Whether you’re a retailer, designer, installer, developer or a KBB sector professional looking to expand your network, kbb Birmingham (1–4 March 2026, NEC) is the unmissable event of the year for the kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms sector. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the show brings together over 320 exhibitors from more than 20 countries, showcasing the latest innovations, sustainable solutions and design trends. 

The Wildwood team will be back on the show floor at kbb Birmingham, running the show press office – and we can’t wait to be back at the NEC. To help you get the most out of your visit, here’s your essential guide to planning, exploring, and maximising your time at the show. 

1. Plan Ahead With the New kbb Birmingham Event App

Make the kbb experience smoother by downloading the official event app, sponsored by Smeg, before you arrive. It gives you access to: 

• Your digital badge 

• Exhibitor directories 

• Floor plans 

• Product zone 

The app also supports prebooking meetings so you can secure time with brands and suppliers before the show gets busy.  

Pro tip: Bring a portable phone charger – you’ll be using your device a lot throughout the day. 

2. Prioritise Your Must-See Exhibitors

With 320+ leading brands across 25+ product categories, having a clear plan will help you navigate the halls effectively. Expect to see names including: 

• Smeg, Nobilia, Quooker, Samsung, VitrA, Merlyn, Aqualisa, Croydex, Vado, Ca’Pietra, and many more.  

This year’s show places a strong focus on sustainability, smart technology and personalisation, so look out for cutting edge launches and innovative new products. 

3. Explore the Innovation Awards

A highlight every year, the Innovation Awards (in partnership with Blum) celebrate the most groundbreaking products in the sector. 

 
You’ll be able to: 

• View all shortlisted innovations on display 

• Vote in the People’s Choice Award 

• Attend the live announcement of the winners 

This is the perfect opportunity to identify products that will shape the market in the year ahead.  

4. Attend Live Demonstrations and See the Latest Design Trends

Want to see the latest products in action? With exhibitors planning a wide range of demos and product reveals, make time for visiting stands that link to your own business goals – whether that’s design inspiration, sustainability insights or learning about new technology. 

Expect trend forecasting! We’re predicting: 

• Bold colour palettes 

• Tactile materials 

• Integrated smart solutions 

• Eco conscious materials and sustainable practices  

Pro tip – Stay ahead of the curve and gather design insights for current or upcoming projects. 

5. Network With Purpose

kbb Birmingham is a huge gathering of senior decision makers across residential, retail, design, and contract sectors, with over 17,000 visitors expected this year. 

To maximise your networking: 

• Bring business cards or a scannable QR profile 

• Use the new kbb Birmingham app to arrange meetings in advance 

• Follow the event on social media and share with your online community that you’ll be attending 

Pro tip – After the show, organise the contacts you gather and follow up while conversations are still fresh. 

6. Immerse Yourself in Special Features

2026 introduces exciting international exhibitor areas, including the Spanish Design Pavilion highlighting top suppliers exhibiting from Spain. Discover the craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics that define Spanish KBB innovation. Connect with established brands renowned for their quality manufacturing and design excellence across European markets. 

And don’t forget to play the 40th Anniversary Duck Hunt, with 40 rubber ducks hidden throughout the show floor — a fun way to explore every corner of the exhibition.  

7. Plan Your Logistics for a Stress-Free Visit

To keep your day running smoothly: 

• Prepay for NEC parking to save £5 and skip queues  

• Review hotel partners offering discounted rates 

• Explore food and drink options across the NEC  

Wear comfortable shoes – you will cover a lot of ground! 

8. Capture Content and Share Your Experience

Whether you’re attending as a visitor or exhibiting: 

• Take photos and videos of exhibitor stands, demos, new products and design inspiration 

• Share your insights and favourite finds across LinkedIn and Instagram 

• Tag brands and share what you discover 

With its mix of innovation, global exhibitors, industry insights and unbeatable networking, kbb Birmingham 2026 promises to be the most exciting edition yet – and a fitting celebration of 40 years of shaping the KBB industry. 

A little preparation goes a long way. Plan ahead and make the most of every conversation. We’re ready – are you? We’ll see you at the NEC! 

See what we got up to at the previous kbb Birmingham, here.

How to Make the Most of Your Timeat kbb Birmingham 2026

Contact Wildwood Plus today to discover how we can support your event

Get in touch today

We invited Vanessa Macedo, Associate Lighting Designer at John Cullen Lighting to share with us five lighting do’s and don’ts that every interior designer and architect should know. 

Lighting isn’t just an add-on or afterthought—it’s a fundamental design tool that shapes the way we perceive and experience space. Yet, it’s often underestimated or oversimplified.  

As lighting professionals, we frequently find ourselves stepping in to solve problems that could have been avoided with earlier, more integrated thinking. To help bridge that gap, here are five essential ‘Do’s’ and five all-too-common ‘Don’ts’ that every interior designer and architect should keep in mind when it comes to lighting. 

5 Lighting DOs 

1. Do Think About Lighting Early in the Design Process  

Lighting should never be left to the end of a project. The earlier it’s considered, the more harmoniously it can be integrated with the architecture and interiors. Early collaboration allows lighting to elevate a concept, rather than just illuminate it. Think about how light will support the function, mood, and visual hierarchy of a space. 

2. Do Layer Your Lighting 

Successful lighting schemes almost always use multiple layers: ambient, task, and accent lighting. Layering provides flexibility, depth, and drama. A single type of lighting—no matter how well-executed—can rarely meet all needs. Consider how users might interact with the space at different times of day and for different purposes. 

3. Do Understand the Importance of Colour Temperature and CRI  

Light quality impacts material perception, colour balance, and emotional response. Colour Temperature (CCT) influences mood – warmer tones create comfort, while cooler tones evoke alertness. Colour Rendering Index (CRI) affects how true colours appear under artificial light. Low CRI can flatten or distort a space, undermining your material palette and finishes.  

4. Do Use Light to Define and Sculpt Space

Good lighting doesn’t just reveal architecture—it enhances it. Use light to draw attention to key elements: textures, forms, focal points. Shadow is just as important as light; contrast adds depth. Treat lighting as a design material in its own right, not just a utility.  

5. Do Consider Control and User Experience 

Smart control systems, dimming, and scene-setting options empower users and help lighting respond to different functions throughout the day. A well-lit space should feel effortless – controls should be intuitive, and scenes should support the intended atmosphere and activity. 

5 Lighting DON’Ts

1. Don’t Default to Downlights 

Recessed downlights are often overused and poorly placed. A grid of downlights might seem like a “safe” choice, but it can create a flat, harsh, and uninviting space. Over-reliance on them can also result in poor uniformity and unnecessary glare. Use downlights strategically – not automatically. 

2. Don’t Ignore Glare

Glare is one of the quickest ways to make a space uncomfortable. Light should enhance visibility, not hinder it. Whether it’s from a poorly shielded fixture or light bouncing off a glossy surface, unmanaged glare disrupts the experience. Always consider viewing angles, especially in spaces like offices, dining rooms, and retail. 

3. Don’t Treat Lighting as Purely Decorative

Yes, light fixtures can be beautiful—but their function should never be compromised. Decorative lighting is a powerful layer, but it must complement the overall lighting design, not replace it. Don’t mistake a chandelier or pendant as a substitute for proper ambient or task lighting. 

4. Don’t Forget Maintenance and Longevity 

Choose fittings and systems with realistic maintenance requirements. Lighting design should be future-proof, taking into account ease of access, lamp life, and the potential for replacement parts. This is especially important in hospitality, retail, and commercial environments, where downtime costs money. 

5. Don’t Separate Aesthetics from Technical Reality  

Lighting design lives at the intersection of art and engineering. It’s easy to get excited by moodboards and fixture catalogues, but every lighting idea must be grounded in technical feasibility. Luminaire outputs, mounting details, wiring access, and dimming compatibility all need to align with your vision. 

Closing Remarks: Lighting as a Creative Partner 

Interior designers and architects are natural storytellers – so is light. It guides people, reveals texture, creates atmosphere, and punctuates emotion. But this only happens when it’s given equal creative weight and a seat at the table from the start. 

By embracing a few core principles and avoiding common pitfalls, design professionals can make lighting a seamless, expressive part of their work – not just a finishing touch. 

Collaborate early, think holistically, and never underestimate the power of a well-placed beam. Because when lighting is done well, no one notices. But when it’s done brilliantly, everyone feels it.  

More information www.johncullenlighting.com.  

From the start of the 2020s and throughout the decade so far, we’ve seen a trend towards the renewed prioritisation of occupant wellbeing within the built environment.

It’s a holistic attitudinal shift across several interrelated disciplines that’s led to considerable advancements in best practice for building controls and interior design in particular. As is often the case with progress of this nature, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single catalyst for the change, with a complex combination of socioeconomic factors all playing a significant role.

That said, it’s difficult to look beyond the pandemic as a root cause of much of the re-evaluation that’s taken place.

Why is occupant wellbeing so relevant right now?

There’s the obvious post-pandemic interrogation of our public and private spaces from a health and safety perspective, with air flow and occupancy levels becoming critical considerations of the same importance as fire and flood regulations and building codes.

But alongside physical health, mental and emotional wellbeing have also grown in status within our cultural collective consciousness. As living environments have been repurposed as workspaces – first out of necessity, subsequently through choice – and the way we interact with institutional and commercial buildings has shifted, the direct link between wellbeing and performance has become clearer.

Healthy building design enhances the ability of ccupants to effectively utilise a built environment for its intended purpose, as the BCIA points out. Building owners and employers alike are striving to maximise the potential of commercial spaces, leading to retrofitting and adaptation of existing environments with a view to boosting employee wellbeing, and achieving associated productivity benefits. And of course, new structures are being designed and built with these considerations front of mind.

How are building controls and interior design evolving to promote occupant wellbeing?

There’s a wide range of measures that operators within these industries can should consider from an occupant wellbeing perspective – below are a couple of the key examples:  

Biophilic design

This involves incorporating natural elements into the built environment, which can reduce stress, boost mood and provide a sense of calm that facilitates concentration.

Using natural materials like wood, stone, and plants in interior spaces, maximising natural light and including views of natural landscapes where possible can help from a construction perspective.

In terms of interior design, use of calming colours such as blue and greens can help with cognitive function and thoughtful use of materials with low environmental impact, which can help in reducing pollution, waste and energy consumption.

Smart Building Technologies

The Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to connect various building systems, allowing for more comprehensive and responsive control of environments. This includes smart thermostats, lighting systems, and air quality monitors that communicate and adjust automatically.

Giving occupants more control of their personal spaces can also boost wellbeing – for example, by incorporating mobile apps or touch panels allowing employees to personalise their immediate environment to suit their individual preference.

These tools can also offer data-driven insights through occupancy analytics. By using data from sensors and building management systems, facilities managers can better understand and optimise space usage, ensuring that environments are not overcrowded and are used efficiently.

Occupancy wellbeingthought leadership

Of course, there are many additional factors to consider: from sustainable design to thermal controls, ergonomics and acoustic comfort, along with air quality monitoring and adherence to wellness-focused building standards.

By taking ownership of these design elements and sharing company-specific strategies for promoting occupant comfort and wellbeing, organisations in the construction and interior design industries can position themselves as thought leaders at the forefront of developments in practice.

At Wildwood Plus we have extensive experience of helping our clients to capitalise on periods of market uncertainty via impactful communications. Despite the building industry’s challenges, new sustainability initiatives, technological advancements and (hopefully) more upcoming government support means there is still plenty to be optimistic about.

Get in touch today and we’ll show you how we can grow your reputation as a trusted industry provider, focused on building a better future for the UK.

Get in touch today

With the UK General Election mere days away, the country’s political parties have been busy pushing their manifestos to both the general public and businesses alike.

It’s no surprise that housing in particular has taken centre stage, given the turbulence in the residential market; from increasing mortgage and rental rates, to a shortage of housing stock and an ever-increasing focus on sustainability. The UK’s building industry in particular awaits with some trepidation as to what political commitments will come to pass. The sector, like many others, hasn’t been impervious to rising costs, labour shortages and demand which is difficult to forecast.

While pundits may claim the election result is clear cut, we thought it would be interesting to speculate as to how the market might shift post July 4^th by taking an objective look at each political party’s manifesto as it relates to housing…

Conservative Party

The Tories have committed to various measures to tackle the housing crisis. The headline is theambitious plan to build one million new homes over the next five years focusing on revitalising brownfield sites and protecting green belt land. They also aim to streamline planning laws to accelerate the construction process, and have proposed increasing home ownership through policies like extending the Right to Buy scheme to housing association tenants. Additionally, they plan to implement a ‘First Homes’ policy, offering a 30% discount to first-time buyers.

Labour Party

Labour’s housing policies are centred on addressing affordability and increasing supply. They havepromised to build 150,000 new council and social homes annually, with 100,000 of these to be constructed by local councils. They also intend to introduce rent controls to limit uncapped increases and ensure more secure tenancies. Labour plans to establish a new national housing agency to oversee the construction of homes and ensure quality standards are met. Green and sustainable housing development is also emphasised.

Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems focus on a significant increase in affordable housing, proposing building 300,000 homes per year, with a substantial portion being affordable homes for rent and sale. They also plan to introduce a new ‘Rent to Own’ model, allowing tenants to gain ownership gradually. The party has energy efficiency firmly on its agenda, committing to a £15 billion investment in retrofitting existing housing stock to adequately insulate all homes by 2030. They also support reforms to the private rental sector, including longer tenancies and a cap on rent increases.

Green Party

The Green Party prioritises sustainable and affordable housing. Their manifesto includes plans to build 100,000 new council homes each year and retrofit existing homes to improve energy efficiency. They advocate for stronger protections for tenants, including rent controls and longer-term tenancies. The Greens also emphasise the need to address homelessness through comprehensive support services and housing-first policies. Unsurprisingly, green belts are to be protected from urban sprawl, instead using brownfield sites and retrofitting existing buildings to meet housing needs.

Housing is rightly a major concern across the political spectrum in the UK, with each party presenting distinct strategies to address the crisis, focusing on increasing supply, improving affordability, streamlining planning, and ensuring sustainability. One thing is for sure, should the winning party make good on their housing promises, it’s going to increase demands of the entire sector. As such, it’s never been more important to have a communications partner who can help you cut through the noise and get in front of the right audience.

At Wildwood Plus we have extensive experience of helping our clients to capitalise on periods of market uncertainty via impactful communications. Despite the building industry’s challenges, new sustainability initiatives, technological advancements and (hopefully) more upcoming government support means there is still plenty to be optimistic about.

Get in touch today and we’ll show you how we can grow your reputation as a trusted industry provider, focused on building a better future for the UK.  

This month we were invited to attend the WhatHouse? Awards, in association with Showhouse magazine, which took place at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London.

Widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the housebuilding world, the glittering event welcomed 1700 guests to the Great Ballroom, for a delightful three-course luncheon and the awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Ed Gamble.

Leading property journalist and editorial director of Showhouse, Rupert Bates, opening proceedings with a review of the sector. The housebuilding industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, including economic factors impacting mortgage rates and a cost-of-living crisis that has deterred potential buyers from moving house.

However, with a government pledge to build hundreds of thousands of new homes across the UK, and a drive to create more sustainable builds that help to meet 2030 energy efficiency targets – there are also green shoots and opportunities in this competitive marketplace.

We support multiple clients in the sector, representing everything from air source heat pumps, bricks and design services to audio systems, lighting control and smart technology installation.

A vibrant and growing housebuilding sector is significant for the success of our clients and, of course, the wider economy. This year’s Awards provided important insights into the prospects for the sector and also showcased the innovators who are making a difference now and for the future. We’re encouraged!

Congratulations to all the winners. You can check out all the projects and companies here