For years, gray dominated Chicago homes.
Gray floors, gray walls, white kitchens and cool toned tile were everywhere, especially in rehabs and new construction. It photographed well and felt clean, but after seeing so many homes over the years, I think buyers are ready for something warmer and more personal.
I’m seeing more rich colors, natural wood tones, warmer finishes and details that give a home some personality.
Buyers Still Want Updated, Just Not Sterile
Buyers absolutely still want homes that feel fresh and updated. What has changed is what “updated” looks like.
Instead of an all white kitchen with gray flooring and gray tile throughout the house, I’m seeing buyers respond to warmer wood, interesting tile, softer neutrals and deeper colors.
One of my clients recently built a new construction home and made choices I loved. They used deep green tile throughout the main bathroom, added an arch leading into the shower, chose rich red tile for a second bathroom and used warmer tones throughout the rest of the house.
When I first saw the finished bathrooms, I loved that they took a chance. The colors are bold, but the home still feels timeless and sophisticated rather than trendy. The arch is especially beautiful and adds a level of character and elegance that you do not always see in new construction.
I’ve Watched Chicago Design Change
One advantage of being in so many Chicago homes is that you start to see trends come and go.
There was a stretch where it seemed like every rehab had the same gray flooring, gray walls and white and gray finishes. Everything was designed to feel completely neutral.
Now I’m seeing more warmth come back.
That does not mean every room needs a dramatic color. Sometimes it is as simple as warmer flooring, natural wood, a rich tile choice or a paint color that gives the room more depth.
I recently showed buyers several newly renovated homes, and the one they kept talking about afterward was not the most expensive or the newest. It was the one that felt warm when they walked in. Natural light has always mattered to buyers, but I think it matters even more now that so many people spend more time working from home. A home that feels dark throughout the day can be a major drawback, no matter how beautiful the finishes are.
What I Tell Chicago Sellers
When selling your home, I would focus less on chasing the newest design trend and more on making the home feel current, warm and well cared for.
There is a difference between making thoughtful updates and replacing perfectly good finishes simply because they are not the newest style. I look at the home, neighborhood, price point and what buyers are responding to before recommending where a seller should spend money.
I also remind sellers that an update from 10 or 15 years ago may no longer add the same value it did when it was new. Design changes quickly. Finishes like cherry wood cabinets and floors, blue gray tile and paint, or diagonal wood flooring may still be in good condition, but buyers may no longer view them as a premium update.
That does not always mean they need to be replaced. It means we need to be realistic about how today’s buyers will see them when determining price and preparing the home for market.
And if you are renovating for yourself, I think there is more room than ever to choose finishes you genuinely love. A home can have personality and still appeal to future buyers.
The Chicago Homes I Remember
The homes that stick with me are usually not the ones that followed every trend perfectly.
They are the homes where the design feels intentional and where you can tell someone made choices because they loved them.
After years of walking through Chicago rehabs, vintage homes and new construction, I still remember many of my favorite homes that I have either sold or shown to buyers. Some clients bought them and others passed because every buyer is different and so are their needs.
What those homes had in common was that they felt memorable.
I think that is what buyers are responding to again. Homes that feel warm, finished and personal instead of simply neutral.
