Zillow's 2027 Home Trends Report: Digital detox, 'colormaxxing' and catios

New Zillow data reveals the features gaining ground in for-sale listings, from quiet tech to color-drenched rooms and whole-home batteries

• Mentions of AI are up 119% in Zillow listings, while spaces to unplug are up 34%.
• "Elevated" is the new "cozy," with polished, color-drenched spaces gaining ground.
• Whole-home batteries are up 43% and fresh-air systems are up 52%, as buzzwords "sustainable" and "green" fall 26%.

SEATTLE, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Homes are getting smarter, but the people who live in them are craving space to unplug. Zillow's 2027 Home Trends Report finds sellers are increasingly highlighting technology that works quietly in the background, along with rooms designed for both connection and escape. From AI-powered appliances to color-drenched walls and catios, these rising trends signal homes are getting more polished, personal and easier to live in.

"Digital detox is the new luxury," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert. "Homes are getting smarter, but buyers also want tech-free zones where nothing needs charging. Sellers and their real estate agents are now highlighting spaces to unplug. Taken together, this data suggests buyers value homes that are functional and efficient, but still feel polished and personal." 

Zillow's 2027 Home Trends Report is grounded in data, not just design buzz. Zillow® analyzed hundreds of home features across millions of for-sale listings to identify what sellers and agents are increasingly highlighting. Because listing descriptions reflect how homes are being marketed in real time, these trends offer an early signal of the amenities, upgrades and design details poised to be everywhere in 2027.

Quiet tech, with space for digital detox

AI-powered appliances are here with a promise to simplify daily chores, and sellers are increasingly featuring them. Mentions of AI are up 119% in for-sale listings on Zillow, the largest year-over-year jump in this year's data. App-controlled home systems are also up 34%.

At the same time, listings are making room for less technology. Spaces to unplug are 34% more common than last year, signaling a growing demand for digital detox or designated tech-free zones.

Elevating 'cozy'

"Cozy" remains one of the most common words in listings, but a more polished look is gaining ground. Mentions of "elevated" are up 71%, while "cozy" is down 22%, "eclectic" is down 19%, and "boho" is down 13% in for-sale listings on Zillow.

For homeowners, elevated style is showing up in bold but approachable ways. Color-drenched spaces are up 84%, painted brick exteriors are up 27%, and board-and-batten siding is up 24%. The result is a home that feels more personal, polished and pulled together.

Efficiency replaces sustainability

Sellers are using fewer eco-conscious buzzwords, with mentions of "sustainable" and "green" down 26%. Instead, they are increasingly calling out specific features that make a home more comfortable, resilient and efficient.

Whole-home batteries are up 43%, while battery backup is up 25%. Fresh-air ventilation systems, including energy-recovery ventilators and heat-recovery ventilators, are up 52%, as are recirculating hot-water systems. Air filtration is up 25%, water filtration is up 22%, and radon mitigation is up 18%. You won't see these upgrades in listing photos, but they can make a big difference behind the scenes, providing cleaner air and more reliable power, as well as supporting a more efficient home.  

Flex spaces and multigenerational living

The center of gravity in the home is shifting beyond the kitchen. Mentions of chef's kitchens are down 21%, and gourmet kitchens are down 15%, while hardworking spaces are on the rise. Home offices are up 42%, media rooms are up 37%, and flex spaces are up 35%.

Open-concept layouts are holding steady, suggesting buyers have not abandoned open floor plans. But they increasingly want defined spaces within a home for work, entertainment, exercise and privacy.

Listings are also increasingly reflecting homes designed for the "sandwich generation." Mentions of multigenerational living jumped 58% in the past year, while features that support families are also on the rise. Grab bars are up 18%, wider doorways are up 13%, and nurseries are up 9%.

Wellness, modernized

Home wellness is becoming more of a focus, with spaces for both movement and recovery. Listings mentioning golf simulators are up 29%, home gyms are up 18%, and spa-inspired bathrooms are up 60%.

Older spa fixtures are appearing less often in listings, with mentions of both Jacuzzi and jetted tubs down about 9%. Meanwhile, cold plunge pools are up 44%, underscoring demand for homes that support a modern wellness routine.

The catio gets its moment

Dogs have long dominated the pet-amenity scene, but cats are gaining ground. Dog parks are flat, and dog-grooming stations are down 16% in listings over the past year. Meanwhile, catios, which are screened-in outdoor spaces that give indoor cats safe access to fresh air, are appearing in 32% more for-sale listings on Zillow.

About Zillow Group:

Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.

As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more.

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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.