New year, new interiors

Beyond alternative styles, designers also anticipate more experiments in personalising homes and maximising space using creative techniques.

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Interior designers point to the growing popularity of emerging aesthetics which, though unlikely to eclipse Japandi or wabi-sabi, are winning more home owners' hearts.

Korean Newtro, a nostalgic style blending vintage and modern elements, is likely to make its emergence in Singapore, predicts product designer Nadia Leong of furniture store Hipvan. This is based on the growing popularity of adjacent styles on the company's interior design inspiration platform, Communa.

One potential rival to Japan-influenced styles in 2026 is the industrial style, which favours cooler tones, repurposed materials, open spaces and grunge, says Mr Teh.

While this style had largely tapered off in popularity in Singapore by the late-2010s, he sees a resurgence on the horizon.

His recent client requests for the style often add a personal spin with greenery and organic textures alongside typical cornerstones of the look, like exposed concrete and lighting.

Mr Yap also believes there is a shift towards more varied and bold textures, like bronze and stainless-steel finishes.

Instead of limewash walls or microcement flooring, clients are increasingly asking for marble and stone slabs with pronounced veining and graphic patterns, as well as stained plywood and veneer finishes that embody more natural grain, variation and movement.

"These materials feel less manufactured and more organic, allowing spaces to carry greater character and visual impact," says Mr Yap.

As more Singaporeans return from their end-of-year holidays to Japan, there could also be broader appreciation of Japanese styles that are not minimalist, says Mr Eugene Lee, lecturer of interior design at Lasalle College of the Arts.

Such emphasis on Japanese styles is unsurprising, considering the country’s popularity among Singaporeans.