We are entering 2026 at a turning point in how we think about home and wellness. This is no longer about adding more layers, products or ideas. It is about discernment.
Over the past several years, our homes have taken on unprecedented responsibility. They have become places of work, recovery, care and refuge. In that shift, it has become increasingly evident that not everything that looks good supports daily life, and much of what supports daily life is not immediately visible. What we are carrying forward is grounded in experience, not trends.
At WLLW, what we are taking into 2026 begins with a deeper respect for the invisible systems that shape health. Air and water quality, light, acoustics, materials, and spatial flow are no longer secondary. They are foundational. A home that photographs beautifully but compromises health no longer feels aspirational. Beauty and wellbeing have become inseparable.
"The most supportive homes integrate health seamlessly into daily life, in ways that feel personal, intuitive and deeply considered."
Lisa Sternfeld
We are also carrying forward a more considered definition of luxury. Rather than being marked by excess, luxury has become intention, longevity and restraint. It shows up in integrated air and water systems, restorative sleep environments, and materials chosen for how they age and support the nervous system over time. The most sophisticated homes now prioritize what performs quietly and endures, rather than what impresses immediately.
Another defining shift shaping 2026 is the responsibility to design for the nervous system. Homes are no longer expected to stimulate, they are expected to nurture regulation and recovery. This means moving beyond one-size-fits-all layouts and reconsidering open-plan living. Sensory zoning, spaces for focus, calm bedrooms and layered, tactile environments are becoming essential to how a home supports daily life.
Our understanding of sustainability is also evolving. Where sustainability was once measured through efficiency and metrics, it is now increasingly understood through durability, adaptability, and health over time. A home that requires constant replacement or remediation is not sustainable, regardless of how well intentioned the use of its materials may be. Designing for longevity is one of the most responsible choices we can make.
Perhaps most importantly, we are taking a quieter posture as we move into 2026. Wellness no longer needs to announce itself. The most supportive homes integrate health seamlessly into daily life, in ways that feel personal, intuitive and deeply considered. It is felt more than it is seen, shaped by context and lived experience.
Photography: Brooklyn home designed by Jesse Paris Lamb. Photo by Nicole Franzen
