Design trends
In her final column for DNN, Courtney Porter surveys the five forces reshaping design right now: what the fragmenting art fair landscape means for how visual culture gets staged; why Gen Z can smell AI slop from a mile away; how this year’s Oscar-nominated films are writing the brief for tomorrow’s interiors; what hotel designers can steal from yachts and private clubs; and whether the 21st century already has a defining aesthetic — even if no one has named it yet.
mbiente 2026 reveals five defining trends shaping the future of home and product design, from portable warmth and universal kitchen tools to playful forms and woven craft traditions. The fair frames design as a form of care, responding to climate pressure, shifting domestic habits and the growing demand for objects that support everyday well-being.
Fashion forecasting firms Fashion by Informa and FS have outlined four material directions expected to shape apparel and interiors in 2027: Awaken, Wondermode, Space for Solace and Ritual. Spanning tactile, nature-driven surfaces, playful experimental constructions, restorative technical textiles and heritage-inspired embellishment, the trends point to a future where material choice becomes both emotional language and functional solution. With crossover implications for upholstery, soft goods and lighting, these emerging fabrics offer designers a preview of how texture, color and craft will define the next cycle of design.
Each month, DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter curates five developments shaping the design industry, from international fairs and technology launches to regional shifts and standout interiors. The January 2026 edition spans Paris Design Week’s most compelling products, CES’s evolving relationship between technology and the home, and a sober assessment of California’s wildfire rebuild one year later, reframed through global philosophies of resilience and impermanence.
This month’s briefing also considers Dallas’ potential rise as a year-round design destination and closes with a close reading of Sheldon Harte’s refined desert interiors, which signal an evolution of Palm Springs style without erasing its past. Together, these selections map a creative landscape defined by nostalgia, adaptation and the search for durable cultural meaning in a period of ecological and economic pressure.
Drawing from a cross-sector lens—from sustainability and adaptive living to artificial intelligence and design—the report provides critical context to help interior designers anticipate change and make informed decisions in the year ahead.
Leading high-growth retailer in hard-surface flooring showcases the year’s biggest design trends for 2026
1stDibs presents the latest data on the site’s consumer-buying trends from the past year
Winter 2026 design markets reveal a clear shift toward wellness-driven materials, tactile surfaces and modern heritage design. Drawing insights from designers, makers and leading vendors across Vegas, Atlanta, KBIS and ICFF, this article explores the key trends shaping interiors in the year ahead.
From richly textured hand-knotted wools to high-performance outdoor designs, these 10 new rugs prove that the floor can be the most expressive surface in the room. Discover standout introductions that pair thoughtful materials with compelling stories, offering interior designers fresh ways to ground a space.
Go inside a lighting design project focused on wellbeing, natural rhythms, and sensory balance within a yoga interior.