The New Year should see a shift towards more warm earthy tones with an emphasis on texture and natural materials.
There will be a move away from icy greys for softer colours such as terracotta caramel, soft browns and olive tones.
Look out for colour drenching in 2026 – where an entire room is painted in a single saturated hue for a bold monochromatic effect – a trend moving away from white-on-white spaces.
Interiors expert and former estate agent Laura Rich from the online store Furniturebox explains how you can embrace many of the new 2026 interiors trends – and add at least £10,000 to the value of your home overnight, in some cases by spending as little as £10.
1 2026 kitchen makeovers that add instant value – an attractive and sociable kitchen is essential to buyers and valuation surveyors. Before replacing an entire kitchen, consider the fundamentals such as its shape and position and decide if you need to make any structural changes to the space. Very often, kitchen renovations can be carried out for a modest investment. Small changes such as repainting can cost as little as £10 or replacing unit doors can have a huge impact. Replacing tired, stained worktops can totally modernise the look of a kitchen – embrace 2026 looks such as quartz veining.
2 Adding privacy to a garden – homeowners can spend a fortune on an expensive garden make-over while forgetting key fundamentals such as privacy which is absolutely vital. Improving the feeling of seclusion will add value without breaking the bank. You can raise boundary fences and walls up to 2m without needing planning permission. Consider adding new fences and even mature trees to protect your garden visually from your neighbours.
3 Boosting kerb appeal – first impressions count. Most buyers will decide if they like a property before they even get out of the car and it can be hard to shake off negative first impressions created by a poor or unattractive exterior. One 2026 trend which can be added cheaply is adding climbing plants or a trellis. Consider revamping tired brickwork with repointing.
4 Embrace the curves – rounded furniture with soft elements will continue to be big in 2026. Expect a mid-century throwback with statement rounded sofas and coffee tables with sculptural shapes. One statement piece of furniture can totally transform the look of a living room.
5 Woodn’t that be nice! – wood will be a big component of 2026 furniture choices. People are being conscious about how they spend their money, looking for pieces that will last, and evolve with them as their homes and lives do, but still look nice. Look out for simple lines that mix wood with other materials and incorporate curves and fabrics and stone.
6 Quiet luxury comeback – this trend we saw in 2024/25 will be back but a little more accessible this time and grounded in everyday life with more nostalgia woven in through retro touches.
7 Look out for layering textures – they will be on trend next year and this speaks to pre-war 1930s sensibilities of taking simple design and adding dimension and interest without too much drama. We love to look back – it makes people feel safe.
8 Three colours for 2026 – green will continue to be a huge colour but watch blue and teal creep in too.
