Interior design in 2026 will opt for "curated calm over superficial opulence"
The Trump effect will see interior designers resolve to steer clear of excess in 2026 but it won't trigger a trend for stark minimalism, industry figures predict.
With a new year underway, Dezeen spoke to interior designers about their trend predictions for 2026.
The creatives were united in forecasting interiors that resist extravagance for the sake of it.
No "simple reactionary return to minimalism"
"It feels clear that 2025 marked a shift from interiors designed to deliver a 'wow' effect to spaces that hold and support human time," reflected Tokyo architect Keiji Ashizawa.
"Memorable interiors are not necessarily those with the strongest statements, but often the ones where people naturally want to stay longer," he added.
Benni Allan, founder of London architecture studio EBBA, agreed that the mood of interior design this year will be "quietly expressive – spaces that feel calm, tactile and deeply personal".
The designers considered whether US president Donald Trump's obsession with decadence, especially seen in the ongoing construction of a neoclassical ballroom at the White House, might influence attitudes towards less maximalist interiors in 2026.
"I don't see it as a simple reactionary return to minimalism," said Ashizawa.
"Rather than reducing decoration as an ideology, there will be a more careful attitude towards what is truly worth keeping," he continued. "This may result in calmer, more restrained spaces, but as a sign of maturity rather than a stylistic position."
"The counter-movement won't be a pure 'minimalist manifesto'," agreed Smita Thomas, founder of Bengaluru studio Multitude of Sins. "It'll be a disciplined, intelligent restraint that borrows from maximalism's warmth but strips its excess."
"We expect a form of conscious reduction, spaces that are quieter, but not empty; restrained, yet layered," offered Milan-based Dimore Studio.
"Decoration does not disappear, but becomes internalised and refined," added the studio, which was crowned interior designer of the year at November's Dezeen Awards.
"The reaction is not towards stark minimalism, but towards quiet authenticity and personal narrative – curated calm over superficial opulence," said Hong Kong practitioner Andre Fu.
This sentiment was echoed by Andreas Christodoulou, founder of emerging London studio House of Dré.
"My reaction to Trump's renovations is just an empty feeling inside," he reflected.
"I would say that the design antidote to Trump is not to be too reactive. Take a step back and a deep breath and get to work making something beautiful," added Christodoulou. "There was beautiful design before Trump and there will be beautiful design after him."
"One of the strengths of the creative world today is the freedom to define our own narratives," agreed London designer Tola Ojuolape.
Considering which materials they believe will dominate in 2026, the creatives also anticipate an emphasis on less processed, more honest materials that prioritise what Allan defined as "meaning and longevity".
The designers cited dark woods, aged metals, textured stones and lime renders among the finishes they expect to use and see in projects completed over the next year.
Ojuolape and Christodoulou also predicted that chrome, as a "cooler metal", will take centre stage.
"2026 has to be the year where chrome officially replaces brass in the metal accent department," said the House of Dré founder.
Claire Sá, director of London and Lisbon firm De Rosee Sa, expects surfaces with patina will continue to be celebrated rather than concealed.
"Keep materials in their truest form, without over-treating them and let them evolve naturally," she advised.
Los Angeles designer Kelly Wearstler anticipates "palettes that feel slightly off-kilter – smoked pastels, mineral tones, and one saturated 'odd' note to keep the room alive".
"Design for the senses, not just the screen"
The undeniable influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on creativity also emerged as a central theme.
"As the lines between the digital and physical continue to blur, I expect interior design that prioritises individuality, intention, local context and experience," said Ojuolape.
"In a world dominated by speed and overstimulation, interiors must become places of concentration, intimacy, and emotional grounding," said Dimore Studio.
Thomas summarised 2026 as the "battle of machines versus meaning".
"I felt 2025 unlocked big, almost otherworldly design moves thanks to AI," she considered. "It's a new world of imagination served on a platter."
"AI has been a huge driver of efficiency in my studio," agreed Wearstler.
Despite her positive outlook on the technology, Thomas also acknowledged the collective need for harnessing AI to produce "simple, honest and purpose-driven spaces that we can actually live in".
"Design for the senses, not just the screen," echoed Fu. "Last year showed a shift from spectacle to design as a grounding force, focusing on sensory wellbeing and seamless, invisible technology."
"It's never been easier to combine old and new"
Louis Hagen Hall, founder of emerging London practice Studio Hagen Hall, urged interior designers to use 2026 to consider the "lifecycle" of their projects, selecting materials, fittings and pieces that last and can eventually be recycled.
"We're well past the luxury of choosing finishes purely for aesthetics and then changing minds (all the while creating more waste) a season later," he warned.
"Importantly, clients need to be brought on this journey with them."
On the ever-growing urgency of sustainability, Christodoulou expressed approval "that for the most part the culture in the UK and Europe has moved away from a very mid-century aesthetic of everything being space age and therefore brand new".
"It's never been easier to combine old and new," he continued. "Where we can, we have to try and work more with what we have, and where we can't use the old, we should be employing more sustainable materials and practices."
Additionally, designers called for what Ojuolape described as a "growing responsibility to design with a global perspective" as the world becomes not only more interconnected but also more complex.
"Next year should be about curating spaces that feel intuitive, layered and culturally inspired, without being literal or pastiche," mused Amber Pan and Michelle Song, co-founders of London-based Studio ŪMA.
"We feel the shift [away from maximalism] will be slightly more nuanced than a pivot to minimalism, but do feel that 2026 will favour more thoughtful layering, blending eastern sensibilities with western modernity to create spaces that feel both curated and alive," they added.
"Be a great listener," Wearstler urged practitioners.
"If you're designing a bathroom, don't study bathrooms," she continued. "Look at sculpture, jewellery, industrial design, even vintage ceramics. When your references come from those worlds, you almost can't help but land somewhere more original and entirely your own."
Similarly to last year, plenty of interior designers are questioning the very nature of their roles in a fragile world, and exploring how creativity can respond to mounting environmental issues.
Finnish creative Joanna Laajisto had the following to say.
"I have taken a significant transformation in my work in response to the climate crisis, and I am reimagining my process to prioritise existing structures and reclaimed resources."
"This shift also demands a new aesthetic language," continued the designer. "Although I feel that this is a necessary approach considering the construction industry is responsible for 35 per cent of global carbon emissions."
"Unfortunately, I am not seeing this reflected in the major interior design trends – yet."
The main image is by Andrea Ferrari and shows an apartment inside the Latitude 43 building in Saint Tropez, France, designed by Dimore Studio.
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