This Design Style Will Add THOUSANDS to Your Home's Value

What makes a real estate listing fly off the market? Is it close to cute restaurants and good schools? Are there special features like lush landscaping or an ADU? Well, if you ask Zillow, your home's interior design style can also have some major sway in its overall success. The home-buying platform just released new research that shows spaces with nature-inspired touches—a style it calls "organic modernism"—can make your property sell for up to $12,500 more.

"It's the new modern farmhouse,” said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert. “Buyers are seeking out and competing for homes with these raw but refined finishes, and that’s pushing up sale prices.”

For Scottsdale-based designer Stephanie Larsen, the buzzy style can make even the most high-end homes feel more grounded. "Today’s world is incredibly busy, and homeowners are craving a deepened connection to nature, creating spaces that feel calming and grounded amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life," she explains. "Organic modernism allows us to cultivate spaces that enhance our well-being, without compromising on style and the luxurious details we crave within our homes.”

Michelle Morgan Harrison—a designer who runs her eponymous firm in New Canaan, Connecticut—notes the warmth of organic modernism is welcome after loving gray-tinged neutrals and all-things marble for most of the 2010s. But while some dub this style the "new modern farmhouse," Harrison argues the two looks are actually pretty different.

"I think the majority of homeowners who embraced modern farmhouse design will most likely be more comfortable embracing more traditional design," she explains. "True fans of modern design will be embracing organic modernism with its softer and more inviting palette, shapes, and textures."

So, how do you bring organic modernism into a space? Start with texture. Zillow says that features like soapstone countertops, white oak floors, and Venetian plaster walls are top-selling features.

Meanwhile, designer Jessica Cinnamon recommends choosing a color palette that feels warm, approachable, and relaxed, with hues inspired by the natural world. "Earthy tones, like warm mushrooms, putty, olive greens, and sandy beiges, create a calming atmosphere that ties the indoors to the outdoors," she says.

On the furniture front, Harrison is a big proponent of soft, shape-shifting silhouettes. "Organic modernism roots are from Brutalist design, but the mix of natural materials is warm and inviting and not cold," she explains. You can also accessorize—in moderation, of course—with a textured rug, rustic pottery, and lots of leafy greens. In fact, Harrison says CB2 and Lulu & Georgia are currently showcasing this style in many of their new collections.

And why leave all the design fun indoors? According to the Zillow report, an outdoor shower, alfresco kitchen, or bluestone patio can also embody organic modernism and make your home all the more attractive to prospective buyers.