In recent years, a subtle yet significant change has been taking place in Israeli home design. If in the past sharp lines and cool color palettes of gray, black and white dominated, today more and more homes are choosing a different direction – soft, natural and embracing. The inspiration comes from the desert, and especially from the aesthetics of the Sahara, which has become a true design language.
The need for quiet, balance and a renewed connection to nature translates into a calm color palette: Sandy beiges, refined browns, soft terracotta and natural stone shades. These are not dramatic or trendy colors, but ones that create quiet depth and a sense of warmth, giving the home a relaxed and timeless appearance.
According to Liat Elkabets, Marketing Manager of the Negev Group, the attraction to desert aesthetics reflects a deeper process. “The Israeli home, which in recent years has experienced emotional, social and environmental overload, is seeking to become a healing space – one that reduces stimuli and restores a sense of stability. The desert shades of the Sahara offer exactly that: Softness, continuity and a sense of nature even within a dense urban environment.”
The change is also evident in the way walls and floors are perceived. They are no longer merely a neutral backdrop, but a central design layer that dictates the entire atmosphere. Claddings in shades of sand, stone, earth and natural clay create spaces that feel connected to their surroundings, even when located in the heart of the city. According to Elkabets, the new collections, which come from the world’s leading international brands, focus on soft textures, a mineral look and finishes that simulate natural stone, plaster and sand – while incorporating advanced technologies and high durability.
The trend is not limited to public spaces alone. Today, desert claddings are also entering bathrooms, bedrooms and even home workspaces, based on the perception that the entire home should function as a single envelope – quiet, uniform and balanced. Consistent use of the same shades and the same material language creates visual and emotional continuity, and strengthens the sense of harmony and stability.
Thus, gradually and without grand declarations, the desert has shifted from a distant backdrop to a tangible presence at the heart of the home. The Sahara is no longer just a destination on the map, but a daily inspiration – one that brings into living spaces a sense of openness, breath and quiet. It seems that the Israeli home has fallen in love with the earth all over again.