The Interior Design Trends We Aren't Following in 2026
Which interior design trends are we ignoring in 2026? All of them.
If you want to read about what's making a comeback and what's top of mind, we're not going to talk about it here. Not because trends are bad. And not because we are out of touch.
It's because there's a better way. Instead of chasing trends, only to find your house looking dated in a few years, design your home around how you actually live and what you actually love.
If you want a home that still feels good to live in five, ten, or twenty years from now, it needs to be designed around your routines, your family, and your priorities. Let’s talk about why chasing trends so often leads to regret, and what to focus on instead.
The Problem with Chasing Interior Design Trends
There are two problems with focusing on trends.
One is that trends are fleeting. If you think back a few years, chevron patterns were everywhere. And we mean everywhere…flooring, backsplashes, textiles, accent walls. At the time, they felt bold and modern. And then, almost overnight, they were gone. Homes that invested heavily in chevron finishes suddenly felt dated because the look was so tightly tied to a specific moment in time.
Trends also may not match your day-to-day life. A good example is open shelving in kitchens. It looks beautiful in photos and styled spaces. In real homes, it often becomes stressful. Dishes are always visible. Items need to be perfectly curated. Clutter has nowhere to hide (and if you're like us, you need somewhere for it to hide!). This trend can quickly feel more like a burden than a design win.
People rarely wish they had been less practical. They wish their home still worked for them.
Does That Mean You Have to Ignore Trends Completely?
Listen, if you see something on TikTok or Pinterest and immediately think, "I love that!", that matters. Trends exist for a reason. You might be drawn to minimalism because you genuinely like clean, calm spaces, or you may have always loved the warmth of a colour like ochre, long before it started showing up everywhere.
The point is to be selective.
Instead of shoehorning a trend into your home because you "should”, the goal is to use it because it reflects your personal style and taste. We want inspiration, not imitation.
Design That Fits Your Style & Lifestyle
You might be thinking, if we’re not following trends, will the house feel boring?
The short answer is no.
Designing for your life does not mean ignoring beauty or personality. It means being intentional about where trends belong and where they do not.
A good example of this is a recent whole-home renovation we completed for a busy family. They were drawn to a modern farmhouse style, which was everywhere at the time. Instead of treating that aesthetic as a checklist to follow, we treated it as inspiration. We focused first on making sure the home could actually support the realities of a large, active family.
Once we had a solid foundation, we layered in style. Elements like white and wood cabinetry, a subway-tile backsplash, and a shiplap fireplace in the living room are familiar, but they are not tied to any specific trend cycle. Personality shows through lighting choices, warm wood tones, and subtle brushed-gold details. The result is a home that feels current without feeling locked into the moment it was designed.
This is a home where the family can say, “This feels like us,” not, “A designer said we should do this.” That is the difference between designing for trends and designing for longevity.
How We Design Your Home
When we first meet with homeowners, we start with the most important question: how does your home actually get used?
What do real mornings look like when everyone is trying to get out the door at the same time? What happens when your kids get home from school and drop their bags? Does your kitchen support how you really cook, gather, and entertain? Do you actually relax on the sofa, or does everyone end up somewhere else?
If the flow is off, no amount of styling will fix it.
Those conversations guide so many of the decisions we make. They help determine the materials we use, because those finishes need to stand up to real life. They show us what kind of storage you need to keep things organized and functional, not just pretty.
Next, we look at your style.
We talk about what you are drawn to and why. The spaces, colour palettes, or details that make you stop scrolling. That inspiration might come from trends, from past homes you have loved, or from things that have always felt like you.
From there, we bring it all together into a plan with staying power. One that feels grounded and intentional, and that can evolve as your life changes, without scrapping everything and starting from scratch.
Design to Come Home to In 2026 and Beyond
By now, the 2026 home trend reports are everywhere. Interior designers are talking about bolder hues, colour drenching, sculptural furniture, more texture, more “statement” everything. And yes, a lot of it is beautiful.
At EBO Design, we design homes with permanence, function, and personal style at the core. Homes that feel right now and still make sense years from now.
Design to come home to is not about what is popular. It is about what lasts.
If that is what you want for your home, let’s talk.
