Neutrals and cookie cutter kitchens are out and in comes color and craftsmanship in 2026.
Interior design trends are always changing and more and more have been focusing on making your home all about you and less about the potential to sell.
Sharon McCormick, of Sharon McCormick Designs, said interior design in 2026 is “all about expressing your personality and individualism through furniture choices, paint colors, textures and natural materials.”
“All-white and cool gray rooms are passe, as are rooms in all neutrals,” she said. “Saturated colors like burgundy, terra cotta, chocolate, navy, and olive green are in vogue. The painting technique called ‘color drenching’ has staying power through 2026.”
Color drenching is when a designer paints the whole room, including ceilings, walls and trim, in one color to create an enveloping feeling.
“The drama comes from using different sheens of the same color, for example high gloss bookcases next to matte walls. Bold is beautiful,” McCormick said.
In the kitchen, 2026 is moving away from white and into more painted kitchen cabinets in deep or warm colors like teal, dark blue and taupe. Mixing painted cabinets with wood finishes to add warmth especially white oak is on trend.
“Cookie cutter kitchens are a thing of the past,” she said. “Artisanal handcrafted tiles are in favor for backsplashes you won’t find elsewhere in your neighborhood.”
One surprising thing that is on the downward trend is the waterfall kitchen island. That is when a stone countertop runs down the sides of an island. According to McCormick, it has become overdone and too sleek.
Property of the week: Sunlit, well-designed CT home in neighbor-friendly community
“Adding colors and textures in the kitchen through textiles makes this central space feel more homey. Use rugs, window treatments, and upholstered stools and chairs to counteract the sterile feel of kitchens from the recent past,” McCormick said.
Architectural elements and craftsmanship is taking center stage in 2026.
“Coffered ceilings, beams, hefty woodwork profiles for trim, paneling, and detailed crown molding are coming back,” she said. “This will add elegance to new homes and the elements can be added to existing homes as well. In the last decade, many new homes were built with minimal trim and are now reading as a bit characterless.”
To help define spaces, use millwork. It can create infinite opportunities for decorating.
“In minimalist homes, often only one paint color can be used. The open concept doesn’t provide any natural space definitions so the same paint color needs to be used throughout. By adding architectural elements, each room can be treated individually with varying wall and ceiling colors, wallpaper, and faux painting techniques that add dimension,” McCormick said.
Going into 2026, McCormick said the biggest renovations will be ones to support a family’s lifestyle. Mud rooms are a big hit with built-in benches, cubbies, drawers and cabinets to contain the messes of daily life.
“This type of renovation pays off in creating a feeling of calm in the main house,” she said.
Kitchens with a comfortable eat-in space will also be popular.
“All-in-all, you can’t go wrong in 2026 by being bold and expressing yourself through design,” McCormick said.