Key Points
\nMinimalism and beige interiors feel stale\u2014layered, lived-in spaces are in.Ditch animal prints, arched mirrors, and matching furniture for eclectic, personal pieces.Skip glam and farmhouse looks; warmth and individuality lead 2026 design.<\/p>\n
As we enter the new year, there\u2019s bound to be new design trends that take over\u2014and ones we leave behind. Social media can especially be a coin toss with trends, because while it gives us access to fresh ideas, it can also create concepts for shock value or short-term appeal (think: cluttercore<\/a>).\n<\/p>\n Of course, trends shouldn\u2019t dictate your entire taste since it\u2019s ultimately a personal preference. However, they can offer style inspiration\u2014especially if you\u2019re looking to refresh your abode in the new year.\n<\/p>\n So, which trends are designers ready to let go of in 2026? Here, they share six tacky trends they don\u2019t want to see in the new year\u2014and what they’re excited to try instead.\n<\/p>\n Meet the Expert<\/p>\n Kathy Kuo<\/a>\u00a0is the CEO and Founder of Kathy Kuo Home. Minimalist Design <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n The Spruce \/ Jason Donnelly<\/p>\n Minimalism already saw a decline<\/a> in popularity in 2025, and many designers are keen to leave it behind again in 2026.\n<\/p>\n “I prefer to avoid minimalist interiors that are pared-back, refined, and centered around a mostly-white color palette,” says interior designer Kathy Kuo. “These kinds of spaces have had their day in the sun, but I now tend to find them a bit stark and uncomfortable.”<\/p>\n Her preferred approach?\n<\/p>\n “I believe the most warm, welcoming homes feel collected, layered, and sensorial, highlighting a mix of materials, textures, and personal keepsakes meaningful to the people who live there,” Kuo says.\n<\/p>\n Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter<\/a> for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!<\/p>\n Animal Prints <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Dana Hoff \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n As minimalist design took a back seat last year, more maximalist trends rose in popularity\u2014including animal prints. However, while animal prints have been used for centuries, there is a point where they can get excessive.\n<\/p>\n “[It] reads as really visually loud in a room and ends up making the interior feel cluttered and overworked,” says interior designer Brittny Button.\n<\/p>\n In 2026, Button hopes to see patterns incorporated through different mediums like stripes, florals, or herringbone. She’s also leaning toward organic textures from wood, raw stone, and rattan.<\/p>\n Beige-on-Beige <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n FollowTheFlow \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n In the same vein of minimalist design<\/a>, the beige-on-beige look took hold of interiors in the last few years.\n<\/p>\n “It started as calm and clean, but it\u2019s become soulless,” Rehman says. “Spaces are meant to tell stories, not feel like a filtered Pinterest board. When everything is one tone and one texture, the room loses all character.”\n<\/p>\n Still, that doesn’t mean you have to throw away neutrals entirely\u2014just be sure to add depth.\n<\/p>\n “Think: textured plaster walls, aged wood, exotic marbles, and soft contrast,” Rehman elaborates. “I want to see minimalism evolve into something more tactile and emotional, something that feels lived-in, not staged.”\n<\/p>\n Matching Furniture <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n tulcarion \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n Furniture sets are a quick and easy way to get your place set up. However, they can end up looking more cookie-cutter than curated.\n<\/p>\n “Gone are the days when every piece of furniture needs to match perfectly\u2014an aesthetic that feels cold, lackluster, and outdated,” says Kuo.<\/p>\n So to create more warmth, the designer suggests mixing materials and silhouettes.\n<\/p>\n “I might pair a square burl wood side table, round marble coffee table, and woven rattan console table, all in the same living room,” Kuo notes. “This kind of eclectic, mismatched look infuses a room with character, personality, and visual interest, creating a look that\u2019s distinctly yours.”<\/p>\n Arched Mirrors with Abstract Art <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n towfiqu ahamed \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n Those oversized arched mirrors and abstract prints we saw in almost every apartment on TikTok? ”\n<\/p>\n They\u2019ve had their moment,” Rehman says. “They\u2019re not bad, just overdone. When design becomes too copy-and-paste, it loses any sense of identity.”\n<\/p>\n
\nBrittny Button<\/a>\u00a0is the founder and principal designer of Button Atelier.
\nBilal Rehman<\/a> is an interior designer and the CEO of\u00a0Bilal Rehman Studio.<\/p>\n