What does 2026 hold for house design trends? Will farmhouse at last be dethroned? Looking back at 2025 sales and ahead to what’s next, one thing’s clear: homeowners want more warmth and personality.
Explore these top house trends for 2026.
Explore our collection of small house plans.
Trending Architectural Styles: Character and Evolution
Home design is evolving as more homeowners seek spaces that feel personal, welcoming, and built to last. The most popular styles remain strong, but each is evolving with a new focus on authenticity.
1. Modern Farmhouse: Evolving, Not Ending
Still the reigning favorite, modern farmhouse plans made up 33% of house plan sales in 2025 (nearly identical to 2024).
The modern farmhouse style is evolving beyond its stark black-and-white palette, according to Good Housekeeping. In 2026, expect a more natural variation with “warm, grounded hues, with hints of nostalgia,” notes New Home Source.
One-Story Farmhouse Design
One-Story Farmhouse Design - Front Exterior
One-Story Farmhouse Design - Main Level
2. The Rise of “Modern Cottage”
Emerging as the next evolution of farmhouse style, the modern cottage blends cozy warmth with a refined, contemporary edge. In fact, cottage house plans saw a modest bump in popularity, with sales rising from 6% in 2024 to 7% in 2025.
You’ll often see steep gables and brick or stone details paired with crisp, modern lines. Its charm comes from a balance of whimsy and everyday simplicity. Inside, light-filled rooms, simple finishes, and soft textures feel effortless rather than overdone. The style feels both current and timeless all at once.
Explore our collection of cottage house plans here.
Barndo Modern Cottage Plan
Barndo Modern Cottage Plan - Front Exterior
Barndo Modern Cottage Plan - Main Level
3. Barndominiums: Gaining Momentum
Barndominium sales climbed from 8% in 2024 to 11% in 2025, showing they’re steadily becoming more popular with homebuyers.
Modern versions favor sleek, clean lines, flat or shed roofs, and expansive walls of glass. Rustic barndos highlight exposed timber beams and wraparound decks. In both, the signature open-concept great room and vaulted ceilings remain the heart of the plan, often integrating a supersized garage with space for a workshop into the layout.
Despite their “barn” aesthetic, most of our barndominium house plans use conventional wood framing. You’ll also find other barndo variations like garagedominiums (which showcase an extra-spacious garage or workshop), ADU-style barndominium plans, and designs with soaring RV bays.
Explore our collection of garagedominium plans here.
Explore our collection of ADU plans here.
Explore our collection of house plans with RV bays here.
Barndominium Plan with Shop
Barndominium Plan with Shop - Front Exterior
Barndominium Plan with Shop - Main Level
Barndominium Plan with Shop - Upper Level
4. The New Transitional Style: “Modern Heritage”
The new transitional style gives timeless design a modern edit. Think brick Colonial silhouettes paired with steel-framed windows and simplified trim. It’s a look that feels grounded in tradition but fresh enough for today.
New Home Source describes the transitional style as a blend of classic and modern design, combining familiar details with clean, contemporary updates.
Classic Design with Main-Level Primary Suite
Classic Design with Main-Level Primary Suite - Front Exterior
Classic Design with Main-Level Primary Suite - Main Level
Classic Design with Main-Level Primary Suite - Upper Level
Functional Layouts: Flexibility and Zoning
A livable home fits easily into the flow of everyday life. Modern floor plans are embracing that idea with intentional design. The 2026 layouts emphasize flexible spaces that use architectural elements to define distinct zones without compromising openness.
5. The "Zoned" Open Concept
The open floor plan has grown up. Homeowners still want a sense of flow and connection, but now they’re also seeking a bit of distinction. Subtle design choices, like double-sided fireplaces and breakfast nooks, can help define each space while keeping light and views flowing.
As Builder Online puts it, “Open-concept floor plans remain a timeless favorite, and are evolving to include more separation and functionality to suit modern lifestyles.”
Farmhouse Plan with Defined Dining Nook
Farmhouse Plan with Defined Dining Nook - Front Exterior
Farmhouse Plan with Defined Dining Nook - Main Level
6. Multi-Generational Readiness
As household needs become more varied, multi-generational living is increasingly shaping how new homes are designed. Dual primary suites are becoming more common, often with one on the main level with accessibility in mind, and another upstairs for added privacy. This kind of layout makes it easier to welcome aging parents, long-term guests, or future life changes.
According to Forbes, the rise of multi-generational living is influencing modern home design, with families focusing on flexible layouts and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that can even be sold separately to create additional income and expand housing supply.
Multi-Family Plan
Multi-Family Plan - Front Exterior
Multi-Family Plan - Main Level
Explore our collection of multigenerational house plans here.
Specialized Room Requirements
7. The Wellness/Flex Room
Some modern home designs include a wellness space that adapts to your needs – from yoga and fitness to quiet relaxation. “Many homeowners have moved beyond standard home-wellness amenities, such as home gyms and basketball courts, and into upgrades like saunas and cold plunges — features once limited to luxury spas but now increasingly attainable through thoughtful home design,” explains Business Insider.
Thoughtful placement matters: setting it apart from busy areas helps maintain focus and calm. Solid-core doors provide soundproofing and privacy, making them ideal for meditation or late-night workouts. Ample natural light and simple finishes ground the room in serenity while keeping it connected to the plan’s overall design.
As The Spruce notes, “Wellness design is moving beyond aesthetics into everyday living that truly turns your home into a space you’ll never want to leave.”
Contemporary Design with Exercise Room
Contemporary Design with Exercise Room - Front Exterior
Contemporary Design with Exercise Room - Main Level
Contemporary Design with Exercise Room - Upper Level
Contemporary Design with Exercise Room - Lower Level
8. Mudroom and Integrated Laundry
Many of our top-selling plans in 2025 put hardworking spaces front and center, with thoughtfully designed laundry rooms and mudrooms that make daily routines feel effortless.
A smart mudroom should offer plenty of space to tuck away shoes, coats, and keep essentials neatly organized. It should flow into a functional laundry area equipped with a utility sink, counter space, and built-in storage – all working together to make the home run more smoothly.
"The mudroom may be the hardest-working part of the house, as it tackles dirty shoes, snow-covered coats, and dripping umbrellas, so that the rest of the home can remain pristine," explains Architectural Digest.
Hardworking Mudroom
Hardworking Mudroom - Front Exterior
Hardworking Mudroom - Main Level
9. Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Today’s homeowners gravitate toward spaces that blend indoor comfort with outdoor living. Plans often feature wide sliding or folding glass walls that flow seamlessly to covered porches or patios. These extensions create inviting areas for year-round dining, relaxing, or entertaining.
Contemporary Plan with Balcony
Contemporary Plan with Balcony - Front Exterior
Contemporary Plan with Balcony - Main Level
Contemporary Plan with Balcony - Upper Level
10. Quality Over Quantity
Modern Design with Vaulted Ceiling
Modern Design with Vaulted Ceiling - Front Exterior
Modern Design with Vaulted Ceiling - Main Level
What size makes a house plan feel just right? “Right-sizing” is less about square footage and more about living well within your space. Thoughtful layouts, smart storage, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections make every square foot count. This creates a space that flows easily, feels open, and invites light to move freely throughout.
Lately, we’re seeing a gentle shift toward slightly smaller footprints. It’s not a dramatic downsizing, but rather a thoughtful approach that prioritizes quality over quantity. In 2025, half of all house plans sold ranged from 1,000 to 1,999 square feet, while just 31% measured between 2,000 and 2,999 square feet. In 2024, those figures were 48% and 32%, respectively. These numbers highlight a subtle but clear move toward smaller house plans.
Building for the Future
Home design in 2026 embraces character, flexibility, and resilience, reflecting a new generation of elevated architectural styles. From adaptable modern cottages to bold barndominiums, the latest house plans are designed to fit the way we live now while evolving seamlessly for tomorrow. Let’s take a look at some trend predictions for 2026.
2026 Trend Predictions
1. Smaller Footprints
We predict that small house plans (plans between 1,000 - 1,999 sq. ft.) will be in high demand in 2026. Thoughtful, compact footprints with open living areas, smart storage, and a strong indoor-outdoor connection feel more curated and less cluttered than their oversized counterparts.
Our 2025 sales data tell the same story, with smaller house plans emerging as some of the strongest performers in the catalog, a clear sign that right-sized living is quickly becoming the new dream home.
Farmhouse Cottage Plan
Farmhouse Cottage Plan - Front Exterior
Under 2,000 Sq. Ft.
Under 2,000 Sq. Ft. - Front Exterior
Plenty of Storage
Plenty of Storage - Front Exterior
2. Indoor-Outdoor Connections
Indoor-outdoor connections allow house plans to feel bigger, brighter, and more relaxed without adding extra square footage. They pair especially well with smaller designs.
We’re talking screened porches, wraparound decks, outdoor kitchens, front and rear porches, and more.
Wraparound Porch
Wraparound Porch - Front Exterior
Outdoor Grilling Porch
Outdoor Grilling Porch - Front Exterior
Multiple Outdoor Connections
Multiple Outdoor Connections - Front Exterior
3. Farmhouse Frenzy (Yes, Still)
It’s no shock the farmhouse trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon – our data backs it up. What keeps buyers coming back to this style? A mix of timeless character and modern function. Think deep porches, airy open layouts, generous kitchen islands, and flexible great rooms.
Layer in hardworking spaces like mudrooms, utility zones, and covered outdoor living, and it's clear this look isn’t fading out – it's evolving.
One-Story Farmhouse Design
One-Story Farmhouse Design - Front Exterior
Hardworking Zones
Hardworking Zones - Front Exterior
Timeless ADU Plan
Timeless ADU Plan - Front Exterior
4. Split-Bedroom Design
Split-bedroom designs nail what modern living is all about: privacy, calm, and smart use of space. This layout typically places the primary suite on one wing of the plan while the secondary bedrooms occupy the opposite side, with shared living spaces in between.
This intentional separation minimizes sound transfer and makes the primary suite feel more like a quiet retreat than just another room.
Farmhouse Design with Bonus Room
Farmhouse Design with Bonus Room - Front Exterior
Bright and Open
Bright and Open - Front Exterior
First-Floor Primary Suite
First-Floor Primary Suite - Front Exterior
Country Plan with Loft
Country Plan with Loft - Front Exterior
5. Wraparound Porches
Keep an eye out for house plans with wraparound porches in 2026. As homeowners continue to favor smaller, smarter footprints, these generous porches work like an outdoor bonus room.
A deep porch that wraps around the home creates easy-flow zones for coffee along the front, dinner on the side, and lounging at the back. Both classic and current, the look taps into the ongoing appeal of seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Barndo Plan with Two Suites
Barndo Plan with Two Suites - Front Exterior
Finished Basement
Finished Basement - Front Exterior
Mudroom with Lockers
Mudroom with Lockers - Front Exterior
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