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Trends in home design ebb and flow, but some of the most crucial trends to watch in 2026 may have more staying power. Homeowners are interested in creating interiors that are a form of self-expression, rather than trying to be like everyone else. More than ever, design is deeply personal.
Whether it’s reflected in the colors, textures, hardware, or other details, these three designers all agree that 2026 may be the year of personalization and customization. Here are four major trends on their way up this year—plus some recently popular trends that are on their way out.
On the Rise: Warm, Inviting Interiors
“Homeowners are requesting a little more color,” says Katie Kottke, founder and principle designer of Nisswa-based Katie Kottke Interiors. “Not bold [colors], necessarily, but ones to make their spaces more inviting and not so stark and sterile.” Earthy tones and rich woods are among the common hues she’s seeing right now.
Blue Pencil Collective
Some homeowners are leaning into color in a big way and are “color drenching” their spaces. This color application encourages “fun, vibrant spaces that create energy and personality,” says Regan Nix, designer and co-founder of White Bear Lake’s Blue Pencil Collective.
What’s Out: Sterile, Minimalist Interiors
Every designer we spoke to for this piece declared overwhelmingly that the stark white, minimalist interior design trend we’ve seen in recent years is on the outs. “People are craving personality, warmth, expression, and humanization,” Nix says.
On the Rise: Textured Surfaces
Designers are seeing textured surfaces trend upwards this year as another strategy to combat the stark spaces of late. Kottke sees this most used in creative wall applications. “Plaster, wallpaper, intricate millwork, paneling, and accent walls are ways to go above and beyond regular drywall walls and ceilings.”
Minneapolis-based architectural and interior designer Jim Kuiken of Jim Kuiken Design, sees such detailing on walls, ceilings, baseboards, moldings, and more in high demand as well. “Even painted murals give a handmade, custom touch without being overly mass produced, and are an expression of quality and individuality.”
Nix likes mixing different textures and patterns to achieve that unique, personalized look. “Think fringe, layering, plush velvets, glossy lacquer,” she says.
What’s Out: Matte Black Hardware and Engineered Materials
Excessive amounts of bare drywall may be on the way out, but so are other minimalist details. Kottke says the once very trendy black, matte hardware detailing has seen its time in the sun, and thinks homeowners will increasingly return to more traditional, timeless accents. “I am seeing stainless steel or polished nickel, or a luxe steel finish,” she says.
There’s also a shift to selecting more natural materials in kitchens and other spaces. “Engineered quartz seems to have lost momentum while natural stone or wood has gained it,” Kuiken says, “adding an additional layer of natural, earthy products.”
[Related: Comfort Colors and Cottagecore Charm Are on Trend in 2026]
On the Rise: Timeless Style
“Timeless” is the new buzzword in the home design industry. Kottke repeatedly hears it from clients she works with, and it is a design approach she only sees growing this year. “It’s very individual and specific to each client and style and reflects the way they want their home to look now and five, 10 years from now,” she says. “We aren’t trying to be a trend, but curating a home that, over time, you’re not seeing a stark ‘this was done in this timeframe.’”
What’s Out: White Oak and White Enamel
White oak seems to be in every new home these days, but Kuiken feels it’s reached the point of overuse. “It was a look that worked but has been overdone and feels like, in my opinion, a default setting rather than a design choice,” he says. “What’s replacing it is a more creative and personal approach and minimizing use to a specific area such as hardwood floors or a few cabinets.”
On the Rise: Personalization and Nostalgia
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Increasingly, designers are seeing homeowners treat their homes as vehicles of personal expression, whether that’s through colors, vintage collectibles, or other decor choices.
“Today, clients want smaller, more intimate spaces filled with their current life’s treasures,” Kuiken says. “We are creating spaces that feel personal, calming, and built to last, reflecting a desire for homes that support real life rather than chase novelty.”
He expects to see more layered textures, patterns, bold colors, and vintage heirlooms and collected art that tells a personal story in 2026 home projects. “Clients are craving self-expression and want a unique home that feels lived in and is a creative atmosphere,” he adds.
For Nix, this takes the form of creating homes that tell a story. “We are creating deeply personal spaces that are welcoming and comforting,” she observes.
What’s Out: Overly Curated, ‘On Trend’ Spaces
“I feel clients really want to express themselves through their home. Gone are the days where rooms were just to look at and not use,” Kuiken says. “The ‘match everything’ approach is being replaced by a more collective look.”
Read this next: Trend Forecast 2026, Kitchen + Bath: Pattern Play and Cabinetry Crazes
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