2026 Design Trends: Homes with Personality, Textures with Therapy, and Kitchens That Finally Have Colour Again
Discover the funniest and most relatable 2026 interior design trends sweeping BC — from bold colours and cozy textures to homes that finally feel human again.
Let’s face it — minimalism has had a long, glossy reign. For years, homes looked like museum exhibits curated by people who were allergic to personality. White walls, sterile counters, and not a single object allowed to express emotion.
Well, 2026 has entered the chat — and it brought texture, colour, and a sense of humour. Homes are fun again, and homeowners are finally brave enough to admit that beige might not be a personality trait.
As a building designer who has survived every design era — from the “open concept everything” craze to the time people put barn doors on condos — allow me to guide you through 2026’s biggest home design trends, with a wink and a trowel.
1. Warm Is the New Wow
White is no longer a “timeless classic.” It’s a cry for help. 2026 is all about warmth — earthy clays, muted terracottas, buttery neutrals, and soft greens that feel like a forest exhale. Inspired by BC’s natural palette — driftwood, moss, cedar bark, and that particular shade of grey we call “rain” — this trend celebrates comfort over coolness.
2. Texture: The Comeback Kid
“I want my house to feel like it’s wearing a cozy sweater,” one client told me. Mission accepted — and honestly, same.
3. Bold Statements with a Sense of Humor
If 2025 flirted with statement pieces, 2026 is going steady. This is the year of the confident interior — the sculptural light fixture that looks like it could host its own TED Talk, the archway that demands an audience, the art that makes guests say, “I don’t get it, but I like it.”
4. Pattern Mixing: Controlled Chaos, but Make It Chic
Pattern mixing is the design equivalent of jazz — intentional chaos that somehow works when you commit to it.
5. Colourful Kitchens: Culinary Confidence Returns
Minimalist white kitchens are so last decade. Picture sage cabinets, inky blues, warm terracotta tiles, and bronze fixtures that say, “I’m stylish, but I also make soup.”
The 2026 Motto: Homes with Soul
2026 isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. Homes are sanctuaries for real people with pets, hobbies, and a tragic number of coffee mugs.
And if anyone tells you your home has “too much character,” just smile and say: “Thank you. It’s a trend.”
