Houston specialists in real estate, home design, craftsmanship, hardware, and lighting give tips on upgrading your home's style and value using the latest trends. Learn how small changes to spaces, plumbing, hardware, cabinetry, and furnishings inside and outside instantly add efficiency and luxury that reflect current design and let your personality shine through.
Chas Daniels
Acero Bella, Inc.
How can readers approach home renovations in 2025?
Start by deciding how you want to make your house a home. Think about how your home could be more efficient and make it feel like a space you love to call home and spend time in. Here are a few questions to think through when renovating a home. Do you want a kitchen that fosters daily family time? Do you need a sanctuary master bath that rescues you from the stress of long days? What are the most used items in your closet, and how do you accommodate them more efficiently through design? Do you want to incorporate a mudroom in your laundry room?
What are the best ways to revive a space in the home?
The best way to revive a space with minimum hassle is to change faucets, hardware, and lighting. These items reflect design trends during installation and can look old and tired if not correctly maintained. They are easy to swap out to make your home feel fresh and new. If you are more adventurous, changing the countertops and sinks can freshen up a space quickly.
How much do fixtures and lighting matter in a home?
Plumbing, hardware, and lighting convey a home's price point and overall quality. They can also become part of our disposable society mindset. Faucets should be changed frequently to avoid frustration and potential damage to your home. Homeowners should wipe faucets off daily and wax them quarterly. Invest in durable products with an expected long life span to avoid issues. A smart tip is to select timeless designs with a design professional.
acerobella.com
Alexandra “Alex” R. Loyd
Founder | Principal
Compass Real Estate
What are the best ways to revive and refresh a space?
Declutter. This is typically the primary topic of discussion when meeting a seller for the first time. When showing your home to buyers, having some personal photos is okay because they love to see fun, happy images, but you want them to see the house without getting lost in "stuff." Tidy spaces by dusting, cleaning windows, and touching up/refreshing paint, especially on cabinets. Consider getting new pillows for sofas to give them a fresh look.
What colors will we see more of in home design and decor this year?
I love seeing trends change after a few years. Over the last decade, we have seen everything from warm greys and greiges to stark blacks and whites. We have seen more natural, lighter wood colors in the last few years. White oak has been a top choice for flooring, kitchen cabinets, and drawers. This year, paint colors trend to "moody neutrals" with earthy hues, like deep greens, warm whites, pinks, deep purples, and browns. While I love this trend, I still love a home that displays its artwork with white walls to make the artwork pop. To be bold in a small space, you can add wallpaper in a powder room without spending too much.
How much do fixtures and lighting matter in a home?
Lighting is essential to me. However, I do not like bright, stark white LED lights. Their blue undertones show imperfections in a home, throw off any wall color, and make the house seem very cold. Homeowners can still have LED lighting with a softer pink or yellow tone to make a home feel more inviting.
lakeshoreluxurytx.com
Richard Machemehl
CEO/Operations Director
Executive Technology Group
What are some home audio and visual trends for 2025?
The integration of AI-powered calibration systems is revolutionizing home entertainment experiences. We're seeing a surge in demand for multi-purpose media rooms that adapt automatically to different uses, from casual TV viewing to immersive home theater experiences. Wireless audio solutions have evolved significantly, with whole-home audio systems offering studio-quality sound without compromising aesthetics. The trend toward larger-format micro-LED displays is fascinating, as they offer unprecedented picture quality while being more energy-efficient than traditional solutions.
How can homeowners use technology to protect their homes?
Modern home security has evolved far beyond basic alarm systems. We're implementing integrated security solutions that combine AI-powered cameras, biometric access controls, and innovative environmental monitoring. A key trend is the seamless integration of security with other home systems – for example, lighting that automatically adjusts based on security camera activity or HVAC systems that shut down specific zones if smoke is detected. The focus is on creating comprehensive safety ecosystems that are both highly effective and user-friendly.
What are some tips for the latest trends in smart home automation this year?
The most significant trend is the move toward truly intuitive home automation systems. Voice control has evolved to understand context and patterns, making interactions more natural. Energy management is another crucial area – we're implementing systems that learn household routines and automatically optimize energy usage across lighting, HVAC, and appliances. Wellness technology is also gaining prominence, with automated systems that adjust lighting, color temperature, and indoor air quality to support residents' circadian rhythms and overall well-being.
executivetechnologygroup.com
William M. Wheless IV
Owner
Wheless Realty
Why are you so passionate about working in the real estate industry?
I am the fourth generation in my family to work in real estate, and I love meeting and helping people. I have the privilege of helping people make the right transition, whether they want to buy or sell a home.
What do you see as the latest home trends?
Location, price, and quality continue to be the primary themes in the luxury market. Homes that are well located, built well, and priced appropriately tend to sell quickly.
What are some of the latest trends in selling and buying a home?
Technology continues to improve for consumers and real estate professionals, helping to make the buying and selling process more efficient. Several AI tools help us market a property to maximize the value of our client's homes and sell them as quickly as possible.
What projects are you excited about in 2025?
I am super excited to be involved in the sales process of The Birdsall Residences Auberge Resorts Collection, located at the corner of Buffalo Speedway and West Alabama. This mixed-use project is part of Transwestern's ultra-high-end RO development. With unique features such as fine dining, hotels, condos, and special retail, it will offer a luxury living experience that Houston has not seen before.
har.com/web/WhelessRealty/resources/aboutme
Martha Walton White
Realtor
BHGRE Gary Greene-Distinctive Collection
Why are you so passionate about working in real estate?
I love helping people find their next special place in life. Meeting my client's dreams and needs is my greatest joy and satisfaction. As a native Houstonian, I am proud to show buyers and sellers all the wonders and places Houston offers.
What do you see as the latest home trends in 2025?
The trends I see in buying and selling homes are contemporary, sleek architectural designs, including kitchens, baths, lighted wine storage, and display areas. Large walls of windows to let natural light abound and touches of gold accents in hardware and lighting.
What are the best ways to revive or refresh a space?
To make the most impact of some easy/relatively inexpensive updates or refreshing, update dated fixtures and lighting. Current design magazines are a great place to go for ideas. You can visit a plumbing/lighting showroom in Houston and take clues from newly constructed homes. Decluttering is also an immediate update. Consider making an impact with one or two show-stopping contemporary pieces of art or furniture.
What are the most popular colors currently trending in home design and decor?
Medium to lighter natural wood tones, metallic gold accents in hardware, lighting, and tile inserts. Accent walls or rooms of intense, rich color, including dark blues, deep greens, or rich reddish pinks/purples. Homeowners are tired of everything grey/whitewashed. People want a WOW factor in their home for others to see and enjoy. Excitement and sophistication are key.
marthawhite.garygreene.com
“Trends I see in buying and selling homes are contemporary, sleek architectural designs, including kitchens, baths, and lighted wine storage.” – Martha White
“Think about how your home could be more efficient to feel like a space you love to call home.” – Chas Daniels
“Paint colors are trending to moody neutrals with earthy hues, like deep greens, warm whites, pinks, deep purples, and browns.” – Alex Loyd
“Modern home security has evolved beyond basic alarms. Integrated security solutions combine AI-powered cameras, biometric access controls, and environmental monitoring.” – Richard Machemehl
“I see that location, price, and quality continue to be the primary themes in the Houston luxury market.” – William Wheless