Looking for Interior Design Inspiration? Here Are the 2026 Trends to Know
1/27/2026 2:00:00 PM
At the beginning of every year, interior design experts try to identify the key trends or patterns that will be popular over the next 12 months. If you’re looking to freshen up your home’s interior, here’s a sampling of predictions from around the industry for 2026:
Rich Neutrals (Southern Living): In 2026, designers will look to use rich browns and burgundies in interior design, says Southern Living. “Whether you want to add drama, enhance architectural details, or create a cozy atmosphere, these wintry shades offer plenty of flexibility,” the magazine writes.
Unique Textures (MarthaStewart.com): From a shelf of ceramics to a handmade rug, interior design is seeing a renewed appreciation for beautiful craftsmanship and objects with tactile surfaces, writes MarthaStewart.com.
Decorative Detailing (Vogue): Similarly, intricate embellishments are poised for a resurgence in 2026, according to Vogue. Examples could include fringes on beds or cushions, “and with countless fringe styles to choose from – bullion, beaded, brushed, tasselled – there’s room to be as subtle or as extravagant as you like,” the magazine writes.
Accents Up and Down (Homes and Gardens): You’re probably familiar with the concept of an accent wall, but what about an accent ceiling or floor? According to Homes and Gardens magazine, this concept started to take off in 2025 and isn’t going away in 2026, “whether through paint, architectural detailing, wallpaper, or even texture.”
Gallery Walls (TheSpruce.com): According to The Spruce, searches for custom framing services are up significantly, indicating an interest in moving away from mass-produced or cookie-cutter frames. “It’s a trend that celebrates nostalgia and just a little bit of chaos, where everything from your favorite concert poster to an airport postcard can have a place to shine on your walls,” the website writes.
Whether you’re looking to these or other popular trends for inspiration, or just adding small personal touches here or there, making interior design updates to your home can be a great way to make your spaces feel more comfortable and more interesting.
Color of the Year
In December, global color specialist Pantoneundefined announced Cloud Dancer, a shade of white, as the 2026 Color of the Yearundefined. Cloud Dancer isn’t just any shade of white, though – it’s “lofty,” “billowy,” “elegant” and “ethereal,” according to Pantone.
“Cloud Dancer is a key structural color whose versatility provides scaffolding for the color spectrum,” Pantone writes. The color can adapt, harmonize, create contrast and pair well with pastels and neutral tones to create pleasing and understated combinations.
Beyond aesthetics, Cloud Dancer “serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection,” Pantone adds. The color helps create a space where function and feeling intertwine, building an atmospheric sense of serenity and spaciousness.
Similar to last year’s selection of Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s 2026 pick of Cloud Dancer speaks to the need for indoor spaces that allow us to breathe, relax, and take refuge from our daily stress and responsibilities.
This article was featured in the Mortgage Winter Newsletter 2026.
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