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There’s power in timeless design, but it’s also fun to take a peek at the design trends shaping the year ahead. While we may not be completely redecorating our homes year to year, keeping a pulse on design trends may spark some unexpected inspo. 2026 design trends are, after all, an indicator of what we’re collectively craving at home. Who doesn’t need to look at their space with a new perspective and fresh eyes? You’re probably going to be spending quite a bit of time at home this winter, so the new year is a perfect time to take stock and start dreaming up some new projects for your space.
The Aesthetic Shifts Ahead
According to experts, 2026 design trends are rooted in comfort, tradition, and homes as personal as the people living in them. We continue to shift away from formal living spaces and instead, are embracing cozy, lived-in, vintage-inspired rooms that give us all the feels. Gone are the days of cool-toned neutrals and stark minimalism—here are the trends designers expect to see everywhere in 2026.
“Houses are becoming homes again.”
– Alex Thies, Owner & Creative Director at Adelyn Charles Interiors
Pattern
One way to know minimalist aesthetics are on their way out is the rise of lush textures and patterns. “Pattern is becoming a major player heading into 2026,” Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design shares. “Layered textiles, statement wallpapers, and mixed prints add so much personality.”
“Houses are becoming homes again, and there’s a big emphasis on a look that feels collected over time versus staged and brand new,” Alex Thies, Owner & Creative Director at Adelyn Charles Interiors, adds. “This lends itself to layered patterns, colors, and textures.”
Pattern drenching, or covering an entire room with the same print, made a splash in 2025. The trend continues, but this time in a way that goes beyond a single style. “Instead of matching patterns, we’re embracing combinations that feel curated and lived-in. We’re creating homes that look beautifully pulled together without feeling precious,” Scheck says. This goes beyond just the walls as well. “Patterned sofas are back!” Lina Galvao of Curated Nest Interiors exclaims.
Multi-Functional Spaces
Ever since the pandemic, homeowners want spaces that can do it all. Instead of going out, we are collectively staying in. Guest rooms are turning into hobby spaces, garages are turning into at-home gyms, and the like. Scheck sees it with her design clients, and she doesn’t think the trend is going anywhere soon.
“We’re noticing a big shift toward multifunctional spaces. Clients want rooms that truly work for real life, and thoughtful layouts, smart built-ins, and flexible furniture make that possible,” she explains. “Think offices that double as guest rooms, Murphy beds that disappear when not in use, or playrooms that can easily transition into a second living area.”
Embellished Furniture
With the rise of pattern and personality, it makes complete sense that embellished furniture is gaining popularity. “In 2026, be prepared to enhance your furniture with trims and prints,” Autumn Pochiro, Founder and Principal Designer at Autumn Dawn Design, says. “Upholstered furniture featuring fringe, metal accents, and vibrant patterns is making a significant comeback!”
Whether you’re handpainting a console yourself or purchasing one with an ornate pattern, infusing a little personality into your space is made easy with embellishments.
“The revival of vintage prints is ushering in a new era of design, showcasing a style that is casual yet luxurious, embodying lived-in comfort with a vintage flair,” Pochiro adds.
English-Inspired Interiors
If you love the cottage in The Holiday, or perhaps your heart skipped a beat thinking about a curved sofa with a skirt embellishment, you’ll be pleased to know that English-inspired interiors are coming back in a big way. “Expect to see a strong return to familiar, comforting aesthetics rooted in English country style, but with a modern eye,” Liz Livingston and Meredith Page of Page House Studio say. “This includes upholstered, skirted furniture, decorative trims, piping, subtle pattern layering, and brown furniture and deep wood tones that provide warmth.”
Galvao agrees, noting that Grandmillennial and British-inspired styles can be achieved in various ways. Think checkerboard floors in diverse colors, moody finishes, darker wood, and heritage-style designs that use architectural paneling or moldings. If you want the look on a budget, you can add accents as well. “Decor will follow with details like ginger jars, chinoiserie, and embroidery,” Galvao says.
Vintage Pieces
Take this as your sign to start perusing vintage and antique shops, because fast furniture continues to be on the outs. Instead of shopping at big box stores for mass-produced furniture, we’re collectively looking for sustainable, one-of-a-kind pieces that have a story to tell.
“Vintage and antique pieces have developed a certain cache and cool factor, especially with younger clients,” Galvao notes. “Personalization, history, meaning, heritage, narrative, craftsmanship, vintage, re-use! These are all terms that come to mind as a key trend, reflecting a shift in mindset amongst luxury consumers who are favoring personal expression over resale value or what their friends have.“
Scheck remarks that vintage silhouettes bring a sense of romance that feels collected rather than formal. “Overall, we’re moving away from stark minimalism and toward spaces that feel layered, storied, and full of character,” she says.
Texture as the New Neutral
Warm neutrals aren’t going anywhere. Creams, browns, ochre, and warm whites continue to dominate (goodbye cool neutrals!), but according to Page and Livingston, those warm neutrals only tell part of the story. They argue for moving beyond color theory and focusing on texture theory, and embracing movement, texture, and depth.
“A neutral room without tactile finishes, soulful objects, and collected layers falls flat. The true style is in the crafted, textured accents,” they both share. “Designers are embracing lime wash, plasterwork, and natural materials like ironstone and hand-thrown vessels to add dimension where color once dominated.”