Why I Usually Refuse to Write Trend Lists

I know, I know, I know. It’s that time of year again. Suddenly everyone has a list telling you what’s in, what’s out, and what you should apparently stop liking immediately as we head into 2026. We see it from Vogue, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Homes and Gardens… you get the point. These lists show up every January like a bad cold, and I usually try very hard not to contribute to them.

I don’t fancy myself a trend follower. I don’t love list-making culture. And I don’t really believe design works that way. But I was asked—politely and persistently by my own marketing director—to weigh in. So instead of pretending this isn’t happening, I decided to think about why we’re all so obsessed with trends in the first place.

Trends are The Great Equalizer

Trends are popular because they’re an easy way to talk about design. They’re shorthand. Like birth signs or love languages. They help people locate themselves without having to do too much work. And they give designers a convenient platform to announce how they think the world should look.

A designer who loves quiet, neutral interiors can publish an “In and Out” list declaring saturated color passé and beige wood tones virtuous. Another will do the opposite. These lists aren’t neutral observations. They’re thinly veiled opinion pieces. That part doesn’t bother me. If we’re going to have opinions, we may as well admit it.

Where Trend Lists Lose Me Completely

What does bother me is how many of these lists pretend they’ve discovered something new. Most of what’s framed as revolutionary is simply interior design history pulled out of context and repackaged with a shiny headline. 

Interior design history is not a casual interest for me. It’s a religion. I would be lying if I said I wished I was more freewheeling and relaxed about this. I’m not. I’m judgmental about incorrect attribution, improper naming, and sloppy references to history. 

So Fine. Here’s My List.

With that rant out of the way, here is my unapologetically selfish list of what I’m leaning into for 2026. This is not a prediction. It’s a wish. It’s opinionated. And it’s rooted in things that actually last.

Stainless steel deserves to be treated like the serious material it is

Stainless steel is firmly back in conversation. This material moved from industrial kitchens into domestic spaces through Modernism, peaked loudly in the 1980s, and never really went away. It’s durable, honest, and unapologetically functional. Used well, it reads confident, not cold.

Photographer: Zack DeZon

The 1980s weren’t a mistake, and we’re finally admitting it

Postmodernism, surrealism, and expressive design from the ’80s are circulating again, not ironically. Humor, color, and personality feel refreshing in a world that’s become overly optimized. This isn’t about recreating the decade—it’s about borrowing its courage.

Lace and ruffles feel like a rebellion right now

Lace and ruffles are showing up everywhere, in both fashion and interiors. Handmade details feel like a direct response to automation and sameness. They’re nostalgic, human, and imperfect in the best way.

Credit: Gohar World

Moiré proves that elegance never disappears

Moiré has been used for more than four hundred years, often in silks associated with royalty and ceremony. Its depth and movement make it luxurious without being loud. Used thoughtfully, it adds refinement without stiffness.

Photographer: Alice Mesguich

Animal print has never needed your permission

Animal print is never out of style. Ever. It’s a neutral. It’s a classic. From Elsie de Wolfe to Ralph Lauren, it has reinvented itself repeatedly. Treat it like a gimmick and it will look like one. Treat it like a classic and it will behave accordingly.

Photographer: Dean Hearne

Faux bois only works if you’re brave enough to commit

Faux bois has always required confidence and skill, which is probably why it scares people. When done well, it’s referential, playful, and rooted in decorative history. Faux is real.

Photographer: Emile Husson

Wall hangings are legitimate design tools

Textiles, rugs, and fiber art bring warmth, sound control, and depth in a way few other elements can. Hanging fabric on walls is one of the oldest interior moves we have—and it works.

Wall-to-wall carpet is only bad when it’s bad

Cheap carpet is awful. We all agree on that. But a luxurious wool or linen carpet installed wall to wall in a bedroom or stair hall is incredibly comfortable and very civilized. Take your shoes off. Clean it properly. Enjoy the quiet.

Photographer: Guillaume de Laubier

Tiled countertops are charming because they’re imperfect

We are far too obsessed with perfection. Tile countertops—especially those with age—are forgiving and approachable. Wear doesn’t ruin a space. It gives it a life.

Photographer: Yannick Labrousse

Mirrored walls aren’t the problem—lack of imagination is

Mirrors bounce light, expand space, and create views where none existed. If you don’t like mirrors, that’s fine. But don’t blame the material for a lack of creativity.

Color doesn’t need to be “on trend” to be right

Red never goes out of style. Chartreuse stays interesting. Brown is rich, sophisticated, and versatile. Depth matters more than novelty.

Credit: The Nordroom

What Should Be Out in 2026. God Willing.

Every trend list needs an “out” column, so here is mine.

Open floor plans were a cost-saving measure, not a lifestyle upgrade

Fully open-plan houses are exhausting. They’re loud. They smell like whatever someone is cooking. We were sold open plans because they’re cheaper to build, not because they’re better to live in. Let’s celebrate libraries, movie rooms, craft rooms, sitting rooms—views that do not include a sink.

The boutique hotel look is overplayed

Quirky-for-the-sake-of-quirky has become formulaic. Many of these spaces now look indistinguishable, which defeats the entire point.

Credit: Broadwick Soho

Death to DIY-ing entire interior design projects

There are things we can do ourselves. Managing a full renovation is not one of them. Not trusting professional expertise—if you have the means to do so—is definitely out.

This Isn’t About Trends. It Never Was.

At the end of the day, my interest in 2026 Interior Design Trends has very little to do with predicting what will be popular and everything to do with advocating for what endures. History, comfort, craftsmanship, and clarity of language matter more to me than novelty ever will. Trends will continue to cycle, lists will keep coming, and opinions will always be loud. But the homes that feel the best to live in are the ones designed with intention, context, and a little courage. If any of these ideas resurface this year under the banner of “new,” so be it. I’ll be here, calling them what they are, and happily leaning into them anyway.