Renovated Resolutions
Three local designers share their design resolutions for 2026
How we feel in our homes can impact our mental and physical health. If you’re feeling in a slump about your space, make it a resolution to reinvent, revamp, refresh, or renovate a room or two in 2026.
Here, three local interior designers provide their insights on 2026 trends and suggest home design resolutions.
Photo courtesy of Brinson Design Company
Samantha Brinson, owner of Brinson Design Company
Q: What is one way to update a home for a refreshed look in the new year, and how would you help a homeowner achieve it?
A: A thoughtful way to refresh a home is by refining the foundational layers: light, texture, and tone. Updating a few key elements such as lighting, hardware, or color palette can completely transform how a space feels. Warmer tones, organic textures, and refined materials instantly bring depth and warmth while maintaining a timeless feel. At Brinson Design Company, we guide clients through these updates with an architecture-first perspective, ensuring every choice enhances both beauty and function. We help homeowners identify which elements will make the greatest impact for their specific space, curate a cohesive palette of finishes and fixtures, and manage the many details that bring it all together. The result is a home that feels renewed, intentional, and designed to support daily life.
Q: What design trends do you foresee being popular in 2026?
A: Design is moving into a season of warmth, authenticity, and quiet luxury. Homeowners are craving spaces that feel lived-in and thoughtfully curated and homes that tell a story rather than follow a trend. We’re seeing a renewed appreciation for natural materials like rich wood tones, marble, plaster, and unlacquered metals, paired with soft, sculptural lighting and furniture that feels collected over time. Layered textures, tone-on-tone palettes, and handcrafted details will continue to define interiors. It’s less about perfection and more about creating homes that feel timeless and grounded.
Photo courtesy of Studio A
Anna Osborne and Ashley Farrell, owners of Studio A Interiors
Q: What is one way to update a home for a refreshed look in the new year, and how would you help a homeowner achieve it?
A: Warm-toned neutral paint, lighting fixtures, and soft goods (pillows, throws, draperies) are all great ways to update a home in the new year, but it’s important to consider a layered approach, even for lighting. For example, there is task lighting, ambient lighting, and accent lighting, and when selected for their intended reason and desired mood, they create layers of lighting. Dimmers and lamps can often be overlooked but are an excellent source of flexible, adjustable lighting that won’t break the bank. You can then add in a layer of texture and warmth with a woven shade. The same principle can be applied to window coverings: Focus on the function, feeling, and versatility, and then visualize the materials as creating layers. We always begin by talking with the homeowner about how they want their space to feel and what’s working or could be improved. Once we define the overall vision, we help pinpoint the areas that will make the biggest impact. From there, we curate materials, finishes, and fixtures to create a home that feels refreshed, intentional, and uniquely theirs. Our goal is to make the process seamless and enjoyable for the homeowner and to help them fall in love with their space all over again.
Q: What are some design trends you foresee being popular in 2026?
A: Warm, earthy color palettes have become the new neutrals, and we do not expect this to change in 2026. Designers and clients will continue embracing a lived-in feel full of textured and tactile surfaces with soft-patterned wood grain, natural stone, woven furniture, and artisan touches like zellige tile. We expect less high-contrast and more gentle transitions between materials to create tonal layers and visual depth. Wallpaper will still grow in popularity, whether it’s subtle like grasscloth or making a statement with bold foliage. We are also seeing a rise in personalizing spaces with statement artwork and bespoke items like hand-painted tiles. Versatile, natural, and intentional spaces will be key in the approaching year.
Photo by Jennifer Taylor Design
Jennifer Taylor, owner of Jennifer Taylor Design
Q: What is one way to update a home for a refreshed look in the new year, and how would you help a homeowner achieve it?
A: One of the easiest ways to update your home is with new lighting. It can bring much-needed personality to your room, and it’s pretty simple to change out a light fixture. If I have a client who is looking for a simple update, I recommend my virtual consultation service. It’s quick, easy, and a great value.
Q: What are some design trends you foresee being popular in 2026?
A: The biggest trend that I’m loving is more color in interiors. We’re finally moving from gray and white to warmer tones like browns, rusty oranges, and darker blues. I also have a feeling that furniture will come back to a simpler style as more is being sourced from American-made manufacturers.
I know that I’m personally sourcing more from companies based in
the U.S.
