How Home Styling Habits Are Changing in 2026
New consumer research suggests we're becoming more thoughtful about how we decorate our homes—and flowers are telling an interesting story.
For many people, decorating a home has traditionally been about following trends, refreshing a room for the seasons or making a space look presentable when guests come to visit.
But new consumer research from Best & Bloom suggests something more fundamental is changing.
Rather than decorating more, consumers appear to be decorating more intentionally.
Our Best & Bloom Home Styling Report 2026, based on responses from 202 consumers, found that people are becoming increasingly thoughtful about the decorative purchases they make, balancing cost, longevity, quality and emotional value in ways that perhaps weren't as prominent a decade ago.
The result isn't that people care less about their homes.
If anything, they care more.
They're simply making more considered decisions about what deserves a permanent place within them.
Consumers aren't buying fewer decorative items - they're buying differently
One of the clearest findings from the research was the impact of the cost of living.
79% of respondents said rising living costs have reduced how often they buy fresh flowers.
At first glance, that could suggest consumers are cutting back on home décor altogether.
However, the wider findings tell a different story.
Almost half (47%) of respondents said rising living costs have made them more likely to consider purchasing artificial flowers instead. Rather than abandoning flowers completely, many consumers appear to be looking for decorative purchases that provide longer-lasting value.
This reflects a broader shift in how value is being defined.
Consumers are no longer looking solely at the initial purchase price.
Instead they're asking:
- Will this still look beautiful in six months?
- Will it improve my home every day?
- Does it justify the investment?
Those questions extend far beyond flowers and increasingly apply to furniture, lighting, artwork and other decorative purchases throughout the home.
Home has become more important than ever
Perhaps the most striking finding wasn't about flowers at all.
It was about what people want their homes to feel like.
When asked why they choose flowers:
- 64% said they use them to complement their home's décor.
- 60% said they add colour.
- 50% said they create a welcoming atmosphere.
- 47% said they lift their mood.
Very few respondents were motivated by entertaining.
Only 15% said they primarily choose flowers for special occasions, while another 15% said they choose them to impress guests.
Instead, consumers appear to be styling their homes for themselves.
That represents an interesting cultural shift.
Home is no longer simply somewhere to live.
It's somewhere to recharge, relax and spend time with family, and increasingly people are investing in decorative pieces that support that feeling every single day.
Flowers are becoming part of interior design
One of the strongest themes emerging from the research is that flowers are increasingly being viewed alongside other design elements rather than as occasional decorative extras.
People aren't simply placing flowers on a table because they're pretty.
They're using them to complete a room.
This mirrors how interior designers have long approached styling.
Artwork, lighting, books, ceramics, textiles and flowers all work together to create depth, warmth and personality within a space.
Consumers now appear to be adopting that same mindset.
Rather than asking, "Should I buy flowers?", they're asking, "How do flowers contribute to the overall look and feel of my home?"
Longevity matters
Another trend emerging from the report is a growing appreciation for purchases that continue delivering value over time.
Artificial flowers illustrate this particularly well.
While practicality remains important, consumers increasingly expect decorative purchases to justify their place within the home for months or even years rather than days.
That helps explain why improvements in realism have become so influential.
Consumers aren't simply buying an alternative to fresh flowers.
They're investing in a permanent styling piece.
A more thoughtful approach to decorating
Viewed together, the findings suggest consumers are becoming more deliberate about the way they style their homes.
They're making fewer impulse purchases.
They're placing greater emphasis on quality.
They're thinking about atmosphere as much as appearance.
And they're increasingly investing in decorative pieces that offer lasting enjoyment.
In many ways, flowers provide a fascinating lens through which to observe these broader changes.
They reveal that today's consumers aren't necessarily spending less on their homes.
They're spending more thoughtfully.
Final thoughts
If there is one overarching message from the Best & Bloom Home Styling Report 2026, it is this:
Home styling is becoming less about following trends and more about creating spaces that genuinely improve everyday life.
Consumers still want beautiful homes.
They're simply becoming more intentional about how they achieve them.
About the research
This article is based on findings from the Best & Bloom Home Styling Report 2026, an original consumer study exploring changing attitudes towards flowers, home styling and interior design. The report analyses responses from 202 consumers and examines how cost of living, evolving design preferences and changing perceptions of artificial flowers are influencing purchasing behaviour. Read the full report to explore the complete findings.