There’s a moment we all have after working on a project—whether it be as simple as a new dinner recipe or as complex as building a custom home—where we stand back, look and say, “Wow, I did that. I was part of that.”
As fenestration professionals, what we do matters deeply. Windows, doors and skylights are a critical element of the home that affects the home’s performance and influences its style. There undoubtedly is also an emotional dimension to what we do.
The National Association of Home Builders received nearly 650 submissions for its 2025 Best in American Living Awards and several trends consistently emerge. Homeowners are abandoning the stark, minimalistic aesthetic in favor of darker hues. Window + Door’s research backs this up; black and dark profiles continue to grow in popularity, according to our Industry Pulse and Top Manufacturers reports. Read more about co-extruding and lamination for dark colors.
Doors are becoming statements in their own right, with black metal framing, bold paneling, and expansive glass increasingly defining entryways and interior transitions. And the connection to the outdoors—through natural light, warm materials, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow—is no longer a luxury differentiator. It's a baseline expectation.
Nicole Willits, design trend, product and sustainability manager at Pella Corp., has similar takeaways in Pella’s 2026 Trends Report. Rather than going bigger and more, she says, homeowners are seeking rooms with more meaning. They’re after spaces that invite them to slow down and are designed for longevity.
Design expectations are also changing. “Tailored-to-you details used to come with a luxury upcharge,” she says. “In 2026, they’re a design expectation.”
Likewise, Brian Leizerowicz, vice president of sales, Western Window Systems, says energy efficiency is no longer a selling point; it’s a given. California in particular, where Western Window Systems, does a lot of business, has its Title 24 energy code as a baseline requirement. He views Title 24 as a leading indicator of how energy codes around the country will continue to tighten. Read more about codes updates.
In windows and doors, the technical and emotional aspects converge into one product. Tell us: What projects have you worked on that make you breathe a proud, “We were part of that” moment? Share them with me at lcowin@glass.org.
