tense design trends | Future Tense: 11 Design Trends for

Tense design trends: a concise orientation before we get practical.

Tense design trends: Quick notes

We’re not fans of flash-in-the-pan trends that are in one minute and out the next, but we do perk up at new design directions that feel fresh and exciting—and have some staying power. Here are the palettes, details, and new approaches we have our eye on in 2026.

Pigments Instead of Paints

Above: Move over, paint; colorful, eco-forward wood pigments are set to make a splash this year. Photograph from Seeing in Technicolor: 10 Color-Stained Kitchens That Swap Paint for Pigment.

Experimental Art Spaces

Above: In with the avant-garde galleries, scrappy art collectives, maker spaces, and spots to gather. Shown is Landdd in Portland, Oregon, and there are dozens popping up across the country, from California to Maine. See our list at Reimagining the Gallery: 13 Hybrid Spaces on the Rise.

Return to Analog

Above: You’ve probably seen the recent surge of “analog bags”: tote bags filled with knitting, small sewing projects, crossword puzzles (the kind on paper), and other things to fill in-between moments. Call it analog, call it DIY, but making things—and antidotes to doomscrolling—is a move we can get behind in 2026. Photograph via artist Kate Kilmurray from Natural, Hand-Woven DIY Potholders Will Have You Revisiting a Childhood Craft. (Looking for ideas? See Next-Level Kits for Crafters and Makers.)

Corduroy Upholstery

Above: Rugged, comforting corduroy is no longer just for pants: Expect to see it used judiciously in interiors this year. Photograph by Brett Wood courtesy of William White, from Retail, Reconsidered: William White Emporium on Canal Street in NYC.

French Bistroware

Above: On the table in 2026? Riffs on French flatware—and there are lots of options. See more in Table Trend Alert: Sabre’s Skinny French Flatware and Its High/Low Lookalikes.

Wood-Wrapped Rooms

Above: So long, clinical white: Rooms wrapped in wood are having a resurgence, no doubt because they’re subtly soothing to both eye and spirit. Photograph by Kate Berry, courtesy of Beatrice Faverjon, from Hawaiian Modernism: A 1970s Redwood House on Kauai, Preserved and Refinished by Beatrice Faverjon.

Doses of Yellow

Above: Sunny yellow coverlets, upholstery, and more are set to bring a much-needed bright spot. Photograph by Hanna Grankvist, styling by Malena Burman, courtesy of Also Office from Big Ambitions: A Clever Makeover for a 680-Square-Foot West Village Apartment.

Curves in the Bath

Above: No more straight lines: Curves are taking over in the bath, making showers and tubs a focal point, not just a utility. Photograph by Vincent Leroux for After Bach from Classical Composure: A Place Dauphine Apartment Reimagined by After Bach Studio

Doodles and Drawings

Above: Rules are out; freehand painting and doodling on walls is in. Photograph by Dane Tashima, styled by Raina Kattelson, from Sawkille’s New Furniture Showroom: A Stone House on the Oldest Intersection in America.

Bird Motifs

Above: Something new taking flight: graphic, linocut-like silhouettes of swallows, swans, and doves. Shown here is the Beneath the Same Sky Bird Decoration, after the work of Greek artist Alekos Fassianos; see more examples in Trend Alert: For the Birds.

Deep Casual Hosting

Above: More gathering, less fuss. Following Samin Nosrat’s Monday night dinners and the concept of “deep casual hosting,” or having people over no matter the state of your house, we’re all for dinner parties that are all about being together and not about cleaning the baseboards. Take a tour of Samin’s kitchen and garden, and head here for more on her Monday night dinners. Photograph by Aya Brackett.