I’ve been watching all the posts about interior design trends on the internet lately and thought I’d weigh in along with some of my design blogging friends from years past. We’ve done this before at the start of a new year and it is fun to see their viewpoints and connect with them again.

While I like to watch trends and share them, I do prefer more timeless style for the big investments in your home. I like things to be updated for functionality, maintenance, ease of use, addressing current needs, etc., not necessarily to follow a trend.

It is fun to add in some trendy items now and then and can keep your home from becoming stale and looking the same year after year.

After visiting High Point Market last fall and then just getting back from Lightovation, the international lighting show in early January this year (my post on that still to come), I’m here to share what I see as trends to pay attention to in 2026.

Interior Design Trend #1 - Grandma Chic!

This is definitely a big design trend going on now and I don’t see it diminishing anytime soon. I saw this at High Point Market and then at Lightovation too, with design features like small printed fabrics, florals, ruffled or pleated skirts on upholstery, shirred lamp shades and lots of wallpaper.

I would say these vignettes below are beautiful, feminine and elegant versions of the Grandma Chic trend. After seeing so much minimalism in past years, many are finding this expression of pattern and softness very refreshing.

This new coffee table has the look of a painted vintage piece. Tassles and skirted upholstery add a grandma chic look.

Traditional looks with a feminine touch and floral patterns speak to a Grandma Chic style.

Shirred fabric shades make a “Grandma Chic” statement on this new lighting intro from Hudson Valley Lighting.

A little Grandma Chic can go a long way.

Intersperse a few design elements I’ve mentioned here into a more modern space and see how it changes the look. Just like in the vignettes pictured above, you don’t have to go all in to add some of the Grandma Chic trend in to your home.

See more examples in my post on the Grandma Chic trend.

Interior Design Trend #2 - darker, moodier Colors

We’ve definitely been seeing more dark and moody colors in interiors in the last few years and if you have read my past High Point Market reports on color or my KBIS 2025 color post, you will have seen the proof.

Terracotta, dark green, chocolate brown, ruddy reds, darker woods….these are all popular colors these days.

Lightovation 2026 - The lighting manufacturers are going for this color palette too. These are new intros for Visual Comfort Lighting.

I think there is room to do whatever you really love in your home today. If you love these darker and more moody colors and haven’t tried any out yet in your home, here is a good way to start.

Start with a small space like a powder room or bedroom, something that is totally enclosed, with a door. See how you like it on a smaller scale before trying something like a kitchen or living room or a big, open plan area.

Don’t forget to address things like the trim, ceilings, doors, outlets, switches and lighting. Whenever I have a room painted a dark color, we include changing all these things so the whole envelope is muted and works together. It can be expensive to go dark and moody, when you consider everything else in the space you would want to address.

After all, you don’t want to drive all the attention to the highest contrast in the room, the white vent fan, air grille and rim of the ceiling light in that moody, dark foom. It does rather scream at you like this, doesn’t it?

Before these items were painted to match the ceiling on one of my projects, they stood out more than the pretty wallpaper!

Interior Design Trend #3 - Designing for Wellness and Aging in Place

Another design trend I’m seeing now is people designing for wellness and aging-in-place.

Curbless shower with grab bars or at least blocking for grab bars to be installed on down the road is great for aging-in-place. These grab bars by Life Valet are a beautiful feature to include in a shower.

Bidets can really help as you age and are a popular luxury item. When you remodel, plan for an outlet behind the toilet so this can be an easier addition later on.

Wellness items like steam showers and saunas are a big trend in luxury bathrooms. At KBIS last year, so many more wellness type products were displayed. While I haven’t had anyone ask for a cold plunge yet, I understand that is the IT feature for remodels in Houston. I stuck my hand in one in the Kohler booth at KBIS. They even had an ice shower too!

The cold plunge was pretty chilly in the Kohler booth at KBIS 2025.

The Kohler Anthem Ice Shower seen at KBIS 2025.

Here’s a cold plunge tub from Concretti.

Boutique hotel type items like heated towel bars and lighted mirrors are great as you get older and are a true luxury for any age.

I saw so many new options for lighted mirrors last week at Lightovation.

Especially as more people deal with their own parents’ aging process, they start to think about how they can make their homes work better for them now and for the future so they can live comfortably longer in their own home.

These are three strong trends I’m seeing in design these days. See what these bloggers have to say about trends too!

Please click on over to these three blogs for their take on the interior design and decorating trends for 2026!

Cindy Hattersley Design

Classic Casual Home

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