Interior Design Services NAICS 541410

Jan 20, 2026 - Remodeler Sentiment Improves

• The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) reading for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 64, up four points from the previous quarter, according to a January 2026 report by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Any RMI reading over 50 indicates that most remodelers feel market conditions are good. In the fourth quarter, the Current Conditions Index portion of the RMI rose three five points to 71 compared to Q3 2025. The Future Indicators Index component of the RMI increased by four points to 56. While aging US housing stock, strong homeowner equity, and the aging-in-place trend kept the RMI solidly in positive territory in Q4 2025, the NAHB noted that high building costs and waning consumer confidence continue to pose challenges to the remodeling industry.
• Sales of existing US homes increased by 5.1% in December from November and were up 1.4% year-over-year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said, "2025 was another tough year for homebuyers, marked by record-high home prices and historically low home sales. However, in the fourth quarter, conditions began improving, with lower mortgage rates and slower home price growth. December home sales, after adjusting for seasonal factors, were the strongest in nearly three years. The gains were broad-based, with all four major regions improving from the prior month." Existing home sales are a key demand driver for interior design services as sellers seek staging assistance before putting homes on the market and buyers often make design changes and renovations before moving in.

• Homeowners and designers are increasingly embracing “analog rooms,” screen-free spaces to reduce digital overload, The Wall Street Journal reports. The trend reflects rising nostalgia for tactile experiences, from board games and vinyl records to rotary phones and even refurbished phone booths. Designers say clients want retreats that support presence, creativity, and mental well-being, leading to music rooms, game nooks, sunrooms, and wellness spaces that prioritize calm over connectivity. With fewer tech-related constraints, architects can design more imaginative and flexible layouts. Small touches, including analog clocks, magazine racks, and vintage instruments, signal a broader cultural shift toward homes that feel restorative rather than optimized.
• Home styling in 2026 is shifting from cool minimalism and tech-heavy trends toward warmth, texture, and nostalgia, according to The Wall Street Journal. Dusky blues are giving way to sunny yellows and golden tones, while analog elements, such as vintage phones and stereos, replace “smart-everything” gadgets. Bare industrial windows are being softened with bamboo blinds, sterile tiles are yielding to hand-painted statement pieces, and all-white California minimalism is ceding to vintage glam inspired by Art Deco. Cork walls and other natural finishes are replacing artificial materials, and stark LED fixtures are being swapped for “jewelry” lighting with glass adornments. Kitchens, once dominated by splashy stone, are embracing gleaming metals such as copper and stainless steel. The overall movement emphasizes optimism, warmth, and character, reflecting a desire for interiors that feel layered, tactile, and expressive rather than cold, sterile, or overly connected to devices.