5 wellness reno trends
The International Builders' Show pushed wellness into mainstream renovation — five standout trends: circadian lighting systems, antimicrobial surfaces, advanced water purification, biophilic design, and adaptive multi‑use spaces. These approaches were presented as ways to improve physical and mental health while future‑proofing a home. (forbes.com)
Design & Construction Week — the co‑location of IBS and KBIS — brought nearly 75,000 professionals to Orlando and filled roughly 679,000 net square feet of IBS exhibit space with about 1,650 exhibitors, while the combined DCW footprint reached roughly 2,250 exhibitors occupying 1.15 million square feet. (buildersshow.com) The NAHB’s Best of IBS program named Elkay’s Liv EZ™ Filtered Water Dispenser the 2026 Best Home Technology Product after a contest that drew more than 300 entries and was judged by a 42‑person independent panel. (blog.buildersshow.com) Water‑filtration brands used the shows to launch new hardware: CUCKOO promoted air and water purifiers from its expanded home‑wellness lineup at IBS (Booth S14156), and Waterdrop highlighted a new whole‑house reverse‑osmosis system in its KBIS showcase. (accessnewswire.com) Lighting manufacturers pushed circadian systems broadly sold as tunable color‑temperature solutions, and the IBS AI & Tech Studio and on‑floor demos gave attendees hands‑on views of smart‑lighting implementations tied to occupant health and automation. (signify.com) Antimicrobial technologies cropped up in practical fixtures and finishes: InSinkErator debuted its LEDefense garbage‑disposal line at KBIS claiming a 99% reduction in odor‑causing bacteria, and surface makers such as Wilsonart showcased laminate lines with built‑in silver‑ion antimicrobial protection in Pro Builder Show Village environments. (kbis.com) Show floor programming and vendor booths emphasized nature‑forward materials and flexible footprints — exhibitors installed finished model homes, acoustic wood veneer panels from a Wood Veneer Hub collaboration with Drew & Jonathan, and a glamping‑style demo space to illustrate adaptable multi‑use layouts — as the event prepares to relocate DCW permanently to Las Vegas in 2027. (wilsonart.com)
