Trends Designers Expect To Take Over In 2026

With just a few more months left of 2025, it's time to begin looking ahead at the design trends that will reign supreme in the new year. We asked Southern interior designers to highlight some of the top looks that will characterize the living rooms of 2026, and they sure delivered! Read on to gather their insights on what to be sure to bring into your living room sooner rather than later.

Personal Touches

In 2026, gone will be the days where living rooms appear bland and generic, says Cate Gutter, the founder of CWG Design in Charlotte, North Carolina, who expects to see spaces "that feel deeply personal and collected." Personality is in vogue, and in a big way. "There’s a clear shift toward spaces that tell the story of the people who live in them, rather than a carbon copy of something from a big-box store," the designer adds. This means ditching the matching furniture sets and thinking outside the box a bit, she explains. "I see rooms layered with heirloom pieces, meaningful objects, and art that holds personal significance," Gutter says.MK Smith Boykin, the co-founder of Charlotte-based Smith Interiors, agrees. "Interiors are moving away from cold minimalism and leaning into cozy, personal spaces that truly reflect the people who live there," she says. "This is something we try to do in all of our projects and I can't wait to see more of this in the future."

In this same vein, Cathleen Gruver, the lead designer at Gruver Cooley in Purcellville, Virginia, cites storytelling, in line with sustainability, as a major living room trend for 2026. "Homeowners want pieces that feel personal, crafted, and built to last rather than mass-produced or trendy," she says. "The overall effect is a living room that feels restorative, expressive, and deeply connected to the people who live there."

Dark Finishes

Light wood, who? "Dark finishes are so back in floors and furnishings," says Megan Molten, the founder of an eponymous firm in Charleston, South Carolina. "In our light and airy coastal spaces, having that darker piece of furniture against a soft palette is so grounding for the space; it gives it this richness and timelessness that I'm loving lately." And don't assume that just because you're decorating with dark wood means you should avoid bright color. You can certainly continue to weave peppy shades into your space—Molten finds that dark wood actually makes vibrant hues pop a little bit more!

Chartreuse

Speaking of bright hues, why not make 2026 the year that you say yes to chartreuse in the living room? Molten declares it her new favorite color and is already using it in her projects often. "Whether it's the trim detail on the draperies, the fringe on the pillow, or a pop of paint on the art, it just works with our palette so well, and I'm loving it," she says.