2026 Color & Design Trends & How to Stay Authentically You

At Slate Studios, we don’t design around trends, we design beyond them. We believe the best rooms have staying power. Our goal is to create timeless spaces that mix styles and evolve gracefully, transcending what’s “in” or “out.”

That said, we do pay attention to where the design world is headed and how those ideas can inspire our designs. We love seeing new colors, materials, and finishes emerge, and we’re always exploring how to thoughtfully layer what’s new into a home without it ever feeling too “of the moment.”

Each year, design forecasts predict the next wave of inspiration from color palettes to materiality and style direction. We attend vendor presentations, tradeshows, furniture markets, and seminars to learn what's guiding the future of design.

We look at these shifts with a different perspective, asking: How can these ideas add depth, soul, or longevity to a space?

Here’s what’s inspiring us for 2026, and how these design directions can be interpreted in ways that feel authentically you, now and for years to come.

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2026 Color & Design Trends: Color with Confidence

Icy Pastels & Watery Surfaces

In 2026, we’re seeing the continued rise of icy pastels, soft lilacs, silvery blues, mauves, and celadon greens, paired with polished, reflective finishes. Think of resin, glass, and watery surfaces that feel light and serene.

These hues have a quiet sophistication. They are soothing and create an environment that feels restorative and fresh. We foresee these layered with neutral textures or natural woods to create a balance that feels timeless not trendy.

Firery Hues

From clay pottery to sunbaked amber and Santa Fe-inspired terracottas, 2026 brings a renewed connection to warmth and the natural world.

These shades of tan, ochre, and golden yellow feel grounding. What we love most is this color palette is a nod to natural dyes and the global shift away from overly synthetic color in both interiors and fashion. We envision these being paired with unexpected colors, such as soft pastels or saturated turquoise, which bring emotion and depth to otherwise neutral palettes.

Rich Deep Colors & Complex Neutrals

On one end of the spectrum we are seeing an emergence of rich feep colors such as cherry red, deep olive, and inky blues. On the other end, neutrals have shifted to a perfect balance of cool and warm tones with mushroom, khaki, and sand.

These tones walk the line between statement and serenity, they can energize a space or create a cocoon-like calm depending on how they’re used.

We love how the shift of colors we are seeing are now more complex and layered. The rich deep hues and neutral palette feels lived-in, sustainable, and resilient. As Sherwin Williams’ Color Anthology suggests, these hues will define interiors that last well beyond the trend cycle.

Curves, Scallops & Sustainable Materials

As environmental awareness continues to shape how we live, sustainability remains an important topic in the design community. We’re seeing this not just in materials, but in form. Furniture and architecture that feel softer, more fluid, and human.

Organic, undulating forms, wavy edges, scalloped detailing, curves and arches, and irregular silhouettes are showing up in furniture, millwork, and lighting. There’s a sense of softness and flow that feels both organic and handcrafted.

We’re also seeing a continued embrace of natural materials: wood, stone, linen, and sisal. These elements are grounding and bring texture to a room. We expect to see a play between the juxtaposition of hard and soft, structured and organic, as that is what gives a space soul.

Collected Maximalism

After years of minimalism, personality and imperfection are taking center stage. Let me tell you, we couldn’t be more excited for it!! Authenticity has always been our mantra at Slate Studios. The shift is clear.... perfection is out, personality is in.

2020 ushered in pared-back interiors, all-white kitchens, and minimalist spaces. Now, the shift is leaning toward warmth, comfort, and individuality. The next chapter of design celebrates the lived-in look with rooms that feel collected, not curated.

Think skirted upholstery, fringe, contrast welts, and rich color layered in ways that tell your story. This isn’t maximalism for maximalism’s sake, it’s about personal connection. Every object, textile, and hue has purpose and meaning.

We foresee design embracing a more relatable look, homes that look lived in, not styled for a magazine. Collections will be on display, books will be read, and art will mix from different eras. The beauty lies in a “more is more” approach where your things are meant to be seen, celebrated, and loved, not hidden away in storage.

Heirloom & Heritage

This next direction may be our personal favorite. We’ve always emphasized the importance of patina, having at least one or two items in a space that aren’t brand new. Pieces with a past bring depth, warmth, and humanity that new furnishings simply can’t replicate.

Designers and homeowners alike are mixing vintage heirlooms with modern pieces, creating a dialogue between past and present. Thrifting, consignment, and finds on Facebook Marketplace and Chairish continue to rise, proving that one-of-a-kind treasures are more sought after than ever. Grandma’s collection of vintage plates or your mother’s upright piano are finally getting the love they deserve, as cherished heirlooms that tell your story.

It’s about celebrating what lasts, antique mirrors, vintage glassware, and family keepsakes that bring meaning to modern homes. We love to see these items paired with modern elements to keep them fresh and new. There is a finesse to designing with antiques.

We also suspect that 2026 will continue to embrace the art of heritage, honoring craftsmanship and history by restoring rather than replacing. Moldings, trims, and architectural details are being celebrated for the stories our spaces hold.

Kitchens that well.... don't look like Kitchens

Utilitarian kitchens are giving way to spaces that feel furnished, layered, and lived-in. The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, we all know it's the place everyone naturally gathers, and design is finally reflecting that as a place to connect, not just to cook.

In our opinion, few design kitchens that feel like an extension of the home better than DeVol Kitchens, and their influence is clear. We’re seeing wallpapered walls, freestanding furniture, unlacquered brass hardware, metallic cabinet faces, and art displayed among cookware. These details bring warmth and individuality back into the most functional room of the house.

There’s a beautiful merge of function and design happening, soft lighting, shelving styled with decor and dishware, and islands that blur the line between cabinetry and furniture.

Pantries and sculleries are making a major comeback, allowing the main kitchen to feel more intentional and curated. Cozy eat-in corners invite morning coffee and conversation, transforming the kitchen into a space meant for lounging and enjoyment.

Looking ahead, we expect to see a rise in unexpected materials and shapes, display cabinetry, color, and unconventional finishes, from reclaimed woods to repurposed elements that tell a story.

In 2026, the most inspiring kitchens won’t be designed for efficiency alone, but for connection. They’ll remind us that the heart of the home should always have heart.

Timeless not Trendy

Our closing thoughts on the upcoming 2026 Color & Design Trends is that the beauty of design lies in its freedom, to mix eras, materials, and moods in a way that feels personal. Trends will come and go, but intention endures.

Let what’s new inspire you, but never define you. Choose what resonates, layer what lasts, and create spaces that reflect you, not just the year!

Inspired to refresh your home in 2026?

Slate Studios designs timeless, layered interiors that evolve with you. Book a discovery call to start your next chapter.

xo, Katie