Top New Home Features Homebuyers Are Looking for

What are the top new home design trends that buyers are looking for?

With all of the high-quality features included in a new Ideal home, homebuyers are able to focus their buying power on features that increase their home’s value and create a unique space. What’s changing in trends for 2026 and how is Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods leading the way for new custom homes in Oklahoma?

What paint colors are trending in 2026 for new homes?

Warmer colors and natural materials. This year, homebuyers are moving away from white and cool grays and toward colors that feel grounded, warm, and inviting. This includes warm color palettes, soft neutrals, earthy tones, and layered textures that make a home feel inviting from the moment you walk through the front door.

Are painted baseboards and painted cabinets still in or are people moving back to stained wood?

Stained wood is making a comeback. Don’t worry. We’re not talking about the yellow oak that was so popular in the ’90s.

Stained wood in light neutrals or rich, warm tones is making a comeback in molding, cabinetry, built-ins, and architectural accents. Buyers are drawn to the warmth, richness, and character of natural wood. That doesn’t mean that many homebuyers aren’t still looking for painted cabinets and baseboards, but it’s not as abundant as it was a few years ago.

What functional new home features are buyers prioritizing right now?

Practical functionality is queen. Functionality is as important for buyers in 2026. People have packed schedules, work-from-home lifestyles, and sometimes multiple generations living in their new Ideal homes. All of this makes durable, easy-care materials paramount. More than ever, we’re seeing buyers pinpoint the features that make their day-to-day routines easier.

• Layout: smart layouts with minimal wasted space
• Storage: optimized and generous storage options throughout the home
• Finishes: homeowners want high-quality finishes that will last. 
  • Find out more about our continuous improvement measures to ensure we’re only offering the highest quality finishes in our Ideal Design Studio.
• Peace-of-Mind Guarantees: just as with high-quality finishes, homeowners want systems in their homes that last and the guarantee that Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods will step in if something goes wrong

Why are full fences such an important feature for new homes?

Privacy, safety, and peace of mind matter more than ever. Imagine moving into your new home and having no fence. Now you’re taking the dog out to your own backyard on a leash and worried about your children playing outside. That’s why Ideal homes include full fencing*. Homeowners want to walk into their home on day one and have a safe and private space to call their own.

The reality is that for most homebuyers, a fenced yard is a necessity, not a luxury. Moreover, as lifestyles shift toward spending more time at home, outdoor spaces are being used more frequently.

How are outdoor living spaces influencing new home design in 2026?

Buyers want outdoor spaces they can actually use. As more home buyers spend time at home, outdoor living areas have become an extension of the home itself. Homebuyers are looking for backyards that feel private, comfortable, and ready to use for relaxing, entertaining, or everyday family life.

Here in Oklahoma, covered porches matter even more. It’s not just about comfort, entertaining, and utilizing your outdoor space. It’s also about protecting that outdoor space from our weather. Hail and severe weather can damage outdoor furniture while the hot Oklahoma sun can fade outdoor toys and furniture quickly. A covered porch allows homeowners to leave outdoor furniture in place with confidence, rather than constantly moving or replacing it. Paired with features like fencing, covered porches help define outdoor living spaces that are both usable and durable from day one.

What new home neighborhood amenities are most important to homebuyers today?

Walking trails and outdoor spaces top the list. Homebuyers are looking for neighborhoods that encourage movement, connection, and time outdoors. Did you know that when Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods plans a new home community, one of the first things we do is plan out the new home development amenities? While some new home neighborhoods look like the community areas are an afterthought, Ideal neighborhoods are built around the entire idea of community.

It is a key value that every home has convenient access to at least one community space, whether that’s an entrance to a walking trail, a playground, or a fishing pond. Most new Ideal neighborhoods feature walking trails and we continue to see that as the number-one most desired new home neighborhood amenity.

What do homeowners want for the exterior design of their new homes in Oklahoma?

Unique new homes with character and personality. You have likely driven through new home developments in Oklahoma and seen streets where the homes look identical and everything seems like a copy and paste from their neighbors. But homeowners want a new home to feel personal to them and their style.

Ideal new home neighborhoods stand out with personality because we provide thoughtful variation in style, color, features, and materials. More than any other builder in Oklahoma, Ideal new home neighborhoods feature unique homes with character and personality that are anything but cookie cutter.

The Ideal Design Studio designs every home so that similar exterior elevations aren’t placed next to each other and that brick colors, paint palettes, and wood stains are varied from house to house. The result is a new home community that feels intentional and well-designed, but never repetitive. Ideal new home neighborhoods feel personalized and expressive, while the neighborhood as a whole maintains a timeless, harmonious look.

How important are energy efficient homes to homebuyers in 2026?

Energy efficiency is still one of the most important features of a new home thanks to the savings it offers every month. 

Energy efficiency for new homes has a wide variety of definitions in 2026. For Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods, that goes above and beyond just building a home with a low HERS score (find out more about HERS scores here). Some builders advertise high energy efficiency because they’re limiting the number of windows or lowering ceiling heights. 

Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods focuses on insulating in every nook and cranny possible, installing low-E windows, using energy efficient appliances, and much more. We also do all of this without compromising the home’s style or amount of natural light.

Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods builds some of the most energy-efficient homes for the money.

Ideal’s Energy Advantage Certified homes are backed by decades of verified firsts, including the first U.S. Department of Energy Builders Challenge Home in Oklahoma, the first Gold-certified green home in the state, the first affordable LEED-certified home in the United States, the first affordable zero-energy home in the country, the first and only Oklahoma builder to guarantee heating and cooling costs, and the first Energy Star builder for affordable homes in the U.S.

Confidence you can measure:

We’re the only Oklahoma builder to guarantee heating and cooling costs for three years on most homes, giving buyers confidence that their energy-efficient home will deliver real, measurable savings. Learn more about this process here.

Top things homebuyers are looking for in new homes in 2026

This year more than ever, buyers are focused on affordable comfort, warmth, and a launchpad for a full life.

Across style, functionality, and community design, the most in-demand features for 2026 share a common goal: making daily life easier, warmer, and more connected without breaking the budget. Homeowners are thinking about how they can make a space their own without having to start from scratch. They’re thinking about how it supports real life now and for years to come.

Current new home trends reflect a desire for balance. Warm, inviting design. Practical and personal features that reduce stress and show off individual style. Neighborhoods that encourage people to step outside, connect, and feel rooted where they live.

Where do you start looking for a new home in Oklahoma?

First, start with exterior style. Here you can find more than 35 floor plans ranging in style from Craftsman, traditional, modern, tudor, mountain cottage, and farmhouse designs. 

Next, come tour one of our new home neighborhoods in Oklahoma to see the homes in person and check out some of the interior styles available.