Swiss tax reform: why renovating your interior before 2028 is a unique opportunity

On September 28, 2025, the Swiss people approved by a wide majority the reform of owner-occupied housing taxation. This historic vote plans the abolition of the imputed rental value — the fictional income that every owner-occupant was required to declare on their taxes — for both primary and secondary residences.

The new measures are expected to come into force no earlier than January 1, 2028. For us at RK Interiors, an interior architecture and design studio based in French-speaking Switzerland, this reform represents much more than a simple tax change. It profoundly redefines the timeline and strategy of any interior renovation project. And it is precisely from the interior design perspective that we wish to shed some light.

Abolition of the Imputed Rental Value: What Does It Mean for Your Renovation Projects?

Until now, Swiss homeowners could deduct from their taxes the costs related to the maintenance and renovation of their home. Repainting a living room, renovating a bathroom, modernizing a kitchen, or transforming a space into a home office — all of these works offered a significant tax advantage.

With the new legislation expected to come into force in 2028, this possibility will disappear for owner-occupants of their primary residence. In practical terms, this means that interior renovation work carried out before 2028 remains fully deductible, while work undertaken after that date will no longer benefit from this advantage.

This is therefore a unique window of opportunity to invest in your interior, combining aesthetic benefit, daily well-being, and tax optimization.

The Interior Design Perspective: Much More Than a Tax Question

While the fiscal dimension is undeniably important, at RK Interiors we believe the real question goes beyond numbers. A well-designed interior renovation project transforms your quality of life. This is what we practice every day through our approach based on neurodesign — a discipline that places cognitive and emotional well-being at the heart of space design.

When you renovate a home, you don't simply change materials or colors. You rethink circulation, natural light, proportions, textures, and atmosphere. You create an environment that truly supports those who live in it, day after day. And it is this profound transformation that justifies seizing this tax opportunity before it disappears.

Which Interior Design Projects to Prioritize Before 2028?

As interior architects working on residential and commercial projects in French-speaking Switzerland, here are the types of renovations we recommend prioritizing during this transitional period:

Kitchen and bathroom renovation — These are the rooms that most impact a property's value and the daily satisfaction of occupants. Modernizing the layouts, materials, and ergonomics of these spaces represents a high-return investment, both fiscally and in terms of real estate value.

Creating or transforming a home office — With the widespread adoption of remote work, having a workspace designed by an interior design professional improves focus, productivity, and comfort. This is a project still fully deductible today.

Complete reorganization of living spaces — Opening up spaces, rethinking volumes, integrating biophilic elements such as natural light or indoor plants: these interventions considerably increase the quality of living, and when carried out before 2028, still benefit from a favorable tax framework.

Updating finishes and atmosphere — Flooring, paint, lighting, textiles, and custom furniture: a coherent interior decoration project managed by an interior architect can be structured to maximize deductions while delivering a lasting and personalized result.

Why Work With an Interior Architect to Make the Most of This Period?

A renovation project is not improvised — especially when it must fit within a precise tax timeline. Engaging an interior architecture studio like RK Interiors means benefiting from structured support, from the first sketch to the final handover.

Here is what professional support brings you in this particular context:

A global vision of the project — We analyze your needs, your lifestyle, and your goals to design a coherent project that integrates both your aesthetic aspirations and the fiscal constraints of the timeline.

Rigorous site supervision — Coordinating tradespeople, respecting deadlines, and documenting each stage are essential to justify deductions to the tax authorities. At RK Interiors, site supervision is an integral part of our service.

Expertise in neurodesign — Our unique approach, grounded in the principles of neuro-architecture, ensures that every design choice — colors, materials, proportions, lighting — contributes to the well-being of occupants. This is an advantage that goes well beyond the tax question and makes a difference in the long run.

Complete documentation — Detailed quotes, organized invoices, project timeline: everything is structured to facilitate your dealings with the cantonal tax authorities.

The Timeline to Keep in Mind for Your Projects

The transitional period between the September 2025 vote and the planned entry into force on January 1, 2028, is your window of action. However, it is important to understand that timelines in interior renovation can be significant. Between the design phase, obtaining quotes, ordering materials, and carrying out the work, a complete project can take several months.

This is why we strongly recommend starting the process now. The sooner you act, the more choice you have in terms of materials, available tradespeople, and optimal planning. Waiting until 2027 to act could mean longer delays and reduced availability of contractors, as all homeowners may want to take advantage of this last tax window.

RK Interiors: Your Partner for a Successful Project Before 2028

Founded by Renata Koglin, interior architect and engineer, RK Interiors is a recognized studio in French-speaking Switzerland for its approach combining technical expertise, sensitivity, and meaning. A decoration columnist for Marie Claire Suisse and a pioneer of neurodesign in Switzerland, Renata and her team guide each client through a tailor-made process — from design to execution.

Whether you are a homeowner in Lausanne, Geneva, Montreux, Nyon, or elsewhere in the canton of Vaud and French-speaking Switzerland, we are ready to support you through this pivotal period. Turn this tax reform into an opportunity to rethink your interior with an expert eye and an approach centered on your well-being.

Contact us today to discuss your project and discover how we can help you make the most of this transitional period — before the rules change.