Design Trends 2026

Embracing Timelessness: The Enduring Appeal of Good Design

As each new year unfolds, here at Design@Studio17 we naturally reflect on the evolving landscape of interiors. Crucially, our philosophy is rooted in timeless design and sustainability, not in reinventing spaces just to chase passing trends. Instead, we look forward to the decorating ideas that are not merely fleeting fads, but rather movements toward enduring quality and considered living.

In 2026, we are thrilled to see a growing appreciation for slowing down, simplifying our spaces, and valuing materials that last. This is reflected in a desire for calming neutrals and tonal palettes, the embrace of understated designs, and, most importantly, an emphasis on beautiful craftsmanship that speaks softly but powerfully of quality. While some may label these shifts as "trends," we see them as a return to core principles: choosing permanence over novelty, valuing the handmade, and designing homes that remain beautiful and functional for decades. These are the interior design values that are always at the forefront of our minds.

Quietly Understated Interiors

The first trend of 2026 is less about what you see and more about how a room feels when you close the door on the outside world. For us, creating a home space that feels like a sanctuary to support your wellbeing has always been top of our list, but now an official trend, we're seeing a lean toward approaching design that is warm and soulful, which prioritises sensory comfort, soft elements, and a visual palette that allows the mind to decompress.

Utilising colours found in nature like clay and stone are inherently grounding and never go out of style because they aren't tied to a specific trend or era. Rather than using colour to create interest, the quiet home uses texture. Think plaster-washed or stone tiled walls, bouclé upholstery, cushions and curtains made from natural fibres, all in similar nature-inspired tones. The interest in a quiet interior comes from how the light hits these different surfaces throughout the day.

Quiet living also hides the digital world. In a time dominated by screens and tech, this trend encourages design which carefully disguises charging areas, tucks acoustics away, and creates ways that TVs can become art or mirrors when not in use. We love the sentiment of this trend and to enhance the impact of all types of interiors, we like to use layered lighting in every design - pair this with smart bulbs to achieve an automated, soft transition through from morning to evening, ensuring that your home effortlessly feels like a warm hug at any point of the day.

Image by Design@Studio17

Grounded Hues: Connecting Interiors to the Natural World

At Design@Studio17, we've always championed the profound impact of bringing the outdoors in, and we are seeing a deeper, more intentional move toward biophilic design. This season, the desire for a stronger connection to nature is beautifully expressed through richer, moodier tones of greens, blues and browns.

Green: 2026 looks to embrace the timeless, grounded hues of the forest - think moss, laurel, and warm eucalyptus. These deeper, herbal tones aren't just for walls; they are making a stunning, saturated appearance on cabinetry, ceilings, and large architectural elements. They pair seamlessly with the honest, sustainable materials we love, like reclaimed wood, natural stone, and organic textiles. For us, green has never been a seasonal colour; and now it is emerging as a sophisticated, timeless neutral that instantly infuses a space with individuality, life, and an enduring sense of calm.

Blue: In all its iterations, blue brings an undeniable sense of serenity, tranquillity, and expansive calm into the home, perfectly aligning with our focus on wellbeing. Rather than opting for bright, trendy shades, we are drawn to deep, atmospheric blues like indigo, muted teal, and dusty cornflower - that feel organically derived from the sky and sea. Incorporating these hues through durable, natural materials such as quality wool rugs, hand-dyed organic linens, or recycled glass tiles ensures that the colour anchors the space with a feeling of enduring stability and sophistication, never feeling dated or fleeting.

Brown: At Design@Studio17, we see the power of earthy browns, from rich walnut and burnt umber to warm terracotta, as they can instil a profound sense of grounded comfort and history in an interior. Crucially, we advocate for incorporating browns through sustainable materials; think beautiful reclaimed wood for cabinetry and flooring, natural leather that develops a lovely patina over time, or raw clay and ceramic pieces. This emphasis on texture and authenticity ensures the colour contributes to a layered, enduring design that celebrates the simple, understated, luxurious beauty of natural resources.

Images by Design@Studio17

Focus on Craftsmanship

Driven by a desire for authenticity, uniqueness and sustainability, this is predicted to be a dominant trend for 2026. Finding beautiful pieces will take a little more effort, but it is always worth it. You can be safe in the knowledge that it will last longer, and that quality and uniqueness certainly doesn't mean its more expensive.

2026 trends lean toward antique joinery over sleek modern creations - we have to agree that adding a piece of furniture with some history creates a space with more depth and interest. We have a special appreciation for the craftspeople that breathe new life into the old; this dresser was rescued from France and was gorgeously restored to a bathroom vanity unit - layering vintage with more modern finishes ensured it looked more youthful in its new home.

Image by Design@Studio17

And if you needed a little extra encouragement - when you buy from artisans and small businesses rather than large corporations, not only are you getting something more unique and of better quality, you are usually putting more money into the local economy. We like a win-win :)

Tactile Textures

We think you can never underestimate the power of tactile soft furnishings in your space; the subtle power of natural, luxurious and cosy fabrics in your bedroom - not only do they add depth, but they can really help create the perfect sleep sanctuary. The simple addition of a throw adds comfort and functional warmth, as well as adding to the warmth of the look and feel of a space. In larger bedrooms, these types of styling details make all the difference in helping a space to not feel too vast.

Textured fabrics can take function into creating something beyond a place to sit, it invites you in and encourages you to lounge a little longer. Textured wall hangings instantly make a space feel cosier, adding depth that a hard surfaces just can't achieve. Whilst working hard as art, they work even harder softening acoustics and providing insulation too.

While we are big fans of bare wood or stone floors, we love layering rugs to add some warmth underfoot, anchor furniture and bring a space together. Rugs can be used in open plan spaces to help create zones which ensure the space moves effortlessly from the daytime, to function as a more cosy space for evening relaxation. And even when you think you don't need them, a rug can add a little interest and warmth to spaces that otherwise might feel a little unfinished.

Images: Bedroom by Design@Studio17 | Textured wall hanging by Unknown via Pinterest | Chair by Design@studio17 | Rug by Design@Studio17

Small Scale Prints

Moving further away from modern minimalist design, 2026 sees a 'revival' of use of small-scale prints, such as ditsy florals, geometric patterns and heritage motifs. These micro prints can be found in all areas of a design, from mosaic and decorative tiling, to wall coverings and soft furnishings - and just like the size of the print, the margin for tipping the balance of a design from sophisticated to 'twee' when incorporating them is also small.

Using just the right amount can add a sense of rhythm to a space that helps it feel finished without closing it in. When incorporating a tiny floral pattern into a design, our advice would be to use these smaller prints in smaller places, serving as accents to broader backdrops of colour, which will also add a visual texture to the overall space.

While mosaics are tiny in isolation, they can be really impactful in adding character, texture, and luxury to various spaces in the home, however there are a few considerations to manage to ensure you are choosing the perfect tile, especially for areas exposed to moisture or high traffic. Material-wise, glass tiles are good at reflecting light in smaller, darker spaces, and natural stone is a durable choice for floors and heavy-use areas; if using mosaic in wet spaces, look for a textured, matt, or non-slip finish for areas that are underfoot - polished or glossy finishes that are reflective are more suited to walls. And if you're not so keen on spending your time keeping lots of tiny tiles looking like new, choosing tiles that are slightly larger with small patterned detail can create a similar visual effect to a true mosaic tile, with a lot less grout to tend to.

Images by Design@Studio17

Surrealism

2026 is being touted as the time to move beyond the safe and the symmetrical, surrounding ourselves instead with objects and furnishings that entertain, provoke, and delight. In general this means anything that looks like another thing; humanoid chairs, lamps that look like birds, bottle openers in the shape of fish, bookshelves with hidden doors - while going all out with this trend could lead to a home design akin to that of the early years of the Big Brother house...our advice would be to embrace the quirks of surrealist décor in a smaller way that still has the same level of surprise and delight, without feeling like you've fallen down an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole. For us, incorporating surrealism is more about creating design ideas and choosing decorative objects that are just a little unexpected, unique, and impossible not to talk about. There's a fine line between wonder and overwhelm but getting this right in a space can add a little character and show off your personality; we love getting to know our clients and having the opportunity to bring a (small-scale surrealist) sense of fun to their home designs.

Images: Antler Chandelier by Design@Studio17 | Monocle Hare by Design@Studio17 | Whale Jug by Graham and Green | Wall Parrot Candle Holders by Design@Studio17

While the trends of 2026 offer a beautiful palette of inspiration, we think that the most enduring trend of all is intentionality. For 2026 we are thrilled to have seen trends shift away from the fast furniture cycles of the past and toward a more conscious, sustainable approach to decorating our homes. At Design@Studio17 one of our core, guiding principles is in making sustainable design choices, that not only give longevity to spaces that we design for you, but to create a home design which is timeless, so you will love it for years to come.

True style isn't about chasing every aesthetic shift; it’s about identifying the elements that genuinely resonate with your personality, history and lifestyle. Choosing a trend to incorporate in your home shouldn't be a box-ticking exercise for 2026 and every subsequent year, it should be a choice made because it brings you a sense of calm or joy that will persist long after the trend has evolved.

#detailsmatter at Design@Studio17 and our goal is to create a sanctuary for you that feels carefully curated, not just decorated. By blending contemporary inspirations with a commitment to designing sustainably, we can help you create a home that doesn't just look good for a season, but one that feels right for a lifetime.