Key Points
\nDesigners are moving away from all-white and all-gray looks, which can feel flat and sterile.Pros prefer rich colors, textures, and natural materials for warmth and depth.Homes are shifting from neutral minimalism to cozy, personalized comfort.<\/p>\n
With just four more months left in the calendar year, it’s time to begin looking ahead to 2026 and thinking about the design styles we would like to take with us into the new year. It’s also a good period to evaluate those that we’d be happier leaving behind\u2014January is all about a fresh start, after all.\n<\/p>\n
While new design styles come and go every year<\/a>, some are seen as more timeless than others. We were especially curious to find out if designers would be able to pinpoint any trends that have been pegged as timeless\u2014yet just aren’t speaking to them anymore\u2014and they definitely delivered.\n<\/p>\n The main takeaway here? Neutrals, especially all-white and all-gray spaces, simply aren’t cutting it these days, and pros are instead craving spaces filled with a range of color and texture. Keep reading to learn more about the specific home aesthetics that the three professional interior designers we interviewed are more than eager to say goodbye to for good before the ball drops.\n<\/p>\n All-White Kitchens <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Joe Hendrickson \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n If you’ve always had a soft spot for an all-white kitchen, you’re not alone. Many people may consider the all-white kitchen to be timeless. But if you’ve struggled to resonate with white kitchens over the years, you’re also not the only one\u2014Lexie Saine, the founder of Lexie Saine Design, says she has never connected with this look.\n<\/p>\n “For years it\u2019s been considered a safe, classic choice, but in reality, it often falls flat, especially in homes with real character or architectural history,” she says. “An all-white palette can end up feeling sterile and one-note, and it doesn\u2019t always age gracefully.”\n<\/p>\n Instead, Saine would prefer that more people welcome a range of colors and materials into their cooking spaces rather than defaulting to a monotone look.\n<\/p>\n “What excites me much more is a kitchen with layers: natural wood tones, stone with movement, and colors that bring warmth<\/a> and depth,” she says. “Those combinations tell a richer story and feel more personal than a sea of white cabinetry and countertops ever could.”<\/p>\n