Emily Siwek is a trend futurist and director of architectural design at Sphere Trending. Her background in interior design for both residential and commercial spaces supports her insights and trend direction for today’s environments, including home, hospitality, contract and retail.
Siwek joins our trend advisory board for the remainder of 2026, taking the baton from her Sphere Trending colleague, Riann Heinkl. Siwek’s first Notable product appears in our July print issue.
We spoke with Siwek about the ancillary product categories that are shaping design direction in home furnishings, shifting consumer behaviors and one trend she wishes would go away.
Micro trends are proliferating, amplified by social media. How has that reshaped trend forecasting?
Micro trends are an interesting place to watch the intersection of culture and design. For us, new niche social media-inspired shifts have provided another input to our process of inspiration gathering, looking for signals that might evolve into more long-lasting aesthetics – especially those that lean towards livability and longevity.
Are there any categories outside of home furnishings, like fashion, entertainment or food, that are quietly influencing home furnishings design? What are you keeping your eye on?
Yes, we are seeing a shift towards more day-to-day lifestyle influences like everyday consumer goods as status symbols – think water bottles and high-end groceries. Beyond that, travel continues to be a driver along with a movement towards social wellness including saunas and cold plunges that started in hospitality but is quickly being adopted at home.
Which trade shows, either at home or abroad, do you consider a must-see for tracking trends?
Maison & Objet, the bi-annual Paris based tradeshow is a must-see for me because it features the most complete collection of directional home goods from furniture to soft goods and accessories. The show provides a wholistic picture of home trend direction across categories, and the local retail trendspotting is just as good!
What trend are you tired of and hope will go away?
Although I love historical references, I am tired of design trends that are focused on one single era. They tend to look time-stamped and quickly dated. I think designing across decades or mixing in items with patina or more unexpected eclecticism creates a more well-rounded and longer lasting aesthetic.
Have you noted any recent shifts in consumer behavior that will change the way they think about their homes, or what furnishings they purchase?
While we continue to watch digital as a driver, especially the merging of AI productivity and human creativity, there is an equally large push towards analog that is reshaping behaviors. Listening rooms and tech-free spaces are emerging, creating a new shift towards ‘humanizing the home’ that could have broader significance.
