{"id":225401,"date":"2026-01-09T18:26:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T18:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/225401\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T18:26:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T18:26:19","slug":"6-living-room-trends-that-will-be-everywhere-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/225401\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Living Room Trends That Will Be Everywhere In 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many people, the living room<\/a> is the social hub of the home. It’s where people gather, TV is watched, games are played and personalities are shown. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s such a thrill that, according to the experts, our living rooms will be taking a more expressive and characterful turn in 2026. From supersized sofas to personalised collections and colour-capped walls<\/a> \u2013 it seems that this is the year that we finally start having fun with interiors again.<\/p>\n

“This year, living rooms are really embracing character over perfection,” says Simon Mayhew, founder and interior designer at TXTURED<\/a>. “We\u2019re moving away from matchy, showroom-style spaces and towards interiors that feel collected, personal and lived-in.”<\/p>\n

To help determine some of the most important living room trends of the year, we decided to consult the experts. Here\u2019s what they told us about the biggest living room trends of 2026\u2026<\/p>\n

1. Colour capping\"colour\"pinterest\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Benjamin Moore<\/p>\n

Last year, we predicted that colour capping<\/a> would be one of 2026\u2019s biggest paint trends. It’s now 2026, and that still appears to be the case. For those who aren\u2019t familiar, colour capping is when your paint<\/a> the top part of your wall in a shade from the same colour family as the original wall paint. It\u2019s an easy and sophisticated way to update a living room. <\/p>\n

“Colour capping isn\u2019t just about paint, it\u2019s an invitation to build a layered scheme that extends into your furnishings,” Magdalena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse<\/a>. “Think of accessories like cushions, ceramics, or artwork<\/a> as a way to reinforce the palette and give the scheme real depth.”<\/p>\n

Johanna Constantinou, interior trends expert at Tapi Carpets & Floors<\/a>, also picks out colour capping as a key 2026 trend. “Colour is being used with more intention and confidence than ever before,” says Johanna. “We\u2019re entering a moment when colour carries weight, people want spaces that feel intentional and expressive.”<\/p>\n

2. Curved and sculptural sofas\"stylish\"pinterest\"<\/a>IlivVerini Fabric Collection, ILIV<\/a><\/p>\n

From soft curves to wavy shapes, over the past year, sculptural furniture has proved popular in interiors. When it comes to the living room, the experts we heard from predicted this would translate into shapely sofas<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“Sofas with statement sculptural silhouettes will be a big trend<\/a> for 2026 \u2013 curved sofas, fluted sofas and \u2018croissant sofas\u2019 will all prove popular due to their ability to add instant interest and character to a living room,” says Magdalena. <\/p>\n

“Living room trends in 2026 are taking a much more sculptural turn,” says Chloe Barrow, Interior Expert at Laura James<\/a>. Curved furniture, she says, offers a \u201cvisual break from all the right angles that often dominate public spaces, from corporate offices to coffee shops. Whether it\u2019s a curved sofa, a wave-edged coffee table or a boucle tub chair, these shapes immediately create a more relaxed, cocooning feel in the room that really makes us feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Large or supersized sofas\"cozy\"pinterest\"<\/a>Jon Day \/ The Cotswold Company<\/p>\n

From The Night Manager and The Traitors to the return of Rivals, 2026 is shaping up to be a great year for television<\/a>. It\u2019s also, it seems, going to be a great year for sofas. According to the experts we heard from, 2026 is the year that sofas will get big, giving us plenty of room to cosy up when Claudia Winkleman graces our screens. <\/p>\n

“There is increased interest in large or extra-large sofas that provide plenty of seating for the whole family, with extra room for guests. These sofas are not just practical and comfortable \u2013 they also make a style statement because the bigger the sofa, the more it dominates a room,” says Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village<\/a>. <\/p>\n

If a supersized sofa isn’t your thing, perhaps try an oversized piece of artwork? “Scale is another key trend I\u2019m loving,” says Lisa Hensby, founder and creative director at Lisa Hensby Design & Build Studio<\/a>. “Oversized artwork instantly makes a living room feel more confident and spacious, even in smaller homes.”<\/p>\n

4. Curated collections\"collection\"pinterest\"<\/a>OKAElsdon Rug In Washed Rose; Coleridge 2-Seater Sofa with Fixed Velvet Cover In Spruce; Balabac Rattan Sideboard; Phaethon Mirrored Wall Art Panels; Grisewood Lamp and Shade In Loganberry; Volu Decorative Vase; Inko Vase, all Oka<\/a><\/p>\n

In the world of interiors, there have been more and more conversations about the importance of weaving a narrative into your interiors. From folklore art<\/a> to theatrically-inspired decor, decorating is no longer just about styling, but about building a story in your home. With this, experts are predicting a rise in personal, curated collections. Here, thoughtful pairings and sentimental items come to the fore. <\/p>\n

“Displaying personal collections is expected to be trendy in 2026 to contrast generic styling, with the living room being a great space for this,” says Steve Larkin, an interiors expert from Lark & Larks<\/a>. “This could be something as simple as a collection of items picked up on holiday over the years, books<\/a>, or heirlooms that cannot be replicated through mass produced decor.”<\/p>\n

Simon tells us that when it comes to living rooms, “the most compelling rooms are layered over time, mixing vintage<\/a> or heirloom pieces with contemporary design so there\u2019s a genuine sense of story. You want a space to feel like it\u2019s evolved naturally, not curated in one hit.”<\/p>\n

5. More expressive spaces\"cozy\"pinterest\"<\/a>Photography by Max Attenborough. Styling by Marie Nichols.Country Living Wimborne Sofa and Stool at DFS<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2026, our living rooms get a chance to show off some personality. Whether that\u2019s through bright patterns<\/a>, personal touches or bold colours, the key is to find something that feels you and just roll with it. <\/p>\n

“Looking ahead to next year, interiors are set to feel more expressive, tactile and optimistic,” says Nicky Emlick, creative director at Sofa.com<\/a>. “One of the standout trends is joyful alchemy, where bright colours<\/a> and playful pattern combinations sit alongside sculptural furniture that doubles as art. The result is spaces that feel uplifting and full of personality, bringing a sense of creativity and lightness into the home.”<\/p>\n

“We’re seeing more colourful, patterned sofas and armchairs<\/a> really in the spotlight at the moment, and I think that confidence with colour and pattern on larger pieces will only continue to grow into 2026,\u201d says Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA<\/a>. <\/p>\n

6. And of course, comfort is never out of style
\"cozy\"pinterest\"<\/a>Photography by Max Attenborough. Styling by Marie Nichols.Country Living Bamburgh Sofa and Footstool 2 at DFS<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For all the trends that come and go, one will always remain: living rooms as the ultimate comfort hub. According to our experts, homeowners will continue to make comfort a priority in 2026.
<\/p>\n

To create a cosy, feel-good space<\/a>, Lisa emphasises the importance of introducing warmth into your living room. “Above all, warmth is everything. A living room should feel like somewhere you want to sink into, not tiptoe around.”<\/p>\n

For Chloe, this means thinking carefully about your materials. “Layering in texture through pieces like boucl\u00e9 armchairs, soft rugs or even a teddy-style pouffe will instantly increase the comfort factor which 2026 is all about,” she says. <\/p>\n

2026 living room edit\"Contorno<\/a>Contorno Cushion Cover – Dirty Orange<\/p>\n

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Liz Lane is the Homes Assistant for House Beautiful\u00a0and Country Living. Writing about everything from gardening tips and decorating trends to the symbolism behind Pedro Pascal’s apartment in Materialists, she\u2019s particularly interested in the intersection where style and pop culture meet. When she\u2019s not working on digital pieces, she\u2019s editing videos or writing for print. Liz has previously written for Red\u00a0and Good Housekeeping, and she studied English at UEA and Oxford University.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For many people, the living room is the social hub of the home. It’s where people gather, TV…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":225402,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,5218,134739,501,2117,156,2120,2116,111,139,69,134738],"class_list":["post-225401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-content-type-default","tag-contentid-cd7f9cb8-17d7-49a0-8b8a-47c8e2296242","tag-design","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-locale-gb","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-shorttitle-these-living-room-trends-will-be-everywhere-in-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=225401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/225402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=225401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=225401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=225401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}