Chocolate brown remains a designer go-to for 2026. Image by Sam Frost courtesy of 1stDibs.
NEW YORK — Moody, earthy hues are expected to dominate again in 2026, while designers are embracing curvy shapes for furniture styles, according to a new survey.
In its 9th Annual Interior Design Trends Survey of 468 design professionals worldwide, online marketplace 1stDibs found one-third said chocolate brown was the top color for the coming year. This is a major change from 2022 when 17% cited brown as favorite hue.
Along with brown, designers gave a thumbs up to burgundy and dark green/sage for 2026. Overall, the report said, 2026 will trend toward earthy, dramatic colors led by browns, greens and reds to reflect a broader pivot to warmth and expansiveness. Meanwhile, soft pastels have grown in popularity with butter yellow rising from 14% mentioning it in 2024 to 30% in 2025. Other pale shades of note are cornflower blue, powder pink and pistachio.
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Within the furniture category, curvy and irregular-shaped pieces were cited by 43% of respondents as one of the trends for 2026. Wicker and rattan (27%) maintained its appeal as well. New mentions among the Top 5 furniture and lighting trends were skirted seating (24%) and irregularly shaped rugs (21%). Murano glass pendants (28%) are expected to be the most popular lighting element in 2026.
“With each annual edition of our Designers Trend Survey, we get far more than just a snapshot of evolving aesthetics or popular styles,” explained Anthony Barzilay Freund, editor director at 1stDibs. “We can see deeply into the cultural and creative undercurrents influencing design choices around the world. Through the insights of our global network of designers, we’re able to not only explore what trends are emerging but to uncover the motivations, values and societal shifts that are shaping them.”
Design elements on designers’ radar are color drenching (35%), cited as a surging trend, and upholstered walls (30%). Also expected to grow in popularity are wallpapered ceilings, cited by 35%.
In terms of design aesthetics, respondents are still embracing maximalism, mentioned by 39% in 2025 vs. 34% in 2023, along with eclecticism (38%). Floral and botanical motifs were most favored by respondents for 2026 as geometric and stripes are sliding in popularity. Edging upward are flame-stitch brocade, shibori and houndstooth.
Along with new pieces, designers have also embraced vintage for their projects, with 36% of all items sourced for a project in 2025 being vintage or antique. The use of vintage by designers reached a five-year high in 2025 as 85% said they sourced pieces made between 1920 and 2000 for their projects. Antiques, categorized as items made before 1920, will make their way into designs for 63% of respondents in the coming year, according to the survey.
Beyond weighing in on design elements, designers also shared how they are adopting AI tools into their businesses and commented on the impact of tariffs.
Nearly one-third (29%) acknowledged using AI in 2025 vs. just 9% in 2023. Additionally, 20% said they plan to integrate such tools into their work. There are still some holdouts, however, as about one-fourth were strongly against using it in their practice.
On the tariff issue, an overwhelming 92% of those surveyed said global tariffs had a negative impact on their business. Those seeking domestically made products rose to 72%, while the share of international purchases declined to 28% from 2024’s peak of 32%.
For its survey, 1stDibs commissioned Surveys & Forecasts LLC to conduct 468 online interviews between July and August 2025 with interior designers who are part of the 1stDibs Trade 1st Program.
