Looking forward: 2026's biggest carpentry trends
What we're watching: warm minimalism replacing cold minimalism, the return of visible joinery, and tighter supply on local hardwoods.
Three trends we're watching going into 2026, based on the briefs that have been landing on our desk in the last six months.
One: warm minimalism is replacing cold minimalism. The all-white, slab-everything look that dominated 2015-2022 is fading. Clients want timber back, but they want it honest, visible grain, oiled finishes, joinery you can actually see. The Scandinavian "less but better" sensibility is shifting toward a Japanese-influenced "less but warmer".
Two: visible joinery is having a moment. Through-tenons, exposed dovetails, finger joints, the things we used to hide behind plugs and putty are being asked for as features. This is good for our work because it puts the craft back on display. It's also more expensive because honest joinery takes longer to do right.
Three: local hardwood supply is tightening. Blackbutt, spotted gum, ironbark, all up double-digits on Q4 last year. Partly weather, partly increased competition with engineered-timber manufacturers for the same logs. Practical advice for anyone planning a big timber job in 2026: commit early. Stock for the back half of the year is being booked now.
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