Top 5 Interior Design Trends for 2026
New year, new trends! Here are the top 5 interior design trends you need to know for 2026.
As an interior designer, it’s my job to stay up to date on the newest trends in home décor, colors and styles, but every year, I feel like there are so many new niche trends! Some are really cool and interesting and innovative, some are subtle shifts in what was already happening, some are driven by technology or the latest Tik-Tok trend. As a very opinionated person, I can tell almost immediately if there is a trend I don’t like or a style that I love, but would never design myself. So my list of the top 5 trends for this year are my picks of what I actually like, and could see incorporating into my designs for my clients. Let’s dive in:
Color Capping- I like this so much that I’ve already done it!
Think color drenching, but with a different color on the crown and ceiling (usually the same color family just a shade or two darker, but could be a contrasting color). Paint is such an easy and relatively inexpensive way to transform any room, and color capping just adds a little extra drama. This is best on rooms that have a natural break, and a flat ceiling. This can also be a great way to modernize your old craftsman-style house, with out loosing the charm, just incorporate your trim into the trend. If you want a more modern style, or don’t want to add a crown, tape off the wall about 12-15” down from the ceiling and create your own “trim.”
Wanna read more about this style? Read this post next.
2. Textured Wall Art
Whether it is a vintage tapestry or your child’s art project, I am seeing more and more textural wall hangings, and they aren’t going anywhere in 2026. I like that they bring a tactile element to the space and some even have 3D elements. My very favorites are large enough to cover entire walls; they makes a large statement and show personality.
Dive a little deeper and shop my rec’s on this trend here.
3. Grandma Chic
You know that feeling you get when you walked into your grandma’s house and were immediately hit with the sense of nostalgia and too many florals? That’s what this is. Visible storage, vintage tea cups, handmade tile, and (of course!) your cross-stitch craft you tried one time and then didn’t know what to do with after it was finished. You know people live there and have collected things for a looong time.
Shop my suggestions for this trend here.
4. Return to Natural Wood
From kitchen cabinets to accent furniture, natural wood is making a resurgence. Finishes: from distressed and hand-hewn to smooth. Stains: warm blonde to dark. Uses: wall paneling, mantles, beams, cabinetry, flooring, furniture (pretty much anywhere and everywhere!).
See how I have incorporated this trend into my past projects here.
5. 70’s Revival
Two words: SHAG CARPET! Before you scroll away, you should know that this is the style I am most drawn to this year! This year’s 70’s style is much more grown-up and progressive, and I think can incorporate many of the above trends, as well. You don’t have to do an entire room in this, but I’m definitely pulling some aspects to multiple projects. Think warmer tones like browns and oranges, add in some crushed velvet and some burl wood. Bonus: you don’t have to tear down that previously “hideous” wood paneling that your ancestors worked so hard to put in!
What are your thoughts on these trends? Any that you will be incorporating into your spaces this year?
