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Design is ever-evolving; and to maximise the commercial potential of any construction trade, it is vital to keep abreast of current trends. Why? Well, in simple terms, your customers – be they commercial developers, housebuilders, local authorities, hotels, restaurants, or private home owners, all want to create the best possible buildings within budget.

Currently, one concept is driving design and simultaneously influencing client attitudes towards construction trades: “new luxury”.  In both architecture and landscape design we have seen a profound shift from overt displays of wealth to personalisation, well-being, and quiet luxury. Today’s thought leaders in the design space now prioritise how a space feels and functions over brand names or expensive price tags.

In short, luxury no longer means Marbella-style glam: gold taps, home automation system, cinema rooms, polished marble, hot tubs, and the like.  Today’s aspiration is towards quiet luxury, hushed interiors, authentic finishes: or what is referred to as stealth wealth.  This trend prioritises non-synthetic materials like solid timber, stone, and natural fibre.  These result in a neutral, calming palette of beige, cream, and earth tones that whispers rather than screams luxury.

The home as refuge is also driving trends towards features such as 5 amp lighting circuits powering lamps as a soothing alternative to starker overhead lighting solutions.  Home owners are also tackling unwanted noise through enhanced acoustic insulation, the use of sub 12dB extract fans, and other solutions. InstallerSHOW is the ideal place to discover the materials and details that will delight clients seeking the new luxury for their project.

Running alongside this trend is the growing influence of biophilic design.  Inside-out integration is now central to UK luxury, resulting in nature-inspired features like carrying the same floor tiles from the kitchen out onto the terrace, making expansive use of glass, creating vertical indoor gardens, or including materials like rattan and reclaimed wood.

This new luxury trend creates a significant opportunity for informed trade specialists.  The premium on authenticity and naturalness opens the door for craft-finished surfaces like polished plaster, or bespoke joinery using reclaimed materials.  Commercial clients and home owners alike are turning to trades for specification advice and informed material choices.

Energy efficiency and sustainability are now seen as standard. Homeowners are investing in solar panels, air-purifying paints, and recycled materials to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing aesthetics. Annual running costs, rather than number of bedrooms, are set to become the dominant driver of house prices. This means that plumbers need to be in a position to offer informed opinion on UFH installation systems or boiling taps; while roofers need to know about slate-effect PV tiles, or the most efficient rainwater harvesting systems. Electricians must be versed in kinetic switches and unobtrusive smoke alarms.

One of the most obvious signs of the new luxury requires touch as much as seeing. Luxury is now highly sensory. Designers use Venetian plaster, limewash walls, and bouclé fabrics to add character, depth and warmth: it is all about tactile textures.  You can even see this in the finishes created using subtle polishing and sinking inks in the latest porcelain worktop creations. At the same time, original period features like 18th-Century shutters or ornate cornicing are being preserved and paired with sleek, modern finishes for a layered “old-world opulence”.  There is also Burrell-collection inspired features, sourced from reclamation yards, being added to modern interiors to create focal design statements.

Moving outside, luxury is now defined by the use of quality of materials that age naturally, such as clay pavers, brushed limestone, and solid timber. These also work well with climate-resilient design. But the key trend, as seen in indoor-out design, is that gardens are no longer separate entities but function as outdoor rooms. Outdoor kitchens, fabulous fire pits, and tensioned fabric roofs offer the prospect of year-round use.

We are seeing the use of porcelain paving for its durability, often paired with organic materials like Corten steel for textural contrast. The palette has shifted from cool greys to warmer tones like terracotta, olive, and taupe to create a grounding and calming environment.

Let’s use one example to show how the product and specification innovation at InstallerSHOW could help with your next project. You are a small construction firm that handles both house remodelling and garden upgrades. At the show you discover a new steel gate frame system. Durable and versatile, this will allow you to offer a highly engineered solution that can be tailored to any aesthetic as the frame can be infilled with any suitable panelling.  Imagine being able to offer a choice between reclaimed panelling from a local manor house, or the old gym floor from the nearby high school.  This bespoke solution monetises your joinery skills, offers your client a unique statement piece, yet delivers first-class performance.  This kind of next-level construction solution is a great example of InstallerSHOW’s USP.

It is the perfect place to explore the products and techniques that can build on the new luxury trend, helping trades to create multi-functional spaces that look great and perform above expectation.

Visit InstallerSHOW 2026, 23-25 June at the NEC. Register for free tickets here: forms.reg.buzz/installer-show-2026