Emerging Interior Design Trend for 2026

Generally, it is pretty easy to see what interior design trends might be coming up in the next few years at High Point Market.

Check out my posts from past years that, even as early as 2018, showed this design phase we are in now.

Big, curvy furniture, modern, textural looks, chunky bulbous details…they are all popular now.

While, everything these days seems more modern and curved, especially if you look at certain retailers like Crate and Barrel, Lulu and Georgia and Restoration Hardware, there are definitely some super traditional looks coming on the market.

It looks like we are swinging in totally the opposite direction and going with retro, vintage, feminine looks in upholstery, fabric choices and details.

It looks like we’re sliding into Grandma Chic.

I always see a little bit of this at market, as there is a call for it from consumers. Everyone seems to be craving some old-fashioned love from their grandma, a safe place to go for attention, warm cookies and a dollar or two shoved in your hand when you leave, right?

Also, the thrifted, vintage look is very on-the-rise since furniture in general is getting so expensive.

However, it can be challenging and of course, very time-consuming (and if you value time as money then it can be expensive), to hunt down vintage furniture that is in decent condition and just what you might need. Manufacturers are noting that and offering up new options that speak to that aesthetic.

I definitely saw more of it at market this fall.

So what gives a room a “Grandma Chic” vibe?

Floral fabrics, small patterns, skirted upholstery, ruffles, vintage looking wood furniture, antiques, patterned lampshades, etc. all go toward building a Grandma Chic aesthetic.

Here are some “Grandma Chic” looks and details that give that vintage, mature, feminine vibe.

Ruffles

Ruffles are definitely a dead give-away for a Grandma Chic style.

What a sweet, feminine look with a ruffled skirted chair and gingham check sofa from Chaddock.

Have a look at these ruffled pillows. I haven’t seen these since my MIL had some like this on her bed, 40 years ago.

Pretty ruffled, skirted sofa from Chaddock.

Small Patterned Floral Wallpaper

The wallpaper paired with the fabrics and the dark wood framed bed give off a feminine vibe.

Small patterned wallpaper with a finely detailed etagere seems very Grandma Chic.

Floral patterned wallpaper with a small striped, traditional skirted sofa fits a Grandma Chic style.

This floral scenic wallpaper paired with the light fixture, dark wood furniture and table settings give off a Grandma Chic look.

Skirted Upholstery

Any type of skirt has a more traditional look and box pleats feel especially like a detail from the past.

I think gingham has a grandma chic look.

The box pleated upholstered pieces edged with traditional welting, a paneled look on the walls and the overall formality gives this vignette a Grandma Chic style. More modern touches like the art and wicker light fixture add a nice mix.

A fringed table skirt gives off a Grandma Chic vibe. (I did tableskirts in the 90’s).

Small pleats and small prints add a touch of Grandma Chic to this vignette.

Floral Upholstery

Floral patterns can telegraph a Grandma Chic style, especially when on a diminutive or curvy sofa or chair.

A floral upholstered settee makes a feminine statement.

Small patterned upholstery pieces have a feminine look.

Floral patterned, skirted head chairs with tufting make for a pretty, grandma-chic style. Peach and mint green…..immediate grandma!

This pattern definitely reminds me of my MIL and the floral chintz sofas she had for years.

Rugs with repetitive patterns like these florals have a grandma chic vibe.

Bobbin details

Dark wood furniture and especially bobbin style pieces can add some Grandma Chic to a room.

I do love a spool or bobbin style chair anyway, but the addition of a small, faded pattern really gives it a grandma chic aesthetic.

Antiques Interspersed To Bring the Nostalgia

If you’re looking to bring some Grandma Chic style to your home, antiques are always a good option. Schwung Home had a great selection of wood items that would do just the trick.

An antique quilt rack is made for this look and is a great way to store extra blankets and throws, even an artful quilt!

There’s always room for a unique old wood chair in a corner isn’t there?

This large dark wood trunk makes for great storage.

More Furnishings That Evoke a Grandma Chic Aesthetic

Love these fun frames for a chic, updated grandma style. From Fabulous Things, Ltd.

This cute iron outdoor furniture is a sweet, vintage look, perfect for that grandma style patio, from Business and Pleasure.

Iron outdoor furniture with a vintage look.

Cameos framed up with patterned mats from Shadowcatchers makes for a Grandma Chic wall display.

Patterned Lampshades

Last market I reported some lighting vendors were getting into this patterned lamp shade game. Currey & Co. and Visual Comfort showed patterned, fabric covered lampshades as new intros.

There were even more at this market. I have to say, as someone who has priced these out, custom, for a project, these can be expensive! Like a piece-of-furniture expensive.

I would definitely be going to vendors who offer these as standard or semi-custom to help make the expense more manageable.

Depending on the fabric, these really work with a grandma chic style.

Keep in mind, there is every style and color at HPMKT, something for everyone.

However, there is usually a trend of style too. Certainly some vendors will lean into a specific look permanently. Vendors like Adriana Hoyos, Four Hands and Eicholz all have a more modern appeal and are known for that style.

There are other vendors though that carry a wide variety of different styles and they can experiment more with trends that catch attention at market.

I found it really interesting to see the grandma chic aesthetic becoming more apparent.

I love a few aspects of it. I like some antiques and a few pieces of more traditional furniture, dark woods, etc. Personally, I’m not a big fan of floral upholstery and ruffled skirts, but I’d love to work a bit of it into a project some day!

See more of my HPMKT posts from Fall 2025!