Top Interior Design Trends 2026: Maximalism and New Aesthetics
I’m Ekaterina Proskurina, a practicing architect specializing in commercial and residential interior design. I’m a regular speaker at Horeca Estate and a contributing expert for Petrovich.Znaet and Hoff publications. For more than 15 years, I’ve been creating some of the most trend-setting interiors.
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1. The Main Trend of 2026: Maximalism That Tells a Story
In 2026, interior design is finally moving away from the sterile, calm, almost interchangeable spaces that dominated recent years. Maximalism is taking the lead—but not the chaotic version associated with clutter and randomness. The new maximalism is thoughtful, curated, and multilayered, where every detail contributes to a visual and emotional narrative.
The interior becomes a story. A story of a person—their taste, attachments, cultural roots, memories, travels, and impressions. If minimalism aimed to remove the unnecessary, maximalism in 2026 aims to highlight everything meaningful. Individuality is key: art objects, bold colors, ornaments, handcrafted items, family heirlooms—everything that creates true uniqueness.
What used to be considered the epitome of good taste—soft monochromatic minimalism with calm beige and gray palettes—now feels too muted. The new direction enhances layered monochrome with color, contrast, ornament, and texture. Spaces gain meaning, depth, and voice. Even in neoclassical or ethnic interiors, the main focus remains the story the space tells.
Maximalism becomes a universal framework that unites diverse styles—from ethnic interiors to art deco. The focus is on emotion, expression, rich detail, and the feeling of life. A home designed in this aesthetic is no longer just a pretty picture—it becomes an extension of one’s personality and cultural code.
2. The Four Key Style Directions of 2026
The trends of 2026 extend far beyond a single aesthetic direction. Interior design becomes layered, multifaceted, and culturally enriched. Among the many emerging currents, four defining styles stand out: renewed retrofuturism (or mid-century modern in a new interpretation), ethnic interiors with a strong emphasis on Russian style, vibrant color-rich neoclassicism, and bold, expressive art deco. Despite their differences, these styles share core values—emotionality, expressiveness, and architectural softness.
2.1. Retrofuturism and Mid-Century Modern Reimagined
Mid-century modern, which has quietly resurfaced in recent years, finally takes on a more daring spirit in 2026. Familiar silhouettes of the 1960s–70s are enriched with bold color accents, futuristic details, unique lighting, and experimental materials.
Retrofuturism embraces boldness: furniture forms become more sculptural, glass takes on imaginative shapes, and metal moves from supporting role to protagonist. Low-profile furniture and fluid lines create a sense of movement and softness.
This style is ideal for those who want intellectual nostalgia while mixing past and future. Here, colors and forms act as emotional accents and drive the dynamism of the space.
2.2. Ethnic Interiors with a Russian Accent
Ethnic design becomes one of the strongest trends of 2026, and in Russia, the natural evolution of this is a modern reinterpretation of the Russian style. This is not a nostalgic reconstruction—it’s a meaningful, contemporary translation of ornaments, textures, and cultural archetypes.
The Russian style can unfold through:
— Lubok-inspired motifs and bright patterns
— Slavic geometry and soft natural tones
— Northern carved details and wool textures
— Caucasian graphic contrasts and rich colors
Ethnic design is inherently modular. Change the set of ornaments and textures—and the “nationality” of the space changes with them: add ceramics and cacti for a Mexican vibe; bring in rough wood and tactile textiles for a northern aesthetic.
Rounded walls, arches, and sculptural furniture feel especially organic in such interiors, creating human-centered, soft architecture. Ethno today is not mere stylization—it's a way to emphasize identity and roots.
2.3. Vibrant Colorful Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism has long existed as a realm of light, balanced interiors in pastel shades. But 2026 rewrites the rules. The new neoclassicism embraces large color blocks, saturated hues, deep walls and ceilings, and bold decorative solutions.
The style retains its core—proportions, classic hardware, symmetry, moldings—but now these elements frame color rather than replace it.
Add a bit of ornament and texture—and the interior shifts into maximalism. Leave more air—and you get an elegant, structured, emotionally warm space.
Vibrant neoclassicism is for those who want expressiveness without losing harmony.
2.4. Bold, Saturated Art Deco
In 2026, art deco becomes more daring, freer, and more dynamic. The geometry grows larger, metals warmer, rhythm stronger, and palette richer. Compared to earlier, more rigid art-deco interpretations, the new version welcomes curves, arches, and soft transitions—it becomes less strict and more luxurious.
Contrasts matter: deep blues with terracotta, emerald with gold, plum with graphite. Vibrant glass, lacquered surfaces, and expressive lighting turn the interior into a theatrical setting where objects play their own roles.
The updated art deco is perfect for those who crave drama without heaviness.
3. Architectural Elements: Arches, Softened Lines, and Plasticity
One of the most powerful directions of 2026 is architectural plasticity. Sharp angles and rigid lines give way to softness: arches, vaults, rounded openings, curved walls, and fluid furniture silhouettes. This kind of architecture creates a sense of calm and naturalness, echoing the shapes of nature and the human body.
Arches become a key element: they visually enlarge the space, add depth, and create the feeling of transitioning from one emotional zone to another. Combined with color, arches serve both decorative and conceptual roles.
Rounded corners and softened edges contribute to a sense of flow. This is not just decoration—it supports the broader trend toward biophilic design and organic forms. Interiors built on smooth lines feel warmer, friendlier, and perfectly aligned with the expressive color and material richness of maximalism.
In 2026, architectural softness becomes a unifying backdrop for all major styles—ethnic, art deco, neoclassical, and retrofuturistic—making spaces cohesive, alive, and unmistakably contemporary.
Продолжаю перевод в том же стиле — живо, профессионально и естественно для носителя английского языка.
4. Biophilia — A Non-Negotiable Element of the Modern Interior
Just a few years ago, plants in interiors were seen as a pleasant but optional touch. In 2026, biophilia becomes a fundamental part of the design vocabulary. It’s no longer about “placing a plant in a vase,” but about a holistic approach where nature becomes a full-fledged participant in the space.
Today, living plants are an architectural tool, used as thoughtfully as color, texture, or light. Large floor plants create verticality, visually balance bold walls, and complement richly decorated spaces. Compositions of smaller plants form gentle transitions, while shrub-like and tree-like species become emotional focal points of a room.
Biophilia reinforces the year’s main idea—the story. Plants infuse interiors with a sense of life, a breathing environment, and a natural grounding energy. They fit seamlessly into ethnic interiors, where greenery enhances the connection to cultural archetypes, and into vibrant neoclassicism or art deco, where plants serve as a soft counterbalance to dramatic décor.
Biophilic design is further strengthened by natural materials: wood, stone, clay, and textiles made from natural fibers. Together, they create a tactile, authentic environment where people feel calmer and more grounded.
In 2026, a home without plants feels unfinished—as if it’s missing its final touch. Living greenery becomes as essential as textiles or lighting.
5. Color as the Main Design Tool of 2026
In 2026, color stops being background—it becomes the primary expressive tool of the interior. Color sets the mood, defines the character of the space, and helps create the very “story” at the heart of this year’s trends. If designers previously leaned toward neutrality, now neutrality feels like a missed opportunity to express personality.
Bold and emotionally rich hues take center stage: ochre, indigo, deep grape plum, emerald and forest greens, dark turquoise, fuchsia, terracotta, rusty browns, and honey tones. These shades add volume, density, and character to interiors. And they are used not as accents, but as large-scale statements—on walls, ceilings, doors, built-in furniture, and niches.
Color becomes a storytelling tool: one hue may define the cultural identity of a space, another sets the emotional tone, and a third builds the visual rhythm. In ethnic interiors, color is often tied to tradition—from the palette of Russian lubok art to earthy tones of clay, wool, and natural dyes. In art deco, color becomes the foundation of theatricality; in neoclassicism, a means of creating depth and refined luxury; in retrofuturism, a way to add dynamism.
New maximalism demands bold combinations: deep green with red, warm ochre with indigo, terracotta with emerald, lilac shades paired with honey tones. What matters is not just the choice of colors, but how they interact with texture—matte finishes, relief surfaces, textiles, and wood. This creates the effect of layered painting, where the interior becomes a canvas.
Color is no longer mere decoration—it’s a language through which the space speaks. And the richer the palette, the more expressive the story.
6. Textures and Materials: Craft, Handmade Surfaces, and Relief
In 2026, interiors gain depth and expressiveness not only through color but also through texture. The spotlight shifts to materials that bear the imprint of the human hand—everything crafted, not mass-produced. Craftsmanship, tactility, and natural honesty define the new season.
Leading the way are wool fabrics, coarse textiles, chunky knits, linen weaves, handwoven rugs, ceramics with irregular glazing, wooden panels with visible grain, and stone with natural patterns. These materials bring warmth, sincerity, and tactile richness to interiors—perfectly complementing the trend toward storytelling and maximalism.
Reliefs evolve into a full-fledged decorative style. These may include:
— clay wall panels,
— bas-relief surfaces,
— carved wooden elements,
— woven compositions,
— expressive plaster textures.
Such elements add depth and make the interior feel alive. They visually enrich the space—but naturally, without heaviness—because relief and craft follow an organic logic.
Texture becomes a way to give a room character without unnecessary décor. And when combined with deep color, the story becomes even more powerful. Terracotta matte clay, woolen panels against emerald walls, dark wood grain against indigo—all create an interior you can feel not only with your eyes but with your skin.
Craft materials and handmade textures are essential in ethnic interiors but integrate beautifully into colorful neoclassicism, art deco, and even retrofuturism, adding warmth and authenticity. They form a universal language of contemporary design—the language of the tactile and the real.
Ниже — перевод всего представленного фрагмента в том же качественном, плавном, профессиональном стиле, как у носителя английского языка. Я сохранил структуру, интонацию и смысл, и адаптировал язык так, чтобы текст звучал естественно в англоязычной профессиональной среде.
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The Dopamine Apartment
One important direction is colorful furniture. Cabinets, consoles, armchairs, sofas—all of these are confidently painted in saturated tones: indigo, ochre, emerald, plum, terracotta, deep moss. Furniture becomes a focal point that reinforces the interior’s color-driven drama.
Another growing trend of 2026 is the demand for artisan pieces: items from small workshops, custom-designed furniture, and handmade objects. These may include woven chairs, carved tabletops, ceramic pedestals, or textile wall panels. People crave uniqueness, and furniture becomes a way to express a personal point of view in design.
Functional solutions continue to evolve as well, but in a new direction: not hidden minimalism, but expressive practicality. Think modular sofas with sculptural silhouettes, transformable consoles, or tables with artistic features. Function is no longer concealed behind form—it becomes part of the artistic concept.
There is also a strong movement toward material authenticity: furniture made from wood with prominent grain, ceramics, wool-based constructions, or metal with a living patina. It must feel “real,” tactile, with the story of the material clearly present.
Furniture in 2026 is no longer a neutral base for décor—it is a full-fledged artistic layer of the interior.
9. Lighting and Objecthood
In 2026, lighting moves far beyond its technical purpose—it becomes one of the defining tools of atmosphere and a key design object in its own right. Fixtures take on an artistic role, functioning as sculptures, objets d’art, and emotional highlights.
The principle of layering, which defines the year’s interiors, fully applies to lighting. Several types of illumination are used simultaneously: soft ambient light, architectural contour lighting, spotlight accents, and decorative fixtures with strong personality. This multi-layered approach allows you to shift the mood and depth of a space, creating a “living” interior that transforms with each scenario.
Unusual lighting forms are gaining popularity: fantastical glass shapes, textured ceramic lamps, metal structures reminiscent of art deco, or even large-scale light sculptures. What matters is that a fixture acts as a standalone art object—reflecting the interior’s style and amplifying its story.
In ethnic interiors, lighting often incorporates natural materials—woven fibers, wood, ceramics, or handcrafted textures. In neoclassicism and art deco, metal elements, geometric forms, and glass remain essential. In retrofuturism, bold colors and futuristic silhouettes dominate.
Warm light is especially important. Soft, slightly golden illumination enhances the textures of wood and textiles, accentuates relief surfaces, and brings out the richness of saturated tones. This type of lighting creates a sense of comfort, emotional warmth, and visual cohesiveness.
Lighting in 2026 is not background—it is the artistic framework of the interior, essential for achieving depth and expressiveness.
10. Conclusion: What the Interior of 2026 Will Look Like
The interior of 2026 is a space filled with meaning, personality, and emotion. There is no place for the bland or decorative-for-the-sake-of-decor. Every element—from color and ornament to furniture shape and lighting choice—participates in building a narrative that expresses the identity of the person or place.
Maximalism becomes the defining direction of the year precisely because it allows this multilayered story to unfold. It is not about excess—it is about depth. It brings together culture, memory, heritage, craftsmanship, and art, shaping a space that feels like a personal myth.
The four key styles—renewed retrofuturism, ethnic interiors with a Russian emphasis, vibrant colorful neoclassicism, and dramatic art deco—form the year’s aesthetic palette. Despite their differences, they share a common desire for richness, individuality, and emotional intensity.
Arches, softened lines, biophilic elements, and natural materials bring softness and organic flow into the interior. Color becomes the main compositional tool, while textures and handcrafted surfaces form its tactile foundation. Ornaments define the cultural vector, and artisanal furniture and expressive lighting turn the home into a gallery of personal values.
The interior of 2026 is a space where one can feel, breathe, and truly be oneself. It is alive, layered, honest. It is unafraid of color, history, roots, or personality. It is created not for display, but for life—beautiful, emotional, and meaningful.
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