Livingetc: The ‘Forever Home’ Mindset Is Changing Renovations
Livingetc surveyed interior designers on how the “forever home” mindset — planning to stay rather than sell — is reshaping renovation decisions in 2026. Elizabeth Valkovics of Batten Court Design points to a new confidence in personalizing spaces for good, through bolder wallcoverings, murals, and statement colors that a future buyer’s preferences no longer have to dictate.
On materials, Elizabeth sees clients moving decisively upmarket: choosing marble and quartzite over quartz, and investing in unique, quality cabinet hardware — details that only make sense when a home is built to be lived in, not sold.
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“Clients are embracing bolder choices, such as striking wallcoverings in bathrooms, and murals in dining rooms and bedrooms. This more personalized approach to design elevates spaces from builder-grade boring to a home that is truly their own.”
