Looking for home accents like lighting, serving trays, and tabletop decor made from silver, chrome, or pewter is a great way to add an eye-catching, reflective element that also catches the light. You can even incorporate these metallic touches into certain pieces of furniture by customizing things like drawer pulls, and sofa or accent chair leg finishes. While they’re able to feel instantly modern, chrome and silver also happen to pair very nicely with the more natural fabrics and earth tone palettes we’ll continue to see quite a bit of this year. 

Don’t be surprised if this year shows a particular flair for the cozy, comfortable, and imperfect. Heritage styles that feel layered over time and lived in, but are also usable for everyday life will be more appealing than carefully-coordinated design aesthetics. In other words, forget about matching every piece exactly, and focus instead on collecting pieces that feel personal, grounding, and intriguing to you. With the ever-increasing trend toward small-batch artisanal craftsmanship and sustainability too, there’s an allure about handcrafted, unpolished, and nature-inspired styles that favor this more tactile and intentional approach. 

Hand-in-hand with a more personalized design aesthetic is the trend towards softer and gently rounded accents. Look out for “romantic silhouettes” like curved sofas, and vintage-inspired accent chairs with rolled or sloping arms. You may even notice this trend extending into the architecture of a space too; from arched doorways to rounder-shaped windows. Sculptural touches prioritize natural and organic shapes over sharp corners and harsh lines; in this way, they’re able to imbue a space with a more approachable, intimate, and comfort-first sensibility. 

Patterned fabrics will continue to play a central role in interior design. An appealing way to incorporate these more eye-catching fabrics in the new year will be layering patterns like florals, stripes, and small-scale prints together. Don’t be afraid to make bold choices with pattern-drenching, since even contrasting block prints and color palettes can offer an inviting, enveloping effect that feels intriguing and surprisingly intentional. You might incorporate layered patterns in your upholstery fabric, wallpaper, or even floor tile to create a truly singular and personalized look.

A color that’s both timeless and effortlessly modern, blue will be making a big splash in 2026. Seek out dusty blues and powder blues, which lend a lovely softness to the rich earth tone palettes designers still love for the new year. Blues suit a wide variety of interior design styles too, since they can feel traditional and heritage-inspired, but also fresh and uplifting. Try pairing your mocha brown and chocolate hues with a pale sky blue, for example, and see how the lighter contrast acts as a soothing breath of fresh air for your style.

With the pull of a more meaningful approach to design that favors character over perfection and polish, you can bet dark wood furniture will play a powerful role. After all, this preference for interiors that feel lived-in, layered, and personally curated is a seamless complement for handcrafted wood pieces featuring rich, dark hues and stains. Not only do darker woods offer a natural sense of comfort and personality, but they bring a depth to your design too. Whether it’s furniture made with reclaimed wood, or pieces and decor handcrafted from responsibly sourced wood, expect to see lots of deeper browns in designer homes, and dining rooms in particular, this year.