Interior designers are forecasting noticeable shifts in how homes will be styled in 2026, with several long-favoured trends expected to fall out of favour. Changing preferences in colour, texture, and layout are steering homeowners towards richer, more expressive interiors.
Neutrals, minimalism, and overly uniform spaces
All-neutral interiors, once popular for their simplicity, are now perceived as lacking depth. Designers increasingly favour layered tones, tactile finishes, and natural materials that create warmth.
Minimalism is also fading as maximalism gains momentum, with homeowners embracing colour, pattern, and a curated mix of objects that feel more personal than sparse. This shift is influencing everything from open-plan spaces to bedroom renovations.
Uniform finishes are similarly on the decline. Matching wood tones throughout a home now appears overly coordinated, with mixed materials and contrasting grains offering a more natural and lived-in effect.
Outgoing textures and outdated features
Bouclé, once a staple of contemporary upholstery, is gradually losing appeal due to its ubiquity. Designers note a growing preference for alternatives, such as slub linen, wool blends, and matte chenille, which offer comfort without looking overly familiar. Flat drywall is another feature being sidelined in favour of textured plaster.
Even smaller details, including café curtains, are being reconsidered as homeowners opt for window treatments that enhance natural light rather than break up sightlines.
If you are updating your home, options can be explored through companies such as www.thekitchenrefurbishmentcompany.co.uk/bedroom-renovations.
With 2026 set to champion individuality, designers expect interiors to move away from uniformity and towards personal expression, atmosphere, and material richness.