Any design lover knows that one of the best ways to spot upcoming trends is by keeping an eye on show houses throughout the year. From our very own Whole Home project to the many Kips Bay Show Houses across the country, these curated spaces give designers a chance to flex their trend-forecasting skills. And if recent displays are any indication, living rooms are having a major moment. Over the past few years, nostalgia has been the driving force behind many interior trends. Now, that sentiment is becoming more specific: Skirted furniture, pops of floral patterns, formal sitting areas, and other “grandmotherly” design choices are taking center stage in living spaces. And we’re not mad about it!
But it’s not all about bold colors and over-the-top statements. As more people embrace dopamine decor, intentional clutter, and personal storytelling within their homes, maximalism is evolving. In living rooms, that means more texture, rich neutral palettes, and thoughtfully curated gallery walls. It’s proof that personality doesn’t always have to shout to be heard. To get a full picture of where living room design is headed, we tapped our network of talented interior designers for their insights on the aesthetics, furnishings, textiles, and details they expect to define the space in 2026. Read on for the top 10 living room trends they say are about to take over.
Elegant Details That Feel Like Home
In her room at the Kips Bay Decorators Show House in Dallas, designer Nicole Zarr demonstrates how to reinterpret classic, grand design details through a modern lens by skillfully playing with contrast.
A return to the elaborate styles of your chic grandmother is well underway,” designer Avery Cox tells House Beautiful. “I’m seeing a renewed love for fanciful upholstery, and I’m thrilled that passementerie is having a true comeback.” From cords to buttons to pom-poms to fringe, these fun accents are replacing the pared-back fine lines from the 2010s. “The era of knife-edge pillows and simple square upholstery is fading as people seek artistry, character, and individuality in their furniture,” she continues. Want to really capture the essence of Grandma’s living room? Then you need to embrace skirted furniture and fabric-wrapped legs—through a modern lens, of course. “I’m seeing clients lean into comfort with tailored skirts, bullion fringe, and shapely arms that feel collected, not dated,” Laura Lubin of Ellerslie Interiors says. Occasional tables and seating alike will be touched by this trend, Anastasia Casey of The Interior Collective adds. These styles are gentle and soft, a stark contrast to the ultra-modern, sharp lines that dominated the living room space not too long ago.
Immersive Spaces Filled with Color and Pattern
At that point, it’s time to consider how to choose your living room furniture, taking into account how you use the space, what kind of sofa you prefer, how many armchairs you can fit in, whether you need a sofa bed, and the importance of a coffee table or ottoman, and of course side tables to put a drink on. The right furniture can make a huge difference to the feeling of a room. Consider the scale of it – you don’t want tiny furniture drowning in a huge room, although small living rooms can often benefit from some oversized furniture. In an open plan living room-cum-kitchen, furniture can be essential for breaking up the space; a sofa with its back turned to the dining table is a handy way of differentiating between the living space and the dining space. And consider how you use your furniture before you make the final decision – do you prefer to lounge on a squashy sofa or is this a more formal room where you’d prefer to sit upright?
This characterful house in New Jersey has two living rooms: one formal and one informal. The informal space shown here is filled with vintage finds and Swedish folk art, and the french windows lead to the sun porch.