{"id":375574,"date":"2025-12-28T07:37:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T07:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/375574\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T07:37:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T07:37:20","slug":"7-decorating-resolutions-designers-are-making-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/375574\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Decorating Resolutions Designers Are Making for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

While most of us are focused on upping our protein intake or finally committing to a run club, the aesthetically inclined have their sights set on a different kind of goal: the home.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s what interior designers think about constantly. And even they \u2013 despite doing nearly everything better than the rest of us to begin with \u2013 have identified a few gaps in their own spaces they want to address in 2026.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From being bolder with color to following more unconventional design trends for 2026<\/a>, ahead, seven interior design decorating resolutions designers are setting for the year \u2013 plus what to shop now, before they get to it first.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

1. Be Bolder<\/p>\n

\n

\"Colorful\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom Mannion. Design: Studio Hollond)<\/p>\n

Bored of beige? Us too. For Cathleen Gruver of Northern Virginia\u2013based design studio Gruver Cooley<\/a>, 2026 is about moving past safe bets altogether.<\/p>\n

\u2018After a decade of designing high-end homes, I\u2019ve learned that the most memorable spaces are the ones that reflect genuine joy and confidence,\u2019 says Cathleen. \u2018I want to encourage clients, and remind myself, to select furnishings and finishes that spark something personal. Choosing items that resonate instead of defaulting to what feels \u201csafe\u201d leads to a layered home with character and longevity,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

For Cathleen, bold doesn\u2019t have to mean loud. Color<\/a> is one avenue, but it\u2019s not the only one. \u2018It means being willing to trust your eye and let your personality show through,\u2019 she muses.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Bronze\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Z Gallerie<\/p>\n

Bronze Tiger Lumbar <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Antiquity\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

HAY<\/p>\n

Antiquity Dinner Plate<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Hand-Marbled\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Inner Child<\/p>\n

Hand-Marbled Scallop Waste Bin <\/p>\n

2. Explore Unconventional Metal Treatments<\/p>\n

\n

\"yellow\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Genevieve Lutkin. Design: Hollie Bowden)<\/p>\n

Flat, anonymous metal finishes are reading more dull than ever heading into 2026. According to Sarah Goesling, Owner and Principal, and Rebecca Goesling, Director of Design at Goesling Group<\/a>, that\u2019s exactly where they\u2019re seeking subversion.<\/p>\n

Design expertise in your inbox \u2013 from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re excited to explore more unconventional metal treatments,\u2019 the design duo tells Homes & Gardens. \u2018From etched brass to molten chrome<\/a> and reverse-knurled steel, we love giving traditional metals subtly subversive finishes,\u2019 they explain.<\/p>\n

And, as Sarah and Rebecca point out, this resolution is actually pretty low-lift. \u2018Even a simple swap to textural knobs or hardware can turn kitchen<\/a> cabinets or bedside tables into small works of art,\u2019 they say. \u2018High-touch areas invite a longer look and a deeper touch, creating a tactile experience that\u2019s both intriguing and unexpectedly playful.\u2019<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Wall\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

ARHAUS<\/p>\n

Wall Mount Antique Brass Dinner Bell<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Agap&eacute;\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Ferm Living<\/p>\n

Agap\u00e9 Wall Candle Sconces, Set of 2<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Zentique,\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Zentique<\/p>\n

Diggs Metal Table Vase<\/p>\n

3. Hang Wall Textiles for Warmth<\/p>\n

\n

\"Eclectic\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Studio Alexandra)<\/p>\n

Like buying a new car, booking a trip to Italy, or finally finding the right person to do your highlights, the best resolutions are often the ones you\u2019ve been waiting for an excuse to make. And if you\u2019re anything like us \u2013 or Franky Rousell, Founder and CEO of Jolie<\/a> \u2013 that permission slip comes in the form of wall textiles. Tapestries<\/a> had quite a year in 2025, and for 2026, they\u2019re showing no signs of disappearing.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re turning to tapestries, hanging rugs, and framed textiles where traditional oil-on-canvas artwork isn\u2019t accessible,\u2019 Frankie explains. \u2018These pieces add depth and tactility, softening both acoustics and light. They create a richer, more layered atmosphere, offering a unique and achievable way to bring variation to a wall.\u2019<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

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\"Palmera\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Urban Outfitters<\/p>\n

Palmera Fan Floating Headboard<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Hortensia\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

McGee & Co.<\/p>\n

Hortensia Wall Tapestry<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"The\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The Salvaged Vessel<\/p>\n

Hand Painted Abstract Textile Art<\/p>\n

4. Play With New Color Pairings<\/p>\n

\n

\"A\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: James McDonald)<\/p>\n

\u2018Clients come to us for specific looks, which often means our color palettes remain the same across different projects,\u2019 notes Annie Harrison, founder of Fare Inc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the design equivalent of a veteran pop star being forever asked to perform the one song everyone already knows. Reliable, flattering \u2013 sure. But eventually, constricting. And really, why should daring pairings like red and green be confined to December? That slight friction \u2013 colors that technically shouldn\u2019t work but somehow do \u2013 is exactly what Sarah and Rebecca Goesling of Goesling Group are interested in pushing further.<\/p>\n

\u2018The combinations that excite us most: satin periwinkle + velvet chocolate, high-gloss chartreuse + matte baby blue, and matte tangerine + metallic moss,\u2019 says the design duo. \u2018Each pairs an energetic, emotional hue with a grounded, pragmatic tone \u2013 joyful, anxious, cautious, and curious colors softened by earthy companions, a step into a new, vibrant era.\u2019<\/p>\n


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\"Velvet\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Threshold<\/p>\n

Velvet Contrast Fringe Dec Pillow <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Palais\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Palais Lampshades<\/p>\n

Thalassa Palm & Cinnamon Lampshade<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Adele\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Anthropologie<\/p>\n

Adele Martini Glasses, Set of 4<\/p>\n

5. Finally Update That Hardware<\/p>\n

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\"Neutral\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Kensington Leverne. Design: De Rosee Sa.)<\/p>\n

We hear it constantly (even as recently as resolution number two): you don\u2019t need new cabinets, just update the hardware. It\u2019s simple, relatively affordable, and somehow perpetually postponed. According to Fare Inc. founder Annie Harrison, 2026 might finally be the year it happens.<\/p>\n

Swapping door hardware \u2013 whether in the kitchen, on a dresser, or even just a doorknob \u2013 is, as Annie puts it, \u2018a small but very tactile touch to the home that you engage with every day.\u2019 It\u2019s the kind of update that shakes up the energy of an entire space. One change, repeated dozens of times a day, that \u2018makes the home feel considered and new for the year ahead,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Modernist\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

West Elm<\/p>\n

Modernist Wood & Antique Brass Hardware<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Odessa\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AnthroHome<\/p>\n

Odessa Jewelry Knobs, Set of 2<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Berenson\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Berenson<\/p>\n

Iron Cabinet Handle<\/p>\n

6. Embrace Surrealism<\/p>\n

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\"Striped\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Summerill & Bishop)<\/p>\n

We\u2019re living in unprecedented times \u2013 for all the obvious reasons. Collectively, we\u2019ve never known more, and yet we\u2019ve never been less certain about what the future actually looks like. To Sarah and Rebecca Goesling, that nebulousness isn\u2019t something to smooth over. It\u2019s something to work with.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re embracing surrealism<\/a> and uncertainty,\u2019 say the designers. \u2018The world feels unreal \u2013 from wholesome trickery to exploitative deepfakes \u2013 and rather than shy away, we\u2019re leaning into that ambiguity.\u2019<\/p>\n

That sensibility shows up in unexpected ways. \u2018It manifests in draped 1920s circus stripes, elusive patterns, vegetal tones, glass block, and responsible luxury,\u2019 they continue. \u2018Distilled, the moment\u2019s defining elements are: green as the standout color, stripes as the pattern, glass block as material, and an oil-spill finish that delights the eye.\u2019<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Crate\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Crate & Barrel<\/p>\n

Cubey Linen Table Lamp 33.8″ by Brigette Romanek<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Birch\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Birch Lane<\/p>\n

Jebb Upholstered Ottoman<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Clam\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Zodax<\/p>\n

Clam Shell Serving Dish With Spoon<\/p>\n

7. Cut the Noise<\/p>\n

\n

\"Sarah\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Sarah West Interiors)<\/p>\n

Despite the more expressive, even maximalist-leaning goals some designers are setting for 2026, just as many are moving in the opposite direction \u2013 editing, simplifying, and stripping their homes back to basics.<\/p>\n

\u2018The most impactful resolution is subtraction,\u2019 insists Philip Thomas Vanderford, Owner and Founder at Studio Thomas James<\/a>. \u2018Removing unnecessary pieces makes what remains feel elevated and intentional \u2013 a far more sophisticated approach than constant accumulation.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I tell clients that editing is not about removing the life from a home,\u2019 agrees Christopher Boutlier of the Washington, DC\u2013based Christopher Boutlier Interiors<\/a>. \u2018It is about removing the noise. My resolution this year is to encourage people to assess every room with a clear eye and let go of what no longer supports how they live. When you lighten the visual load, proportion and material quality can finally shine. That clarity creates a calm that is far more luxurious than any single object.\u2019<\/p>\n

And this doesn\u2019t require a total reset. For Fare Inc. founder Annie Harrison, the focus is strictly sartorial. This year, she\u2019s finally resolving her home\u2019s shoe storage<\/a> \u2013 \u2018something we do all the time for clients, but I haven\u2019t yet managed to work out in my own home,\u2019 she quips.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

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\"Casafield\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Casafield<\/p>\n

Open Weave Wall Hanging Basket<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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\"Beloved\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

BELOVED<\/p>\n

20 Pair Shoe Storage Cabinet<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Foldable\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

H&M Home<\/p>\n

Foldable Storage Basket <\/p>\n

Some shifts go beyond personal resolutions. Discover the macro interior design trends<\/a> shaping homes in 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While most of us are focused on upping our protein intake or finally committing to a run club,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375575,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[449,458,459,64,63,460,134],"class_list":{"0":"post-375574","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-artsanddesign","11":"tag-au","12":"tag-australia","13":"tag-design","14":"tag-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375574"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375574\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}