We Asked Real Estate Pros for the One Feature That Can Lower Your Home’s Value in 2026—and We’re Shocked

The debate about whether an open-concept layout or a closed floor plan is better is longstanding, and interior designers, individual homeowners, and real estate agents all have different takes, especially the latter—as some layouts can impact a home’s value.

When it comes to day-to-day living at home, some people love a closed floor plan simply because there are more walls to decorate or because it’s vintage or historic—not to mention it’s easier to tuck clutter away in a back room. (Not everything is on display.) Some people love an open floor plan because it’s brighter or because they like a free flow between their kitchen and living areas. Others prefer something in between—aka a broken floor plan.

But in real estate, buyers are looking for flexibility. Here’s what real estate advisor Holly Erker says buyers are (and aren’t) looking for in 2026.

The One Home Feature Buyers No Longer Want

“The top feature likely to lower your home’s value in 2026 is a closed-off floor plan,” Erker says, adding that homes with many small, compartmentalized rooms feel dated and dark to the buyers of today.

Even if you have several rooms—meaning there’s no shortage of square footage—it’s the lack of flexibility in using the spaces and the lack of connectivity between the rooms that puts buyers off, she says.

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What Buyers Want in 2026

“Buyers in 2026 want open, flexible, and multi-use spaces,” Erker adds.

This doesn’t mean they only want open-plan homes, but they do want homes with rooms that are connected to each other in a way that is intuitive and practical.

When it comes to the internal layout of a home, buyers are looking for things like “kitchens connected to living areas, larger multipurpose rooms, open-concept great rooms, big kitchen islands, and spaces that support work-from-home or entertaining,” she says.

Buyers want to be able to adapt the spaces within a home to their lifestyle easily, and this is much trickier (and pricier) to do in homes with choppy layouts and disconnected rooms.

Why Closed Layouts Turn Buyers Off

“When a home feels chopped up, buyers see projects—not potential,” Erker says.

When buyers walk into homes with distinctly separate rooms for high-traffic spaces like kitchens and living rooms, the first thing they might see is an expensive renovation.

“They mentally start adding up wall removal, beams, electrical, drywall, paint, and new flooring,” Erker says.

Beyond costs and the hassle of taking on a big project, buyers can’t imagine themselves in the home.

“Modern buyers want to picture real-life living: hosting around a large island, working from flexible spaces while watching kids or pets, or using part of a great room for a workout or reading nook,” Erker says.

According to Erker, homes with closed layouts also read dated to current buyers as they’re reminded of the kinds of homes they visited from childhood, whether that was a grandparent’s home or a relative or friend. This emotional reaction instantly lowers perceived value, Erker says.

How to Make Closed-Off Layouts More Appealing to Buyers

If you’re trying to sell a closed-plan house, not all hope is lost—and not all projects need major demo.

“You don’t always need to knock down half the house to get an open-plan feel,” Erker says.

Smaller, structural tweaks, like widening doorways, using glass to create openness between spaces, and swapping solid doors for pocket doors, can all help give your space a more open look, Erker says.

Design details can also transform a choppy layout, Erker says. You can choose the same type of flooring from room to room so that everything feels continuous. Keep wall colors unified, and rearrange furniture so that the view from one space to another is long and as clean as possible.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, maximizing natural light can make any space feel brighter and airier, Erker suggests. Simply swapping out heavy window treatments, adding mirrors to bounce light, and choosing light, bright wall colors all make a difference.

“Together, these changes make a closed-off layout feel brighter, more connected, and much closer to the open-plan lifestyle buyers prefer,” Erker says.