It would be slightly ridiculous to reinvent your entire home every time a new interiors trend rolled around, but taking a closer look at what’s poised to define 2026 certainly has its merits. It can offer some much-needed inspiration if you’re updating a room or renovating, but perhaps more importantly, these trends mirror culture at large—how we live, what we value and how we want to feel when we wake up in the morning and come home at night.
It may come as no surprise, then, that we’re collectively starting to embrace a more lived-in, time-worn aesthetic (as you’re about to discover)—not least when the world outside our doors can feel dark and foreboding.
2026 will see us embracing the natural, the organic and the unapologetically fabulous. So from tassels and trims to rich, aged woods and beyond, here Vogue explores the key interior trends set to shape the year ahead—along with some practical tips and shopping ideas along the way.
Lived-in interiors
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Homes that feel genuinely lived-in and loved form one of the defining moods of the year—and for most of us (save for the lucky, naturally tidy few), it’s a shift that has been a long time coming. “I’ve noticed a growing awareness on social media that decorating should never be just for the photograph,” says Lucy Hammond Giles, director at Sibyl Colefax Fowler. “There’s a real upswell of people showing their rooms as they’re actually used and lived-in.”
Sophie Salata, head of brand at Vinterior, echoes this sentiment, noting that 2026 will be all about incorporating pieces and creating spaces that truly feel like home. Imperfection, gentle clutter and interiors that look as though they’ve been pieced together over many years feel especially resonant—and inviting—right now.
Sustainability is also top of mind for clients and designers alike. “We’re thinking more about smaller makers who work closer to home, as well as antiques—which are arguably the most sustainable way to buy furniture,” says Hammond Giles. “Reuse, remake, repurpose—it gives pieces a completely new lease of life.”
Unfitted (and fitted) natural wood kitchens
Your kitchen is shedding its colorful clothes and making a return to more humble beginnings: wood. In fact, the once-ubiquitous fitted kitchen—an invention that, incidentally, is barely a century old—is steadily losing favor. In its place, homeowners are gravitating toward individual, standalone pieces of furniture in what is one of the most frequented rooms in the house.
“We’d never fill our living rooms or bedrooms with a matching range of pieces from the same shop, so why would we do so in the kitchen?” asks Patrick Williams of Berdoulat, a longtime advocate for using unique furniture with pleasing proportions rather than units dictated by washing machines and fridges. “We approach it in a way that feels as though it has come together organically, over time.”
Williams and his team create bespoke kitchens from oak, Douglas fir and walnut, finishing each piece differently—though a “living finish,” which looks better with use and age, is a favorite.
Wood can also be used to beautiful effect in fitted kitchens, especially when paired with other natural materials—from stone, like marble, to metals—to create a warm and inviting feel. Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan notes that stainless steel, in particular, pairs wonderfully with natural timbers and is poised to grow even more popular in the coming year.
Wood, in general
Our 2026 obsession with wood doesn’t stop at the kitchen. “Darker-toned woods are making their return after many years of paler varieties dominating,” says Lauren McGrath of Studio McGrath—but the key is character. “Think reclaimed pieces, burl styles, deeper tones and well-worn vintage plinths,” adds Katie Harbison, aligning perfectly with the wider shift toward interiors that feel layered, personal and well-loved.
Indeed, Google searches for “burl wood furniture” are up by over 5,000% in the last month. Duggan notes a parallel rise in chunky, vintage Brutalist furniture—pieces with heft, patina and presence. (Search for “Guillerme et Chambron” or “Brutalist furniture” on Vinterior or eBay to begin your hunt.)
Beds are also getting the timber treatment. “We’re doing a lot of sleigh-style beds that cocoon and envelop for comfort and style,” says McGrath, reflecting a wider appetite for shape and softness juxtaposed with wooden materials.
Textile wall hangings
“There’s a growing interest in more tactile art forms like tapestries right now,” says Christian Bense. “Modern or antique, this medium feels at home in both traditional and contemporary interiors, and it really contributes to the layering of a space. Textile art offers something authentic and organic—qualities that resonate in an increasingly digital world.”
For Rachel Chudley, the trend is also a response to the times. “The world feels rather cold and dark at the moment, and everyone wants warmth and cosiness—creative, textural works on their walls help achieve exactly that.”
Bense recently collaborated with South African artist Francis VH on two custom mohair tapestries for an apartment at 60 Curzon. Spanning over two and a half meters, the pieces bring softness and warmth to an open-plan living area. “Their handcrafted tactility and abstract detailing complement the more sculptural furniture in the room,” he says.
Great examples abound: see Pelican House’s custom botanical tapestry in Amanda Brooks’s New York townhouse (above), or Christabel MacGreevy’s handmade wall quilt fashioned from her grandmother’s tablecloth—proof that textiles can be incredibly personal while visually grounding a room.
While auctions are a rich source for antique textiles, Chudley encourages looking closer to home. Consider hanging a decorative rug, or repurposing vintage fabric you’ve stowed away in the loft. “When hanging any artwork, intuition is key,” she says. “Think about the elements you want to see—some textiles look beautiful in a floating frame, but I recommend avoiding glass so you can fully appreciate the texture.”
For tapestries, you can simply hang them directly on the wall or suspend them from a metal pole above. “It depends on what the room calls for—and how relaxed you want the hanging to feel.”
The occasional sofa
Have you succumbed to the allure of an “occasional” sofa yet? According to Jodie Hazlewood, founder of The House Upstairs—whose bespoke ottomans, chairs and banquettes are currently all over Instagram—it’s the piece of furniture to have in 2026. Unlike the dependable sofa you sink into for movie nights, the occasional sofa is a non-essential delight, typically placed in a hallway, kitchen or bedroom.
“It’s less of a workhorse, usually smaller and all about comfort—and you can have lots of fun with shape and fabric,” she explains. With a renewed appetite for playful, often impractical textiles, the occasional sofa offers a low-stakes way to scratch the itch for something bold without overhauling the main family sofa. Many are buying vintage and antique sofas—which tend to be smaller anyway—and giving them a new lease of life with fresh upholstery.
Going the extra tile
While checkerboard kitchen backsplashes have reigned supreme in recent years, now they’re being replaced by an altogether more painterly tile style. “Beautiful, hand-painted tiles bring back a sense of nostalgia that is much softer and more homely,” says Phoebe Hollond of Studio Hollond.
Ceramic artist Freyja Lee created a bespoke floral tile design for a project with interior designer Heidi Caillier (seen above) while Balineum’s Egyptomania—hand-painted by French artist Louis Barthélemy—make for a show-stopping backsplash. Also see Petra Palumbo’s beautiful Delft tiles and Douglas Watson’s Fran Davidson Blossoms, bringing character and fun to walls.
Earthy paint colors
Color may be deeply personal—and intimately tied to the rooms we’re decorating—but certain shades are unmistakably gaining momentum as we head into a new year. Dusty blues, in particular, seem to be everywhere, often paired with richer, earthier tones. Duggan notes that chocolate brown’s newest (and most flattering) bedfellow is a pale, powdery blue.
“I am harnessing more deep, muddy greens, caramels and ochre in upholstery, plus I’m also color drenching rooms in these palettes too,” says Harbison. Meanwhile, Hollond has noted a growing appetite for high-contrast color pairings, especially on woodwork. “It creates a real sense of drama and helps architectural details, such as window frames and door architraves, pop.”
Another rising favorite is artichoke green—a calming biophilic shade that introduces a welcoming hit of nature without overwhelming a space.
Tactile metalwork
“Metal has always had a place in interiors, but what’s changed recently is how it’s being used,” says Marta de la Rica. “We’re seeing a shift away from metals as purely industrial or decorative details, and more as a central material in furniture that feels sculptural and emotional.”
Her new Of Marble and Metal collection exemplifies this evolution, celebrating metal as a tactile, living material—one that’s meant to be touched, and which slowly develops its own patina over time. The secret to using metal beautifully in an interior lies in contrast. On its own, metal can feel intense and stern, but when paired with natural materials—marble, linen or timber—it becomes softer, more grounded and human.
“Metal records the passage of time,” de la Rica adds. “And I think that’s what makes it feel so relevant now: it carries, presence, memory and permanence in a world that’s constantly moving.”
Decorative detailing
Decorative detailing—think fringing on beds, sofas, chairs and cushions—is one of the easiest ways to elevate upholstery, curtains or soft furnishings, say Rose Hanson and Charlotte Tilbury of Penrose Tilbury. 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. “They’re a simple way to make a plain curtain or fabric look incredibly luxurious,” note Hanson and Tilbury, adding that Samuel Sons remains one of the best sources for high-quality trims.
Other intricate embellishments are also poised for a resurgence. Hollond predicts the rise of textural tassels, stepping in to replace the scalloped edges that have found their way onto every pelmet, console and lampshade in recent years—so much so that they now risk feeling mass-produced and overdone. Opulent tassels, by contrast, are making themselves known on curtains, furniture and cushions: “They’re playful but in a less obvious, try-hard way,” she says. “They’re just chic.”
Really big art made easy
It’s not always easy finding great artwork at a good price—not least when you’re after something XXL. Enter Emma Lang, founder of SOTA, an online marketplace for affordable art, who has launched the XL Print Collection. Featuring more than 500 large-scale works (some stretching up to two meters wide) by artists from across the globe, the collection makes it possible to fill that daunting empty wall with something striking—at a fraction of the usual cost and with all the integrity of the artist’s craft preserved. “So many people dream of living with big, beautiful art, but original works are often out of reach,” says Lang. “The idea was to bridge that gap, offering scale and quality without compromise.” Some of our favorites include Frankie Penwill’s Tomatoes in a Red Bowl and Richard Heeps’s Karma, Milan, 2018.
Freestanding showers
The first freestanding shower hails from the English Regency period in the early 19th century—and now it’s being reimagined for modern living. Fast emerging as a key trend for 2026, the look is being championed by Sims Hilditch, thanks to the fact it creates a visual focus in the room, while also allowing for more flexible bathroom layouts.
“When incorporating a freestanding shower, we consider scale, finish and its relationship to the surrounding elements,” says Becca Dent, studio lead and partner at the firm. “They perform especially well in rooms with generous natural light or higher ceilings, and in spaces where you want to keep key features—like timber floors or sash windows—open and visible.”