I am an Ambassador for The Inspired Home Show. All opinions are my own. #TIHS26 This post also contains some affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase using the links, I may receive a commission. This does not cost you anything additional.
As you may have seen if you follow me on social media, I was selected to be a The Inspired Home Show® 2026 Ambassador! The show took place March 10-12 in Chicago. As the show is not open to the public, as an Ambassador I get to be your eyes and ears into this industry event (the largest home and housewares show in the Western Hemisphere) to give you a sneak peek at the home trends for kitchen, dining, cleaning, and entertaining, the hot new products coming from your favorite home brands, plus brands and products you don’t yet know but should. Today’s article shares a lot of these insights, broken down by the visual and style trends for kitchen and housewares, the functionality trends for kitchen gadgets, cleaning products, and tools for the home, and the products and tools to keep your eyes on for the future on top of the 2026 kitchen trends and home trends. And you’ll be some of the first to see them!
About The Inspired Home Show
The Inspired Home Show is the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) premier global home and housewares marketplace that connects buyers to sellers, products to lifestyles, and the industry to the consumer mindset. The Show attracts both global and domestic buyers from around the world to discover new products, identify trends, make valuable face-to-face connections and explore strategies for advancing their businesses. The largest home and housewares show in the Western Hemisphere, the Show features more than 1,000 exhibitors, 2,000 unique brands and several hundred thousand products (including thousands of new products). IHA Ambassadors attend the show to offer the consumers a view into these same industry trends and innovative new products so you’ll be ready to add the products you need and love to your own homes!
With so many exhibitors and brands sharing so many products, I’ve done my best to narrow down the high-level trends along with some product examples. For a deeper look into some of these companies and products, including product demos and testing, follow @fabeveryday on social media and bookmark my #TIHS26 Instagram Story Highlight.
Home Style Trends (the visual trends for kitchen, housewares, dining, and entertaining)
Housewares Color Trends:
A consistent feel across the exhibitors at The Inspired Home Show were the color palettes. We saw soft, natural color palettes (with a gentle and inviting feel), warm neutrals (for a cozy feel), wood grain (gadgets and tools that almost looked like furniture; so pretty that you don’t mind leaving them on your counter, which also allows you to use them more), transparency (glass, acrylic, and resin), and crystallized (pearlescent, iridescent, and holographic).
Retro Aesthetic:
Nostalgic, retro style was also popular across The Inspired Home Show. In her keynote address, Lee Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute shared that the vintage and retro aesthetics hit an emotionally nostalgic chord that make a home feel more comfortable. The difference in these new products and just seeking vintage finds for your home is that these new products have a retro look but with modern technology. They have digital capabilities, but the displays are minimalist, or even hidden, only to be woken up by a backlit menu when the device is touched.
Whimsy:
Speaking of comfort, consumers are seeking playful and joyful touches for their space. This showed up in a lot of whimsical ways, from floral and petal motifs (think the Bridgerton aesthetic or nods to fine china patterns showing up in unexpected ways), smile-inducing, humorous touches (“the art of the mundane,” as Lee Eiseman describes), and cute animals, like cats and geese.
Glassware and Barware:
Vintage met modern for the glassware and barware seen around the show. Ornate tumblers and barware with ridged and cut-glass designs combined with light, tall, and thin stemware. Classic shapes like coupes and whiskey glasses are still prevalent for home bars and entertaining.
Functional Trends (for kitchen, cooking, cleaning, and organizing)
Consumers, as I am sure you can relate, are value-conscious. Note that this does not necessarily mean we’re looking for the cheapest products at the lowest prices, but rather, looking for products that have value for the dollar spent. This means products that are quality, built to last, and are priced honestly. We’re not splurging unless products are worthy of the splurge and solve actual problems in our lives. Consumers are also increasingly interested in cooking and entertaining at home. As a result, here are the features and functions you’ll be seeing for home products.
Devices that Do More than One Thing:
To maximize value and save precious counter or cupboard space, I saw lots of new devices that could do more than one thing. Not just rice cooker/steamer combos, but griddles with removable plates so they can make waffles, sandwiches, grilled meats, and more, a toaster that also air fries frozen foods, hand-held devices with interchangeable attachments, and more. Here are some that stood out to me.
Convenience Products That Make Life Easier:
In the theme of value, we don’t need products with high-promise, low-reward. We need products that solve real problems in our daily lives and save us time and effort without gimmick. I came across several examples like this at The Inspired Home Show, a few of which I’m already personally using since I’ve been home.
Commercial-Grade Cooking Tools:
Not only are we still making bread, we are home baking and home cooking more than ever. According to a study by the International Housewares Association, 58% of consumers plan to cook more at home in 2026. Reasons include that it’s less expensive than eating out, easier to eat more healthfully, and provides more control over ingredients and flavors. Additionally, baking provides comfort and escape. This increased desire has led to home cooks and bakers wanting the quality of products they see chefs using on TV (like the show The Bear or the celebrity chefs on cooking programs). They also want uncoated, commercial-style cookware with less chemicals. The same goes for coffee enthusiasts, who want the professional capabilities at home.
Smaller Quantity Cooking and Space-Saving Devices:
Whether you’re trying to save cabinet space, cooking for less people, or just eating less yourself, kitchenware brands are responding to those needs with compact and multi-functional devices that save space when a large size isn’t necessary.
An Eye into the Future (home and kitchen gadget trends on the horizon)
My favorite two sections of The Inspired Home Show were the Debut section and Inventors Corner. These are products that are either brand new to the market or coming soon to the market, and featured so many innovative and useful concepts. I’m going to feature each of the products on my Instagram Story in the days and weeks ahead, so be sure to follow me at @fabeveryday on Instagram and check my #TIHS26 Instagram Story Highlight for anything you might have missed.
I am so grateful to have seen all of the great products and trends at The Inspired Home Show 2026! I can’t wait to continue trying these products and sharing them with you.
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