardless of style—contemporary, traditional, or transitional—the authenticity in the underlying architecture is what anchors it all.

Indoor–Outdoor Flow

Seamless transitions between inside and out are a defining feature of homes in the area. Large sliding walls, courtyards, view-framing terraces, and landscaping that softens rather than blocks remain essential. In 2026, this emphasis deepens and the best executions will treat the exterior as an extension of the living room.

An Emphasis on Privacy

Privacy is another defining feature of luxury homes in Beverly Hills, but it’s about more than hedges and gates. Architectural layouts increasingly incorporate discreet entries, layered transitions, and landscape screening that feels organic rather than fortified.

Quality Over Quantity

The appetite for excess square footage has given way to a preference for spaces with a clearer sense of purpose. Buyers are looking closely at how cabinetry is built, how stone is detailed, how lighting is integrated, and how floors perform over time. Fewer pieces, better made is the perspective.

Timeless Color Foundations

Neutral foundations (cream, taupe, sand, charcoal, and mushroom) remain essential. They serve as a timeless backdrop for richer accents and allow spaces to evolve with seasons and tastes.

What’s In for 2026

The emerging sense of 2026 home design points toward a more grounded, expressive, and materially rich version of luxury.

Collected Minimalism

Minimalism isn’t departing, it’s maturing. Instead of sparse, gallery-like rooms, the emphasis is shifting toward spaces that feel curated rather than empty. With sculptural furniture, soft vintage pieces, and touchable textures, the goal is warmth without clutter, presence without noise.

Mood-Driven Color Palettes

The upcoming palette moves beyond cool neutrals and into tone-saturated, nature-informed hues. Designers are gravitating toward colors like sienna, navy, olive, basalt, and deep moss, shades that introduce depth while remaining timeless. Matte, pigment-rich walls are especially prominent, as they soften light and create rooms that feel earthy and enveloping. Tonal layering is also rising, producing sophisticated spaces built on variations of the same hue.

Textural Luxury

Texture is becoming a primary indicator of high-end design. The conversation is now about patina, not shine: hand-troweled surfaces, softly veined stone, natural wood, woven textiles, and metals that mellow over time.

Purpose-built Specialty Spaces

Owners of luxury homes in Beverly Hills are moving away from completely open, multipurpose layouts and toward rooms designed to support specific interests. These range from reading lounges, wellness studios, creative workshops, tasting rooms, or music rooms. These are spaces that support daily rituals, and the most compelling versions are flexible, with furniture, lighting, and storage that can reorient and adapt.

The Return of Wall Treatments

Flat walls are being reconsidered. From bespoke coverings to subtle reliefs and artisan treatments, walls are becoming atmosphere-makers. Done thoughtfully, they invite the eye to rest and the hand to explore, without tipping into ornament for ornament’s sake.

Custom, Hand-Painted Tiles and Mosaics

If 2026 has a single love letter to craftsmanship, it’s the return of custom, hand-painted tiles and mosaics. Fueled partly by the resurgence of interest in Pompeii, designers are channeling its aesthetics and materials, favoring earthy pigments with mineral blues and siennas, irregular brushwork, and artisanal glazes. Reinterpreted classical motifs and geometric borders as well as micromosaic insets subtly evoke antiquity while staying firmly modern.

Pompeii is having a moment.

How Design is Shaping Market Behavior in Beverly Hills

In Beverly Hills, the market rewards authenticity over trends.

While 2026 home designs introduce new colors and textures, the market continues to favor homes that balance trend adoption with architectural integrity. Buyers are increasingly wary of overly thematic renovations or updates that feel tied to a specific year. Instead, they respond to homes where timeless elements, proportion, scale, natural materials, and thoughtful craftsmanship have been preserved or enhanced.

When new design choices complement these fundamentals, the result is an interior that feels current and timeless.

Here are the design choices that buyers notice and sellers can implement:

• Elevate lighting as a system
  • Lean into comfort with warm ambient tones (2700-3000K)
  • Add targeted task lights (reading, under-cabinet) for clarity
  • Reveal texture with subtle accents like grazers and picture lights
• Stage furniture for conversation
  • Shape seating in “C” and “L” formations
  • Keep pathways intuitive and unobstructed
  • Anchor each group with a rug and a light source
• Style walls for mood
  • Tactile finishes or artisan coverings in restrained applications
  • Art with appropriate scale and soft, directional lighting
  • Shelving that mixes books, objects, and negative space
• Curate a cohesive palette
  • Anchor with tonal neutrals
  • Introduce deeper hues where natural light is strongest
  • Balance with warm woods and textiles
• Refine indoor-outdoor thresholds
  • Repeat materials across the line (stone, wood, metal)
  • Outdoor lighting should frame, not flood views
  • Orient seating to capture both conversation and outlook

In Beverly Hills, luxury buyers understand that great design is not a matter of fashion; it is a reflection of lifestyle. As 2026 approaches, the homes that hold value will be those that interpret design trends with restraint, respect the architectural foundation, and offer spaces that support both daily life and long-term legacy building.

2026 Home Design FAQs

Are specialty rooms worth the investment from a resale perspective?

Yes, as long as the room serves a clear purpose and aligns with contemporary lifestyle values. Buyers at the high end increasingly prioritize spaces that support wellness, productivity, or leisure.

How will 2026 energy standards affect luxury remodels?

California’s 2025 Energy Code takes effect Jan 1, 2026 and pushes electric-first systems, tighter envelopes, and PV readiness. Expect heat pumps for space conditioning and water heating to be the default, enhanced ventilation/filtration, solar-ready roof planning, and more rigorous energy modeling for additions/alterations.

How to achieve Title 24 compliance without sacrificing design

Prioritize performance invisibly: integrate high‑R assemblies and air sealing behind high‑end finishes; specify heat‑pump HVAC and water heating sized with duct/plumbing layouts that preserve ceiling drama; use tunable LED lighting with compliant controls; plan PV‑ready roofs early with skylight choreography; and select high‑performance glazing with discreet shading to keep the glassy look. For pools/spas, plan inverter heat‑pump heating, covers, and smart controls to meet 2026 efficiency rules without compromising resort experience. For indoor air quality, combine balanced ventilation (ERV/HRV) with art‑safe filtration. Engage energy modeling during schematic design to “unlock” compliance pathways that protect aesthetics.

How much does a Beverly Hills modern renovation cost per square foot?

Whole‑home luxury renovations in greater Los Angeles typically range from about 125–500+ USD per square foot depending on scope and finish level, with wet rooms (kitchens/baths) at the higher end (often 400+ USD/sq ft). Ultra‑custom estates, complex hillside work, specialty glazing, and gallery‑grade interiors can reach 800–1,200+ USD psf, with outlier projects reported above that. Treat these as planning ranges; actual bids depend on site, program, and procurement.

What wellness features are now baseline vs. differentiators?

Baseline in 2026 luxury: dedicated sauna or infrared, cold plunge, steam‑capable wet room with proper ventilation, circadian lighting, and air/water filtration. Differentiators: halotherapy rooms, red‑light therapy, recovery labs (compression, thermal contrast), sprung‑floor gyms, integrated breathwork/meditation suites, and outdoor hydrotherapy with smart thermal control.

Which stones and woods feel most current in 2026?

Travertine and vein‑matched marbles for statement surfaces; terrazzo and large‑format porcelain in high‑traffic/sun‑exposed zones; rift/quarter‑sawn white oak and walnut for millwork; blackened steel/bronze accents.

Where to splurge vs save in 2026

Splurge: primary suite (wet room, dual closets, terrace), kitchens (workflow, appliances, lighting), glazing/thresholds for indoor–outdoor experience, and lighting design (controls, art‑safe illumination). These drive daily experience and resale.

Save: secondary bedrooms/baths with durable but simpler finishes, back‑of‑house storage, and amenity “shells” that can be upgraded later (e.g., provision for future golf sim). Use porcelain in sun‑exposed exteriors instead of high‑maintenance stones to protect budget and performance.

The More Things Change…

Timeless elegance, quality, and luxury: Would you expect any less from Beverly Hills?

Design may evolve year by year, but the core principles that define Beverly Hills luxury homes remain remarkably consistent. Homes that balance architectural integrity with thoughtful updates tend to hold their appeal, and interiors shaped by quality materials and intentional design continue to resonate with discerning buyers.

Joyce Rey is a luxury homes realtor who has guided clients through many phases of luxurious home designs. She’s overseen the transfer of some of the most prestigious of Beverly Hills real estate, from architectural icons to contemporary masterpieces. For the keenest insight, whether you’re reimagining a residence or evaluating a property’s long-term potential, Joyce offers an unmatched level of expertise.

Contact Joyce Rey at 310.291.6646 or leave a message here and open the doors to the finest homes in Beverly Hills.