Future Tense 11 Design Trends for 2026 portrait 2 Icon - Arrow LeftAn icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. Icon - Arrow RightAn icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Icon - External LinkAn icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - MessageThe icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - Down ChevronUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - CloseUsed to indicate a close action. Icon - Dropdown ArrowUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Location PinUsed to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Zoom OutUsed to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Zoom InUsed to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - SearchUsed to indicate a search action. Icon - EmailUsed to indicate an emai action. Icon - FacebookFacebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - InstagramInstagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - PinterestPinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - TwitterTwitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Check MarkA check mark for checkbox buttons.
You are reading

Future Tense: 11 Design Trends for 2026

Search

Start typing to search...

Search
Design TrendsIssue — Off the Beaten Path

Future Tense: 11 Design Trends for 2026

February 5, 2026

We’re not fans of flash-in-the-pan trends that are in one minute and out the next, but we do perk up at new design directions that feel fresh and exciting—and have some staying power. Here are the palettes, details, and new approaches we have our eye on in 2026.

Pigments Instead of Paints

move over, paint; colorful, eco forward wood pigments are set to make a splash 17
Above: Move over, paint; colorful, eco-forward wood pigments are set to make a splash this year. Photograph from Seeing in Technicolor: 10 Color-Stained Kitchens That Swap Paint for Pigment.

Experimental Art Spaces

in with the avant garde galleries, scrappy art collectives, maker spaces, and s 18
Above: In with the avant-garde galleries, scrappy art collectives, maker spaces, and spots to gather. Shown is Landdd in Portland, Oregon, and there are dozens popping up across the country, from California to Maine. See our list at Reimagining the Gallery: 13 Hybrid Spaces on the Rise.

Return to Analog

you&#8\2\17;ve probably seen the recent surge of &#8\2\20;analog bags&a 19
Above: You’ve probably seen the recent surge of “analog bags”: tote bags filled with knitting, small sewing projects, crossword puzzles (the kind on paper), and other things to fill in-between moments. Call it analog, call it DIY, but making things—and antidotes to doomscrolling—is a move we can get behind in 2026. Photograph via artist Kate Kilmurray from Natural, Hand-Woven DIY Potholders Will Have You Revisiting a Childhood Craft. (Looking for ideas? See Next-Level Kits for Crafters and Makers.)

Corduroy Upholstery

rugged, comforting corduroy is no longer just for pants: expect to see it used 20
Above: Rugged, comforting corduroy is no longer just for pants: Expect to see it used judiciously in interiors this year. Photograph by Brett Wood courtesy of William White, from Retail, Reconsidered: William White Emporium on Canal Street in NYC.

French Bistroware

on the table in \20\26? riffs on french flatware—and there are lots of option 21
Above: On the table in 2026? Riffs on French flatware—and there are lots of options. See more in Table Trend Alert: Sabre’s Skinny French Flatware and Its High/Low Lookalikes.

Wood-Wrapped Rooms

so long, clinical white: rooms wrapped in wood are having a resurgence, no doub 22
Above: So long, clinical white: Rooms wrapped in wood are having a resurgence, no doubt because they’re subtly soothing to both eye and spirit. Photograph by Kate Berry, courtesy of Beatrice Faverjon, from Hawaiian Modernism: A 1970s Redwood House on Kauai, Preserved and Refinished by Beatrice Faverjon.

Doses of Yellow

sunny yellow coverlets, upholstery, and more are set to bring a much needed bri 23
Above: Sunny yellow coverlets, upholstery, and more are set to bring a much-needed bright spot. Photograph by Hanna Grankvist, styling by Malena Burman, courtesy of Also Office from Big Ambitions: A Clever Makeover for a 680-Square-Foot West Village Apartment.

Curves in the Bath

no more straight lines: curves are taking over in the bath, making showers and 24
Above: No more straight lines: Curves are taking over in the bath, making showers and tubs a focal point, not just a utility. Photograph by Vincent Leroux for After Bach from Classical Composure: A Place Dauphine Apartment Reimagined by After Bach Studio

Doodles and Drawings

rules are out; freehand painting and doodling on walls is in. photograph by dan 25
Above: Rules are out; freehand painting and doodling on walls is in. Photograph by Dane Tashima, styled by Raina Kattelson, from Sawkille’s New Furniture Showroom: A Stone House on the Oldest Intersection in America.

Bird Motifs

something new taking flight: graphic, linocut like silhouettes of swallows, swa 26
Above: Something new taking flight: graphic, linocut-like silhouettes of swallows, swans, and doves. Shown here is the Beneath the Same Sky Bird Decoration, after the work of Greek artist Alekos Fassianos; see more examples in Trend Alert: For the Birds.

Deep Casual Hosting

more gathering, less fuss. following samin nosrat&#8\2\17;s monday night di 27
Above: More gathering, less fuss. Following Samin Nosrat’s Monday night dinners and the concept of “deep casual hosting,” or having people over no matter the state of your house, we’re all for dinner parties that are all about being together and not about cleaning the baseboards. Take a tour of Samin’s kitchen and garden, and head here for more on her Monday night dinners. Photograph by Aya Brackett.

For more trends of late, see:

(Visited 3,802 times, 511 visits today)
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.
Add to Collection
New Collection

Explore Deeper Into These Areas

Previous Post

A Modern Monastery: Ørslev Monastery Work Refuge in Højslev, Denmark

February 4, 2026
Next Post

Kitchen(s) of the Week: Ogling the Offerings from 5 Boutique European Real Estate Sites

February 5, 2026

Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Join the conversation

Related Stories

Read all recent posts

join us on Future Tense 11 Design Trends for 2026 portrait 7 28

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

v5.0

×
Join the Remodelista Family of Websites

Become a Member at no charge

When you register as a free Member of the Remodelista family of websites (Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home), you gain access to all current posts plus 10 archived posts per month, our internal bookmarking tool, and the community bulletin board.

Member benefits include:

  • Access to all posts published in the past year
  • Access 10 archived posts (older than one year) per month on each site
  • Use of our internal bookmark tool, so you can save products, posts, and other pages for quick reference
  • Access to our community bulletin board so you can ask and answer design-related questions
  • Unlimited access to the Product Catalogs, Design Travel sources, and Architect & Designer Directory listings
  • Choose from our ten newsletters to keep up with the latest on the sites

Or Subscribe for Maximum Value!

For $5/month ($59.99 paid annually) you'll enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home and all the benefits of Membership.



Subscriber benefits include:

  • Unlimited access to all three sites
  • Weekly access to subscriber-only content
  • Ad-free browsing environment
  • Unrestricted access to 30,000+ archived posts
  • Receive the full-text daily newsletters
  • All features that Members have access to
  • Annual subscribers pay 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99
×
Subscribe to the Remodelista family of websites

For $5/month ($59.99 paid annually) you'll enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home and all the benefits of Membership.



Subscriber benefits include:

  • Unlimited access to all three sites
  • Weekly access to subscriber-only content
  • Ad-free browsing environment
  • Unrestricted access to 30,000+ archived posts
  • Receive the full-text daily newsletters
  • All features that Members have access to
  • Annual subscribers pay 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99
×
Sorry! As a registered member you get 10 free posts from our archive (posts more than a year old) every 30 days. You have reached your limit for this 30-day period. If you would like to access unlimited posts from the archive (ad free, too), become a subscriber today, and keep reading as many articles as you want.

Full Access Individual Subscription

Benefits include:

  • Unlimited access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home sites
  • Ad-free browsing environment
  • Unrestricted access to 30,000+ archived posts
  • Receive the full-text daily newsletters
  • All features that Members have access to
  • Annual subscribers pay just 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99


×
Sorry! You have reached your limit of three (3) free posts from our archive every 30 days. You can increase this to 10 posts by joining as a free Member, or read unlimited posts with no ads by becoming a paid Subscriber.

Subscribe to the Remodelista family of websites

For $5/month ($59.99 paid annually) you'll enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home and all the benefits of Membership.



Subscriber benefits include:

  • Unlimited access to all three sites
  • Weekly access to subscriber-only content
  • Unrestricted access to 30,000+ archived posts
  • Receive the full-text daily newsletters
  • All features that Members have access to
  • Annual subscribers pay 50% off the monthly subscription price of $9.99

Become a Member at no charge

When you register as a free Member of the Remodelista family of websites (Remodelista, Gardenista, and The Organized Home), you gain access to all current posts plus 10 archived posts per month, our internal bookmarking tool, and the community bulletin board.

Member benefits include:

  • Access to all posts published in the past year
  • Access 10 archived posts (older than one year) per month on each site
  • Use of our internal bookmark tool, so you can save products, posts, and other pages for quick reference
  • Access to our community bulletin board so you can ask and answer design-related questions
  • Unlimited access to the Product Catalogs, Design Travel sources, and Architect & Designer Directory listings
  • Choose from our ten newsletters to keep up with the latest on the sites

My Account

Your member profile is powered by memberstack