Cast your mind back to this time last year. Many of us hadn’t given much thought to butter yellow or the fisherman aesthetic, and we certainly didn’t know what a Labubu was. January always brings an onslaught of trend reports. These lists of “ins” and “outs” inevitably go viral, promising to be the ultimate source of taste and sophistication for the year ahead. This approach can get a bit tired, especially when most people haven’t had enough time to really live with the trends they adopted from the previous year. Most of these reports are cobbled together from press releases, brand-promoted trend forecasts, social media scrolling, and just a bit of on-the-ground reporting.
As Country Living’s Senior Homes & Style Editor, it’s my job to track these trends and share them with you — something I take very seriously. In 2026, I wanted to take a different, more thoughtful approach. Enter The Country Design 100 — a group of designers, architects, makers, and other tastemakers whose names you will recognize from their advice and wisdom we’ve shared over the years.
Over the last six months, I’ve been in communication with each of them, picking their brains about what they’re most looking forward to in 2026 and where they think country style, which is having its own moment in the spotlight, is headed. They had a lot of opinions, but as I read all their responses, it became clear that there were just a few trends they were all looking forward to in the coming year.
Below, I’m sharing the six standout home design trends that they say will dominate the year ahead. From piling on silver accents to the return of wood, home design in 2026 is all about embracing individuality, comfort, and a timeless ease. Let’s dive in!
I’m calling it now: Americana will be one of — if not the — biggest trends of 2026. America marks its 250th birthday this summer, signaling a renewed interest in American-made furniture and folk art. “I think we are experiencing a new embrace of American traditional design as opposed to old-world design,” says Country Design 100 honoree and architect Stan Dixon. Fellow honoree and designer Elizabeth Lawrence agrees: “I believe the next evolution of country style heading into 2026 will be the mix between modern art and traditional country furniture and finishes, with a renewed embrace of Americana.” Think Federal-style mirrors, braided rugs, quilt motifs, and primitive furniture — less an explosion of all things red, white, and blue and more of a celebration of America’s bonafide design DNA.
RELATED: 10 Americana-Inspired Design Trends That Will be Huge in 2026
Let this be the year we all take everything a little less seriously — and I’m serious about that. Design is getting whimsical in 2026 thanks to a rising tide of fanciful details and a renewed embrace of pattern. “Heading into 2026, I’m seeing the country aesthetic blossoming with expressive embellishments — think ruffles, pleats, and fringe layered into cozy textiles and soft furnishings,” says designer and Country Design 100 honoree Shea McGee. Expect to see an explosion of hand-painted details on thrifted furniture and inventive uses of paint.
Even Pinterest is getting in on the whimsy — they named “Funhaus” as one of their top trends of 2026, highlighting candy-colored palettes and whimsical stripes as new favorites. But they didn’t stop there. Pinterest also claimed that lace and doilies are expected to trend this year. “We’re headed toward a period of greater individuality — toward color, maximalism, and joy,” says New York-based designer and Country 100 honoree Christina Salway. Anthony Earle, the creative director at the London-based Artichoke Ltd., echoed her sentiments in a recent trend report, noting that whimsical tiles-think personalized delft tiles — will be one of the biggest kitchen trends this year. In short: expect everyone to take dopamine decorating to the next level.
If you want a full, in-depth color trend report, check out the one I wrote just a few weeks ago, but the TL;DR version is simple: expect to see earth tones dominate the color conversation. Soft greens and terra-cotta are the front-running shades and expect them to be accented with wonderfully worn reds and smoky browns or creams. Earth-toned palettes will also be met with a renewed interest in textiles crafted by human hands — not machines — helping carry the “grounded” look through the year.
RELATED: Cozy Brown Paint Colors Designers Actually Love
I’m ready to officially call it: wood is back in a big way. Last year, I wrote about the revival of stained wood cabinets in the kitchen, but expect wood tones to make a strong statement throughout the entire house in 2026. Country Design 100 honorees Fran Keenan, Whitney McGregor, Tanya Smith-Shiflett, and Marynn Udvarhelyi all noted that wood was set for a major comeback this year. Expect to see an explosion of everything from light wood walls to raw wood furniture — giving rooms that highly sought-after collected-over-time look. Primitive antiques especially, are poised to have a comeback amidst the confluence of renewed interest in wood texture, Swedish design, and Americana.
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Decorating with Reclaimed Wood
Silver is ready for a full-blown revival in 2026. Designer Christina Salway agrees, saying that 2026 is the year we move away from “mandatory brass finishes.” Unlacquered brass has had a hold over the industry for the past five years, and while I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon, there is finally room for silver in the conversation thanks to emerging trends like Art Deco-inspired design and the recent Ralph Lauren Christmas. The silver baubles may be gone for the year, but the bowls, trays, and other accents — think nickel hardware in the bathroom and kitchen — remain.
RELATED: 6 Valuable Antique Silver Pieces That Are Always in Demand
Speaking of kitchens, expect designers to turn their eyes to Europe for inspiration in 2026. British-style kitchens dominated the conversation in 2025, but as Americans get comfortable with more rustic, less clean-lined spaces, designers are looking to the continent for ideas. And no, I’m not saying that the dreaded Tuscan kitchen is back. “For 2026, I envision country design continuing to draw deeply from the European landscape, shifting its gaze beyond the familiar English countryside toward the understated elegance of Belgian country homes,” says Country Design 100 designer Becca Casey. Think terra-cotta tiles, large stove coves, and rustic wood cabinets. The emphasis will be on texture, patina, and a lived-in aesthetic that feels authentic, not streamlined.
