New year, new home look.

For many families, the start of the year is the perfect time to refresh their living spaces — whether by changing wall colors, updating furniture, or introducing a new design theme. 

To make those January home updates easier, here’s a guide to the contemporary interior design trends experts say will define homes in 2026.

According to The Spruce, this year’s trends lean toward natural aesthetics and the sense of comfort and calm they bring into a home.

Tactile materials: Designed to be felt

Make it playful. Make it inviting.

Incorporating materials that feel good to the touch adds warmth and personality to any space. Textured surfaces not only make a home more visually interesting but also create a welcoming environment for everyone, from toddlers to adults. These materials help make a home feel more alive and stress-free, making them especially ideal for living rooms.

Interior designer Ashley Rose Walsh highlights tactility’s importance in creating “warmth, depth, and a sense of permanence, which makes furniture feel integral to the room rather than fading into the background.”

Soft curves: Comfort in motion

Complementing tactile materials are furniture pieces with soft, curved forms. These organic shapes add a playful yet calming vibe, creating a sense of movement while promoting relaxation and creativity.

This design approach pairs well with the 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, whose soft, airy tone enhances the gentle flow of curved furniture. The look works beautifully in living rooms and bedrooms alike.

Emotional color: Stories in hues

Interior designer Anngelica Mohabir notes that the trend is shifting toward “color stories that reflect emotion rather than trend, with deeper tones that ebb and flow with your moods — calm mornings, moody afternoons, sensual evenings.”

This style is easy to achieve, as Cloud Dancer is a versatile base color. It can support a nostalgic, provincial aesthetic or elevate a refined Oriental seaside theme, depending on how it’s styled.