NEW horizons

FROM HERITAGE MAXIMALISM TO LIGHTING AS ART, THESE ARE THE KEY LOOKS GAINING TRACTION. BY SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

- SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

LOOKING for ideas on how to keep your decor and interior styling bang up-to-date?

With the focus on new horizons, home and design platform Houzz has gathered insights from its community of homeowners, designers and home improvement professionals to forecast the top home design trends for 2026.

Reflecting a desire for spaces that balance character with comfort, here’s a look at the styles we expect to gain momentum in the year ahead...

HERITAGE MAXIMALISM

“Maximalist interior design has been gaining momentum among UK homeowners for some time, but we expect a heritage-driven twist to emerge,” reveals Kiya.

“Known as ‘heritage maximalism,' this design style incorporates nods to British roots while layering in contemporary sensibility, to create a timeless, modern appeal,” she explains.

“Think bold colour palettes, historical motifs and ornate detailing, from furnishings to finishes.”

Mel Massey says: “We've noticed more clients embracing bold interior design choices, from richly detailed wallpaper and patterned upholstery to dramatic hues.

“At the same time, homeowners are layering in modern touches to personalise their spaces.”

While these choices may have once felt intimidating, she says visualisation tools such as mood boards give homeowners “the confidence to combine these elements into a look that feels curated, not chaotic”.

THE RETURN OF DARK WOOD

“Dark wood tones such as walnut and mahogany are reemerging, as homeowners strive to bring a sense of depth to their interiors,” says Kiya.

Moreover, she says searches on Houzz reflect this resurgence, with googling for ‘dark wood' rising 187% in the first three quarters of the year compared with the same period in 2024.