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

Mentions of “sustainable” and “green” fell 26%, while sellers increasingly highlighted specific efficiency features.

Rhea-AI Summary

Zillow (Z, ZG) released its 2027 Home Trends Report, identifying shifts in the home features sellers highlight in for-sale listings. The analysis covered hundreds of features across millions of listings; its figures measure listing mentions, not home sales.

Mentions of AI rose 119% year over year, while spaces to unplug rose 34%. Color-drenched spaces increased 84%, and mentions of “elevated” rose 71%, while “cozy” fell 22%. Whole-home batteries rose 43%, and fresh-air ventilation systems increased 52%.

Home offices rose 42%, flex spaces increased 35%, and multigenerational living mentions jumped 58% in the past year. Open-concept layouts held steady. Spa-inspired bathrooms rose 60%, while cold plunge pools increased 44%. Catios, screened-in outdoor spaces for indoor cats, appeared in 32% more listings. Zillow views these marketing shifts as early signals of features likely to gain prominence in 2027.

Key Figures

AI mentions: up 119% Spaces to unplug: up 34% Elevated mentions: up 71% +5 more

AI mentions

up 119%

Year over year in for-sale listings; largest jump in this year's data

Spaces to unplug

up 34%

Compared with last year in listings

Elevated mentions

up 71%

In for-sale listings

Color-drenched spaces

up 84%

In listings

Whole-home batteries

up 43%

In listings

Fresh-air ventilation systems

up 52%

In listings

Spa-inspired bathrooms

up 60%

In listings

Multigenerational living

jumped 58%

In the past year

Key Terms

energy-recovery ventilators, heat-recovery ventilators, radon mitigation

3 terms

energy-recovery ventilators technical

"energy-recovery ventilators and heat-recovery ventilators"

A mechanical ventilation device that exchanges indoor and outdoor air while transferring both heat and moisture between the two air streams to recover energy and reduce the heating or cooling load. Air is moved through a shared heat‑exchange core so outgoing warm or cool indoor air preheats or precools incoming fresh air and, unlike a heat‑only exchanger, the core also transfers humidity; effectiveness depends on proper sizing, installation, and local climate and humidity conditions.

heat-recovery ventilators technical

"energy-recovery ventilators and heat-recovery ventilators"

A heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) is a mechanical ventilation device that exchanges stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while transferring heat from the warmer airstream to the cooler one, so incoming air is pre-warmed or pre-cooled without mixing the two air streams. It uses a heat-exchange core to capture sensible heat (temperature) but typically does not transfer significant moisture; by contrast, an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV) transfers both heat and humidity. HRVs are installed in buildings to provide controlled fresh-air ventilation with reduced heating or cooling energy loss.

radon mitigation technical

"radon mitigation is up 18%"

A set of techniques and systems installed in buildings to lower indoor concentrations of radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep from the ground into enclosed spaces. Common methods include active soil depressurization (using a fan and piping to draw radon-laden air from beneath the foundation and vent it outdoors), improving under‑slab or crawlspace ventilation, sealing major entry paths, and installing mechanical ventilation or heat‑recovery systems; effectiveness depends on the building’s construction and proper installation and testing. Radon mitigation reduces indoor exposure but does not remove radon from the ground itself, so ongoing testing or continuous monitoring is normally used to confirm and maintain lower indoor levels.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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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.

Zillow's ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow^®, Zillow Premier Agent^®, Zillow Home Loans^®, Zillow Rentals^®, Zillow^® New Construction, Trulia^®, StreetEasy^®, Out East^®, HotPads^®, Follow Up Boss^®, ShowingTime^®, dotloop^® and Zillow^® Closing.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

 

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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.