Vancouver Home Finishing Trends in 2025/2026

Every year brings new trends in home design and finishing. As a finishing contractor working across Greater Vancouver, we see what homeowners and builders are actually choosing. Not just what’s in magazines, but what’s getting installed in real homes.

Here’s what’s trending in Vancouver home finishing as we head into 2026.

1. Natural Materials, Real Wood

The biggest shift we’ve seen is a move away from wood-look substitutes toward real wood. After years of laminate and vinyl “wood” everything, homeowners are willing to invest in authenticity.

What We’re Seeing

• Solid wood trim replacing MDF, even in new construction
• Real wood accent walls instead of peel-and-stick panels
• White oak everywhere: floors, built-ins, accent walls
• Natural finishes rather than heavy stains or paint

Why It’s Happening

Vancouver homeowners increasingly value materials that age well and feel authentic. The longevity and “feel” of real wood justifies the higher investment, especially as homes become places where people spend more time.

Price Impact

Real wood costs more, sometimes 50-100% more than substitutes. But buyers seem willing to pay, and homes with real materials tend to sell faster.

2. Warm, Earthy Tones

The all-white, all-gray era is fading. Vancouver homes are getting warmer.

Color Trends We’re Installing

• Warm whites with cream or beige undertones, not stark white
• Greige and mushroom tones replacing cool grays
• Deep greens for accent walls and cabinetry
• Terracotta and rust accents in tiles and textiles
• Black as accent: hardware, fixtures, frames

What This Means for Finishing Work

• Painters are doing more color matching and custom colors
• Cabinet painting is shifting from white to warmer hues
• Trim is often painted to match walls rather than bright white
• Hardware is more often black or brass than chrome

3. Built-In Everything

With Vancouver’s high real estate prices, maximizing space is essential. Built-ins accomplish this while adding value.

Popular Built-In Projects

• Home office built-ins: Desks, shelving, and storage that look intentional
• Mudroom systems: Cubbies, benches, hooks, and shoe storage
• Entertainment units: Media walls that hide wires and components
• Bedroom wardrobes: Custom closet systems and storage walls
• Window seats: Adding seating and storage in unused nooks

Design Direction

Built-ins are trending toward cleaner lines. The heavy, ornate cabinetry of previous decades is giving way to frameless doors, hidden handles, and integrated lighting.

4. Feature Walls and Focal Points

Rooms without a clear focal point feel unfinished. Homeowners are investing in statement features.

What’s Getting Built

• Wood slat walls: Still the most requested accent wall style
• Electric fireplace surrounds: Modern alternatives to gas fireplaces
• Media walls: Combining TV mounting with design features
• Ceiling details: Beams, coffered ceilings, and ceiling treatments
• Statement tile: In kitchens, bathrooms, and entries

The Multi-Function Trend

The best feature walls serve multiple purposes. A wood slat wall with integrated TV mounting and hidden storage. A fireplace surround with built-in shelving. Combining beauty with function is the direction.

5. Integrated Lighting

LED technology has made integrated lighting affordable and practical. Now it’s everywhere.

Lighting We’re Installing

• Under-cabinet LEDs in kitchens and built-ins
• Backlit accent walls: LEDs behind slats or panels
• Toe-kick lighting in kitchens and bathrooms
• Cove lighting: Indirect light in ceiling details
• Lit shelving: Display shelves with integrated LEDs

The Smart Element

Most integrated lighting is now dimmable and often connected to smart home systems. Homeowners want to control scenes and moods, not just on/off.

6. Japandi Influence

Japanese-Scandinavian fusion (“Japandi”) continues to influence Vancouver design.

Characteristics

• Minimalism with warmth: Clean lines but not cold
• Natural materials: Wood, stone, linen, plants
• Neutral palettes: Earthy tones, not stark contrasts
• Craftsmanship: Appreciation for well-made details
• Functionality: Everything has a purpose

How This Shows Up in Finishing

• Simpler millwork profiles
• Less ornamentation on trim
• More focus on material quality over quantity of detail
• Concealed storage and minimal visual clutter

7. Indoor-Outdoor Connection

Vancouver’s climate makes outdoor living appealing (at least part of the year). The connection between indoor and outdoor spaces is a focus.

Related Finishing Work

• Flooring that flows: Continuous or matching flooring from inside to covered patios
• Consistent millwork: Trim and details that extend to outdoor living areas
• Wide openings: Finishing around multi-slide or folding doors
• Covered outdoor areas: Soffits, ceiling treatments, and outdoor-rated finishes

8. Flexible Workspaces

Remote and hybrid work has permanently changed how Vancouver homeowners use their homes.

What They’re Requesting

• Dedicated home offices: Not just a desk in a corner
• Built-in office systems: Proper storage, cord management, good lighting
• Video-ready backdrops: Accent walls and styled shelving
• Sound considerations: Solid doors, some acoustic treatment
• Multi-use rooms: Offices that can convert to guest rooms

9. Bathroom Upgrades

Bathrooms are getting more attention, with finishing quality matching kitchens.

Bathroom Finishing Trends

• Floor-to-ceiling tile instead of stopping at dado height
• Floating vanities: Millwork that’s properly mounted, not just sitting on the floor
• Niche shelving: Built-in storage in showers
• Upgraded hardware: Quality towel bars, hooks, and accessories
• Consistent finishes: Matching fixtures and hardware throughout

10. Quality Over Quantity

Perhaps the most important trend: homeowners are choosing to do fewer things, but do them well.

What This Means

• Investing in one beautiful accent wall rather than mediocre work throughout
• Real materials in key areas, simpler finishes elsewhere
• Professional installation for visible work, even if DIY for hidden areas
• Patience to do projects right rather than rushing to do everything

Regional Variations Across Greater Vancouver

Different areas have different trends:

Vancouver Proper

• Character home restoration and matching heritage trim
• Condo-specific solutions (space-saving, noise reduction)
• Modern aesthetics with West Coast influence

North Shore

• Mountain-inspired natural materials
• Outdoor-indoor living spaces
• High-end finishes in established neighborhoods

West Vancouver

• Luxury-level materials and craftsmanship
• Custom everything: nothing off-the-shelf
• Dramatic focal points and statement features

Burnaby/Tri-Cities

• Family-focused practicality (mudrooms, built-in storage)
• New construction finishing upgrades
• Balancing style with durability

Richmond/South

• Modern Asian-influenced aesthetics
• Flexibility and multi-generational considerations
• High-quality materials and finishes

What This Means for Your Home

If you’re planning finishing work in 2025 or 2026:

1. Invest in real materials where they’ll be seen and touched
2. Choose warm, neutral tones that won’t date quickly
3. Consider built-ins that add function and value
4. Create focal points that define your spaces
5. Think about lighting as part of the design, not an afterthought

And most importantly, work with professionals who understand these trends and can help you apply them to your specific home and budget.

---

Planning a finishing project? Contact us to discuss how these trends might work in your Vancouver home.