Double of everything: The hottest luxury home design trends for 2026

2 hours ago 1

Why have one when you can have two? That’s the mentality of some wealthy home owners when it comes to the latest luxury or high-tech home amenities.

His and hers studies for the retired, outdoor kitchens, double dishwashers and laundry chutes in walk-in wardrobes are now the norm. Home owners are also adding secondary saunas and cold plunge pools in the master en suite, in addition to the same features in the family wellness zone.

Home owners are adding secondary saunas and cold plunge pools in the master en suite, in addition to the same features in the family wellness zone.

Nina Maya of Nina Maya Interiors said not only do chief executives and entrepreneurs want a wellness space in the garden, gym or basement to enjoy as a family, it’s now common to request an extra sauna, steam room or cold plunge pool in the master en suite too.

“It’s that immediate access. Sometimes if it’s in the garden it takes a bit of effort to walk down to that area of the house,” Maya said.

“It’s that immediate access. Sometimes if it’s in the garden it takes a bit of effort to walk down to that area of the house,” interior designer Nina Maya said.

“It’s those very high-end executives, founders and entrepreneurs that want to wake up, jump in the sauna, have a cold plunge dip, all within the master retreat. But they also want either a freestanding area in the garden or under the house that they can enjoy as a family.”

Maya has had requests for pulsed electromagnetic field therapy mats in the gym.

When charged, the mats deliver pulsed electromagnetic fields purported to aid in the body’s natural recovery processes. Devotees believe benefits include strengthened immunity, improved sleep, detoxification, pain management and mental clarity.

Red light therapy panels, particularly a full-body panel in the walk-in wardrobe, master en suite or gym, are also popular.

“You can have full-body exposure to that light for 10 minutes a day while you’re working out or getting dressed,” Maya said. “They start from around $2500 up to $7000 for a full-body panel that you can build in, whereas infrared beds can start from $25,000.”

Red light therapy involves the emission of LEDs to target the body’s cells and systems. Devotees believe benefits include wrinkle reduction, hair growth, wound healing, pain relief and improved sleep.

Maya said multiple laundry chutes that connect to the main laundry are trending.

A grand arrival at the home is also a driving factor, according to architect Vicky Cutler, with an entry foyer with a view that leads to an outdoor space.

“If you’ve got a large home, people want an access panel in their wardrobe, in their kids’ bedroom wardrobes or whatever room you’re in, where you can put the laundry in the chute. It’s the convenience of getting the laundry efficiently,” she said.

A grand arrival at the home is also a driving factor, said architect Vicky Cutler of Cutler & Co Architects, with an entry foyer with a view that leads to an outdoor space.

“They want to look towards the backyard and see a pool, grass and luxury. It’s the sense of arrival and the views through the house,” she said.

“A round driveway is also popular where you can go one way if you are dropping someone off at the front door, as well as access around the back or side of the house.”

Cutler said marble will always be in style, but micro cement is also trending – a thin cement-based coating mixed with resins and pigments, which can be applied to floors, walls, ceilings and furniture.

Wellness zones are a must-have in $10 million-plus homes.

Curved staircases are a bit of a fad while sweeping staircases are here to stay, Cutler says.

“Only houses with the right proportion and size can accommodate a large sweeping high stairwell whereas others try to mimic that with a curvy one,” she said.

Interior designer David Hicks said among $10 million-plus homes, there’s almost a checklist to include a steam room, sauna, Pilates zone, and entertainment zones with a commercial-grade bar with glass washer and ice machine.

“More and more people are entertaining at home rather than going out. The other trend is glass-encased entertainment zones where they can be opened up to be half inside, half outside,” he said.

Hicks has noticed glass being used as a showstopper.

Since COVID many home owners have requested multiple entertainment zones.

“We did one apartment where you walk in the front door and the bottom of the pool is the ceiling of the hallway. One house has a pool where the glass base lets light down into the basement. When you’re underground, you get that feeling of water.”

Highland Double Bay’s David Malouf said new builds consistently include wellness zones, butler’s pantries and multiple entertainment zones.

Glass is being used as a showstopper in mansions.

“All the new builds have a large basement with a recovery zone that just becomes the ultimate man cave,” he said.

“We’re seeing a minimum of three to four levels for new builds. Since COVID, people are after a compound lifestyle where everyone is at the house. They want to spend the majority of their time at home with outdoor kitchens allowing for ideal entertainment options.”

Malouf said colour palettes depend on property type.

“Houses typically feature neutral tones as those keen to resell are conservative on that.”