Top Home Remodeling Trends Homeowners Are Choosing in 2026

Home remodeling trends change over time, but most of the work homeowners are requesting today focuses on improving layout, updating outdated features, and making homes more functional food everyday living. Below are some of the most common upgrades we're currently seeing in kitchen, bathroom, and general home remodeling projects.

Closed-Off Kitchen Living

Open-concept kitchens were the thing homeowners wanted for the last 20 years. Knocking down every wall and making the space one big room. Now people are over it — and when you break it down, the reasons are pretty obvious.

Privacy —

Homeowners don't want their kitchen clutter on display anymore. They want it concealed. And with an open floor plan, it's nearly impossible to have a conversation in one room without the entire house hearing it.

Noise Reduction —

Whether it's traffic outside or kids being kids, people want sound contained to its own space. A closed-off kitchen gives you somewhere to actually decompress without the noise of the rest of the house following you in.

Cozy Atmosphere —

Closed-off kitchen designs create a kind of intimacy that open concept never could. That cozy, warm feeling that works in every season and makes the kitchen feel like its own destination in the home.

More Wall Space —

Closing off your kitchen space opens up endless possibilities for customization. Storage shelving, personalized decor, cabinetry that actually fits the space — none of which works the same way when your kitchen bleeds into the living room.

Easier to Design —

A defined kitchen layout like this stands on its own. You're not stressing over whether the kitchen flooring flows with the living room carpet or if the backsplash clashes with the paint on the other side of the room. The space gets to have its own identity.

Now people want definition back. Not fully closed off necessarily — but walls, partial walls, a butler's pantry to hide the mess and clutter behind closed doors, or simply a door that can shut. It’s separation without feeling boxed in. Just make sure you're being intentional about the space you have. Color palette, lighting, and layout choices can make even a small closed-off or semi-closed kitchen feel open, spacious, and not so small afterall.

If a kitchen remodel is on your radar this year, JWD Contractors handles everything from full layout redesigns to cabinet installation across Montgomery County and surrounding Pennsylvania communities. Take a look at our Kitchen Remodeling page to see what's possible.

Ready to bring definition back to your kitchen? Call JWD Contractors for a free estimate and let's talk about what the right layout looks like for your home.

Larger Kitchen Islands

Kitchen islands have become the centerpiece of most modern kitchen remodels. Homeowners are moving away from small prep areas and requesting larger islands that do more — built-in seating, serious storage, and expanded countertop space that actually gets used.

Standard larger islands typically run between 7 and 10 feet long. Custom builds can push anywhere from 12 to 20 feet depending on the space. And with that size comes a lot more functionality — storage below, sink and range installation, multi-cooking appliances, and enough surface area to handle everything happening in the kitchen at once.

One design approach that's gaining traction is the double island layout. Instead of one oversized island, designers are splitting the concept into two complementary islands — one dedicated to food prep, the other to heavy cooking or family seating. Same square footage, smarter function.

These islands have become the natural gathering point of the home. Daily meals, homework, entertaining, food prep — it all happens at the island now. In a lot of remodels it replaces the kitchen table entirely.

That said, size has to be planned carefully. Clearance requirements recommend at least 42 to 48 inches of walkway around all sides of the island. Get that spacing wrong and a large island stops being functional and starts being an obstacle. When designed correctly though, a well-placed island naturally separates cooking, cleaning, and seating zones — bringing some of that defined layout thinking back into even an open kitchen.

A kitchen island done right changes how the entire space functions — and kitchen remodeling is one of JWD's core specialties. Visit our Kitchen Remodeling page to learn more about what a full kitchen transformation looks like with us.

Thinking about adding or upgrading an island in your kitchen? Contact JWD Contractors today and let's design something that actually works for how you live

Walk-In Showers

Walk-in showers are now one of the most requested bathroom upgrades in remodel projects. Made with organic elements, homeowners are stepping away from the “all white look” and moving in favor of textures like natural stone and warm wood accents. Homeowners are replacing traditional tubs or older enclosed shower stalls with larger, open shower designs. It's a chance to bring a resort type aesthetic, style, and relaxation into your home to be admired.

These showers often include frameless glass enclosures, large format mosiac tiled walls, built-in niches for storage, multi-sensory shower systems, Hydrotherapy fixtures, as well as “wet room layouts” and lost threshold entries that make them easier to maintain.

Beyond appearance, walk-in showers are often chosen because they improve accessibility and create a more open feeling in smaller bathrooms. The Wet room Concept is complete open entry door less showers. This embraces the open-flow concept where the entry of the shower area is curbless and integrates with the entire space. The entire floor is tiled and sloped downward toward a central or linear drain, allowing you to move about freely without stepping over any barriers or to not have to worry about water damage. The subfloor and walls must be completely sealed and waterproofed to prevent leaks from damaging the rest of your home.

From dual shower heads or overhead rainfall shower heads to integrated adjustable body sprays & handheld wands transform standard showering into a customizable wellness & full body relaxation experience right in the comfort of your very own home. Upgraded walk-ins have built in steam generators, aromatherapy dispensers, & LED chromatherapy lighting to actively promote detoxification and mood enhancement. It has literally become the shower of your dreams. The shower of all showers.

Bathroom remodeling is one of JWD Contractors' specialties — including fully custom tile work designed to turn your bathroom into the retreat you actually want to come home to. Visit our Bathroom Remodeling page to see what we can do with your space.

If a spa-style bathroom has been on your list, now is the time. Reach out to JWD Contractors for a free consultation and let's start planning your transformation.

Increased Natural Lighting

Many remodeling projects focus on improving lighting without relying solely on fixtures. Homeowners are often asking for larger windows or new openings where walls previously limited light flow.

In kitchen remodels, this can include expanding window sizes, adding sliding doors, or reworking layouts so natural light travels further into the home. The goal is usually to reduce darker interior spaces and create a brighter, more usable environment during the day.

Natural light does something artificial lighting simply cannot replicate — it makes a space feel larger, cleaner, and more alive without adding a single square foot. Rooms that rely entirely on overhead fixtures tend to feel heavy and closed off regardless of how well they're decorated. That's why so many homeowners are now prioritizing light as part of the actual remodel plan rather than an afterthought.

Skylights are one of the most impactful additions for spaces where adding a window isn't possible — bathrooms, interior kitchens, and hallways that sit in the middle of the home with no exterior wall to work with. A single well-placed skylight can completely transform how a room feels during the day.

Sliding glass or French doors replacing a standard exterior door is another move that's showing up in a lot of kitchen and dining area remodels right now. You're not just adding light — you're creating a visual connection between the inside of the home and the outdoor space that makes both areas feel bigger.

For kitchens specifically, repositioning upper cabinets or eliminating them on certain walls in favor of open space near windows is becoming a practical way to let light travel deeper into the room without changing the footprint at all.

One thing worth knowing — enlarging a window opening or adding a new one isn't purely cosmetic work. It involves cutting into the structure of the home, potentially relocating electrical, and making sure everything is properly weatherproofed and insulated. It's the kind of work that needs to be done right the first time.

Whether it's adding windows, enlarging existing openings, or incorporating skylights as part of a larger remodel, JWD handles the structural side so the light comes in the right way. Learn more about our full remodeling services and what we can incorporate into your project.

Want more light in your home without a full renovation? Talk to JWD Contractors about what's possible in your specific space — we'll give you an honest answer.

Improved Storage and Organized Space

Storage is one of the most important parts of any kitchen or bathroom remodel. Many older homes were not designed with today's storage needs in mind.

Modern remodels often include full-extention drawers, pull-out pantry systems, deep cabinet storage, and built-in organization features. These upgrades help reduce clutter and make everyday use of the space more efficent. Instead of adding more space, many homeowners are choosing to better use the space they already have.

A lot of homes built in Montgomery County and the surrounding Pennsylvania area were constructed in an era when kitchens were purely functional rooms — not the gathering spaces they've become. Cabinet boxes were shallow, drawers were narrow, and pantry space was minimal or nonexistent. Updating the layout and the cabinet system itself is often the only real fix.

Full extension drawers are worth calling out specifically because a lot of homeowners don't realize how much storage they're losing to standard drawers that only pull out halfway. Full extension means you can actually see and reach everything in the drawer without digging — it sounds simple but it changes how the kitchen functions every single day.

Pull-out pantry systems are another one that consistently surprises people during a remodel. A 6-inch pull-out pantry column next to a refrigerator can hold more than a traditional pantry cabinet twice its size because every inch is actually accessible.

In bathrooms the storage conversation usually comes down to the vanity. A lot of older bathroom vanities have one or two doors and a pipe taking up half the interior space. Replacing it with a modern vanity built around drawers and compartments rather than open cabinet space is one of the simplest upgrades with one of the biggest daily impact returns.

Built-in organization isn't a luxury add-on anymore — it's becoming a baseline expectation in any quality remodel because homeowners have figured out that the problem usually isn't that they have too much stuff, it's that their space wasn't designed to hold it properly.

Smart storage doesn't happen by accident — it's designed into the project from the start. Whether it's a kitchen remodel with built-in organization or a bathroom renovation with purpose-built storage, JWD plans it all before the first nail goes in. Visit our Kitchen Remodeling or Bathroom Remodeling pages to see how we approach the details.

If your home has a storage problem a remodel might be the real solution. Contact JWD Contractors and let's talk about what's actually driving the clutter before we build anything.

From Indoor to Outdoor Living Spaces

What's changed in the last few years is that outdoor spaces are no longer being treated as an afterthought. Homeowners are designing them with the same intentionality they bring to interior rooms — defined zones for dining, lounging, and cooking rather than just one big open platform with some furniture on it. Homeowners are building or upgrading decks for grilling, entertaining, and relaxing during warmer months. These spaces are often designed with seating areas, lighting, and durable materials that can handle seasonal weather changes.

Outdoor projects continue to be a strong trend, especially decks and patio areas that extend usable living space outside the home. Multi-level decks are one of the most requested outdoor projects right now — especially in Pennsylvania where a lot of properties have natural grade changes in the yard. Instead of one flat deck off the back door, you get separate levels that serve different purposes. Upper level off the kitchen for dining, lower level closer to the yard for a fire pit or lounge area. It creates a natural flow and makes the outdoor space feel designed rather than dropped in.

Covered decks and pergolas are also coming up constantly — and for good reason in Pennsylvania where summer afternoons can turn into storms with almost no warning. A covered structure means the outdoor space is actually usable when the weather isn't perfect which in this climate is more often than not.

Composite decking has largely replaced pressure treated wood as the material of choice for new deck builds and it's not hard to understand why. It doesn't splinter, it doesn't need to be stained or sealed every year, it holds up through Pennsylvania winters without warping or cracking, and the newer finishes look genuinely good — warm wood tones and natural grain patterns that are hard to distinguish from real wood until you get up close.

Built-in lighting is the detail that separates a deck that gets used all evening from one that empties out when the sun goes down. Under-rail lighting, post cap lights, and recessed deck lights extend the usable hours of the space without requiring any overhead structure to hang fixtures from.

Fire pits — whether built-in or as a designated area of the deck or patio — have become a standard request rather than a premium upgrade. They extend the outdoor season well into fall in Pennsylvania and create a natural gathering point that makes the space feel complete.

The other angle worth mentioning is value. A well-built deck or outdoor living space adds real usable square footage to the home and consistently shows up as one of the stronger returns on investment in residential remodeling — which matters whether you're planning to stay for decades or thinking about resale down the road.

While these areas are most commonly used in the spring, summer, and fall, they add valuable functional space to the home throughout the year.

From custom deck builds to full outdoor living setups, JWD Contractors brings the same craftsmanship to your backyard that we bring to every room inside your home. Head over to our Exterior Upgrades page to see how we can extend your living space outdoors.

Summer is here and your backyard could be doing a lot more. Contact JWD Contractors today to get your outdoor living project on the schedule before the season fills up.

Timeless Material Choices

Instead of choosing her highly specific or short-term design styles, many homeowners are focusing on materials that will hold up over time. This includes neutral cabinet colors, durable countertop materials, simple backsplash designs, and flooring that can handle daily use without going out of style quickly. That goal is to create a finished space that still looks good years after the project is completed, even as trends change.

When it comes to countertops, quartz has become the go-to for a reason — it's non-porous, resists staining, doesn't need to be sealed, and comes in enough variations that it works in almost any kitchen or bathroom without ever looking out of place. Marble looks beautiful but it's high maintenance and it shows wear over time — quartz gives you a similar look with a fraction of the upkeep.

For cabinetry, warm wood tones and soft neutral painted finishes are holding strong because they don't read as trendy — they just read as well-designed. Stark white cabinets had their moment but they show everything and they've become so associated with a specific era of design that they already feel dated in a lot of spaces. A warm white, a greige, or a natural wood tone ages with the home instead of against it.

Flooring wise, wide plank hardwood and luxury vinyl plank in warm natural tones are the consistent choice for longevity. They work across different design styles, they photograph well, and ten years from now they'll still look intentional rather than like a snapshot of whatever was popular the year the house was remodeled.

For tile specifically — large format tiles with minimal grout lines in neutral tones are replacing the busier patterns that tend to feel dated fast. Simple, clean, and well installed will always outlast clever.

The through line across all of it is this — timeless doesn't mean boring. It means you made decisions based on quality and longevity instead of chasing whatever was on the mood board that season.

Choosing materials that last is something JWD takes seriously on every project — we're not going to steer you toward something that looks dated in three years. See how we approach material selection across our Kitchen Remodeling and Bathroom Remodeling pages.

Not sure what materials make sense for your project long term? That's exactly the kind of question we help answer before anything gets ordered. Reach out to JWD Contractors and let's have that conversation.

Planning a Remodeling Project

Most remodeling projects today are focused on improving how a home actually functions, not just how it looks. Whether it's opening up a kitchen, updating a bathroom, finishing a basement, or improving outdoor space, the goal is to make the home usable for everyday life.

At JWD Contractors, we help homeowners plan and complete remodeling projects based on their space, goals, and long-term needs. Every project is approached with function, layout, and craftsmanship.

If any of these trends sparked something for you — whether it's finally doing the kitchen, adding that deck, turning your bathroom into something you actually look forward to using, or maybe your at the beginning stages of researching your project and you just had a few questions from someone experienced and well trusted in your community — If you have questions before you're ready to commit to your project — need help thinking through the layout and design decisions that come with a remodel, or you're ready to schedule your free estimate and get moving — JWD Contractors is here. No pressure, just honest guidance from people who actually know what they're doing.

We're a family-owned general contracting business serving Willow Grove, Horsham, Abington, Glenside, Jenkintown, Hatboro, Warminster, and the surrounding Montgomery & Bucks County, PA area. Every project we take on gets the same attention whether it's a single bathroom or a full home remodel.

No pressure. No runaround. Just honest work done right.

Contact JWD Contractors today for a FREE estimate and let's talk about your project.

Do I need a permit for that? A Pennsylvania Homeowner’s Guide

What is a Permit and Why Does it Exist?

Pennsylvania operates under a statewide building standard called the Uniform Construction Code - the UCC - which sets the baseline rules for all construction across the state.

Here's what most people don't realize - Pennsylvania doesn't have one universal permit process that works that same all over PA. Every individual municipality - your township, your borough - is responsible food enforcing the UCC on their own terms and they're allowed to add their own rules on top of the states baseline. Some townships have gone even further and opted out of enforcing the UCC themselves entirely - in those cases everything runs through the state Department of Labor and Industry directly. What this means for you as a homeowner is that what's required in Willow Grove may not be identical to what's required of residents in Horsham or Abington township - even though they're all within Montgomery County and minutes of one another.

Before any real construction begins on your home, your local government must approve this and officially sign of on it. It exists to make sure the work being done in your home is safe, up to code, and done correctly - not just for you now but for whoever lives there after you as well. If something happens to go wrong during or after unpermitted work to your homeowner's insurance can deny the claim entirely - the permit is what gives you that protection. When it come to selling your home unpermitted work is one of the fastest ways to derail a sale or kill a appraisal - buyers and their lenders will find it.

Every township has its own building department, its own permit application, its own fee schedule, and it's own timeline for approval. Don't assume based on what your neighbor did or what you read online - always confirm directly with your specific township before anything stasize

Projects That Always Need A Permit

• Any home addition regardless of size

• New deck construction

• Finishing a basement — turning unfinished square footage into actual livable space

• Any structural work — taking down walls, moving walls, changing the layout of the home

• Electrical work behind basic fixture swaps — new circuits, upgrading your panel, rewiring

• Plumbing changes — moving pipes, adding a bathroom, relocating a sink or toilet

• HVAC systems installation of full replacement

• Building a garage

• Installing a pool or hot tub

Worth knowing — a single project like a home addition can actually require several different permits at once covering building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and zoning all separately with separate fees for each.

Projects That Typically Do Not Need a Permit in PA

• Painting — inside or outside

• Replacing flooring

• Swapping out cabinets for new ones in the same location

• Re-roofing over existing structure

• Replacing siding

• Window replacement as long as the opening size does not change

• Repaving or sealing the driveway

• Installing carpet or tile

These are the general statewide guide lines — the key distinction is whether the project touches anything structural, electric, plumbing related, or safety related — if it doesn't, your usually in the clear. Always verify with your township because local rules can override the state baseline and essentially put a stop to your project.

The Gray Area Homeowner's Always Ask About

• Fences — the most townships require at minimum is a zoning permit depending on height and placement, but not always a full building permit — check locally

• Sheds — the state says detached structures under 1,000 square feet are generally exempt but a lot of townships have pulled that number way down — some as low as 200 square feet — never assume your shed is automatically exempt

• Window Replacements — a straight same-size swap is typically fine without a permit, but the moment you're cutting a bigger opening you need one

• Bathroom Remodel — purely cosmetic work like new tile, new vanity, a new toilet in the same spot — no permit needed. The second you're moving plumbing to a new location the rules change

• Kitchen Remodel — same logic applies — cosmetic upgrades doing trigger a permit, but relocating a sink, moving a wall, or rewiring for new appliances does

What Happens if You Skip the Permits

• Your project can be shut down mid-construction with a stop work order — everything stops until you're in compliance

• You may be forced to open up completed walls or tear out finished work just so an inspector can see what's behind it — at your expense

• Fines are on the table and in some townships they're significant

• When you go to sell the home it will come up — buyers do their due diligence and unpermitted work gives them leverage to renegotiate or walk away entirely

• Getting a retroactive permit after the fact is possible but it's not guaranteed, it's more expensive, and it's a headache you don't want

• The permit fee at the start of a project is almost always a fraction of what it costs to deal with the fallout of skipping it

Not sure if your project requires a permit or where to even start? That's exactly the kind of question JWD Contractors can answer before anything gets underway. Contact us today for a free consultation and let's make sure your project starts on the right foot.

Who Actually Handles Your Permits? — You or Your Contractor?

• This is the question most homeowners have and most contractor websites never answer directly

• When you hire a licensed contractor they should be pulling the permits — not you

• The permit fees are typically factored into your project estimate so there shouldn't be a surprise bill for it later

• You sign off giving the contractor permission to act on your behalf and they handle the application, the submission, the coordination with the township — you don't need to be dealing with paperwork while a project is underway

• One thing worth knowing — if you go ahead and apply for a permit yourself and then bring in a contractor to do the work it can actually complicate the process for everyone including the township — let your contractor lead it from the start

• With JWD, permits are handled completely — homeowners aren't chasing down paperwork or trying to figure out which forms their township needs

Whether it's a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, home addition, or deck build — JWD handles the permit process from start to finish so you don't have to. Visit our Kitchen Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling, Home Additions, and Exterior Upgrades pages to learn more about what each project involves.

• Note for Montgomery County Homeowner's Specifically

• If you're in Willow Grove, Horsham, Abington, Glenside, Jenkintown, Hatboro, or Warminster — you're all in Montgomery County but each of those townships runs its own building department with its own process

• Permit approval timelines vary — some townships turn things around in a few days, others take several weeks depending on their workload and the complexity of what you're submitting

• That timeline matters because legally no work can begin until the permit is in hand — factoring that into your project schedule upfront avoids frustration down the road

• A contractor who has worked consistently in Montgomery County already knows how each township operates, what they typically require, and how to get things through efficiently — that local familiarity is worth a lot more than people realize

Planning a project in Montgomery County or the surrounding Pennsylvania area? JWD Contractors knows exactly how the permit process works in your township — and we handle all of it so you don't have to think twice about it. Schedule your free estimate today and let's get your project moving the right way from day one.

Trends come and go but a well-built home never goes out of style. JWD Contractors is here to make sure your project is done right the first time.

Turn Intention Into Action

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Make Room for Growth

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.