The Pendulum Swings: 2026 Interior Design Trends and Why Personal Style Wins
Design is a pendulum. If you know how it swings, you can stop chasing trends and start creating spaces that actually last.
I just got back from Las Vegas Market, a major trade show that happens twice a year — once in the summer and once in the winter and I look forward to it every time. It’s where I reconnect with my sales reps, see what’s new in the industry, and get hands-on with the pieces I specify for clients.
It’s not held in a convention center. Instead, it takes place across three massive buildings on a dedicated compound designed entirely for furniture and decor showrooms. Some of those showrooms are even open year-round. It’s a permanent design center that’s basically the mothership.
I walked around 45 showrooms this trip. Around 25 to 30 were vendors I already know and trust, where I’ve established relationships and direct contact with reps. The rest were new to me as I had a short list of gaps in my vendor library that I’m trying to fill for commercial projects, outdoor, etc.
Let me be clear, I saw some incredible things and left very inspired. But I also saw a lot I didn’t like… which is exactly the point. Being able to sit on a piece, open a drawer, run my hand across a finish, and say “nope” is just as valuable as finding something I love. I leave knowing exactly what’s worth bringing to a client and what’s not.
Interior Design Is a Reaction Game. And the Cycle Is Turning.
Here’s how it works. Interior design doesn’t move in a straight line. It reacts. It pivots. It overcorrects. One look becomes oversaturated, and we all swing in the opposite direction. Tuscan kitchens? We left them behind and landed in millennial gray. Then we pivoted to mid-century. Then coastal beige minimalism. Now?
We are back in the warm zone. But this time, it’s smarter, more textural, and more grounded.
The trends I saw at Market weren’t just guesses. They were reactions. And if you learn to read them, you can actually forecast what’s coming next…
Color Forecast: Rust, Terracotta, and Burgundy Are the New Neutrals
The color palette was bold. Burgundy, terracotta, maroon, rust, burnt orange. These deep, spicy tones were everywhere. They weren’t just accents. They were headliners.
What stood out even more was how out of place blue and green felt. For the past decade, they’ve been used as “safe” neutrals. People who avoided color still embraced sage and navy. That line of thinking dominated the market for years.
But now we’re shifting. The warmth is back. And if you look at the color wheel, the opposite of blue and green is red and orange. The pendulum doesn’t lie.
Shape Shift: Bullnose, Soft Corners, and the Decline of the Right Angle
Rounded edges were absolutely everywhere. Bullnose tables. Chamfered stone. Cabinet edges with 45-degree details. Even architectural elements were softening. I could count the sharp corners I saw on one hand.
Ornamentation is back too. Knife pleats. Horse-bit hardware. Appliqués on case goods. Wrought iron is showing up again, and it’s not shy. There is a richness returning. Texture. Shape. Asymmetry. Even a little bit of drama.
Which brings us to the unspoken elephant in the room.
Is the Tuscan Kitchen Coming Back? Sort Of. But It’s Better This Time.
I know what you’re thinking. No one wants to talk about this. But the truth is, we are flirting with it. No, we’re not sponge-painting walls or installing grapevine tile murals. But the feeling is familiar. The use of heavy wood tones, iron details, and rich colors points back to that Tuscan era. This time, though, it’s more refined. More restrained.
This is what happens in design. It swings. It reacts to what came before. That’s not failure. That’s evolution.
The Real Trend Is Personal Style
Let’s be honest. Everything will go out of style eventually. And everything will come back around. That’s the nature of the industry. The only thing that actually holds up over time is a personal point of view.
Instead of chasing what’s trending, build your own baseline. Know what you love. Understand your patterns. Let trends come and go around you. When you’re grounded in your own taste, you can pull in what’s current without losing your sense of self.
That is not just good design. That is long-term, sustainable design.
What I Actually Saw at Market (That You Should Know About)
Here’s a snapshot of what kept showing up at Las Vegas Market 2025.
Color: Burgundy, rust, terracotta, maroon, burnt orange
Shape: Rounded corners, bullnose profiles, 45-degree cabinet edges
Material: Raffia, hand-forged iron, deeply grained woods, matte textures
Details: Knife pleats, asymmetry, ornamentation, horse-bit inspired hardware
Mood: Layered, soft, grounded, textural, and just a little bit dramatic
Trends Will Change. Your Style Shouldn’t.
So yes, I saw beautiful pieces. I also saw clunky, confusing ones. I saw vendors trying too hard, and others who absolutely nailed it. Every bit of it served a purpose.
Because I wasn’t just there to see what’s in. I was there to see what’s going to last. What’s worth putting in someone’s home. What actually delivers.
Trends come and go. But personal style? That’s what makes a space timeless.
The pendulum will always swing. The question is whether you’re chasing it or staying steady while it passes.