COOPERSBURG,PA–December 9,2025— Lutron Electronics, the trusted leader in architectural lighting, window treatments, and intuitive controls, has released its Luxury Residential 2026 Trend Report: Livingwith Light, providing an in-depth look at emerging trends in residential lighting, automated shades, and controls. Informed by custom surveys from The Harris Poll driven by insights from high-net-worth homeowners and residential designers and architects, as well as Lutron sales and product data, the report highlights how lighting, shading, and controls are now central to both the aesthetic and emotional experience of a home.
The report strongly signals that homes are increasingly prioritizing mood, wellness, and personalization. Motorized shades and app-controlled lighting are shifting from luxury upgrades to expected design essentials, while layered, tunable light is foundational to creating spaces that feel human, flexible, and attuned to the rhythms of daily life.
“We’re moving away from choosing lighting just for style or trend and toward creating experiences with light through spaces that reflect who we are and how wewant to feel. The best lighting doesn’t competewith a space— it completes it,”says Julee Ireland, Home Renovation School.
Key findings include:
Lighting as the Heart of the Home
Lighting is now central to design decisions: 94% of designers and architects say clients believe lighting is highly important. 52% of designers believe the right lighting design can elevate even modest interiors, while 47% report that poor lighting can devalue even the most high-end architecture and finishes.
Among affluent homeowners, 66% believe interiors should reflect their lifestyle, 50% prioritize ambience,and 44%r ecognize that effective lighting has wellness benefits.
Dynamic, TunableLight
Luxury homeowners are embracing lighting that adapts throughout the day. While 60% of homeowners adjust lighting based on mood or time ofday, only 9% currentlyuse presetscenes– despite 42% expressing interest in them – revealing major opportunity for intuitive, human-centric control systems. Designers are moving away from uniform downlight grids toward warm, layered, dynamic lighting that shifts with emotion and activity.
“Static light doesn’t feel natural. Dynamic, tunable lighting is becoming essential to creating fluid, multi-use environments,” says Cecilia Ramos, Senior Director, Architectural Markets. Ireland adds that, “lighting— especially full-spectrum lighting—and controls should be a first thought, not an after thought. You can always change paint or hardware, but your lighting system is part of the home’s architecture—it’s just as important as your framing.”
The Evolution of Window Treatments
Motorized and layered window treatments are now expected throughout homes, extending beyond bedrooms and bathrooms into living areas, home offices, and kitchens. Designers report that automated shades are no longer a luxury but a functional and aesthetic necessity, helping manage sunlight, preserve furnishings, enhance privacy, and complement the overall design.
56% of designers now include automated shades in final designs, and 43%additionally recommend them, signaling that automated shading is quickly becoming a standard in luxury homes. Growing homeowner interest, with 38% express interest in adding them, revealing a clear adoption gap and strong growth potential for the category. With 59% of homeowners valuing daylight as much as artificial lighting, these findings underscore the need for fully integrated lighting and shading solutions.
“Motorized shades are becoming standard features rather than luxuries…active systems responding to light, time of day, or voice commands. They also solve practical concerns by protecting artwork, flooring, and furniture from sunlight damage, while addressing privacy concerns and providing coverage for tall windows and skylights,”says Melissa Andresko, Chief Corporate Brand Ambassador.
Customization, Personalization, and Materials
Personalization remains a signature marker of luxury. 98% of designers report clients request custom fabrics for shades, 56% incorporate custom finishes, and 45% includec ustom engravings. Fabric preferences favor natural fibers, sustainable materials, rich textures, and layered, blackout, and light- filtering fabrics that balance daylight, privacy, and mood. Lutron sales data also reveals how people live with these products, with favorite engravings like “Reading,” “Welcome,” “Entertain,” “Dinner Party,” and “Meditation” for mood-driven or function-driven scenes.
“Our homes are now extensions of who we are. Personalized engravings make technology feel human and allow us to set our lighting to what feeds our soul,”says Ireland. “The choice of fabric is as important as the control system — it defines both the look and feel of a space,” adds Sulaiman.
Smart Controls
A seamless marriage of technology and aesthetics is now essential to high-end design. 61% ofdesignersinclude lightingthat can be controlled via smartphone orapp, 56% incorporate custom finishes while43% see clients request them, and 51% say home automation must fit the aesthetic of the home. The goal is “personalized simplicity”: technology that disappears into the background while elevating comfort.
“Controls complete the experience. Whether adjusting lighting, shading, climate, or entertainment systems, they allow us to personalize our environment, layer light, and create spaces that support how we live and how we want to feel. When we feel good in our space, we live well—and that’s truly timeless,” emphasizes Ireland.
For more research and insights, download a PDF version of the full report here.
