interior design trends 2026
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.
Tim Barber Architects’ decade-long renovation of L.A.’s Jonathan Club is a case study in material sourcing, adaptive reuse and designing for longevity, with lessons that reach far beyond historic preservation
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.
Design Network News Editor in Chief Courtney Porter steps back from the month-to-month churn to identify the five themes that defined the design conversation in late 2025 — and will shape how interiors, furnishings and materials evolve in 2026. From indoor-outdoor performance luxury and contemporary chintz to nervous-system-driven spaces, collectible design as cultural R&D and the industry’s most credible experiments with AI, this quarterly briefing captures where taste, technology and client expectations are heading next.
Designers and architects have incredibly complex jobs, which means the possibility of their roles being replaced by AI in the near future is highly unlikely. The bigger concern should be around other designers who are adopting AI to get ahead.
As Spring foliage blooms around us, I am inspired by the spirit of renewal and rejuvenation. In this month’s edition of Design Maestro, I discuss how our living spaces should reflect not only personal style, but also personal growth. Focusing on the great outdoors, a fresh new color palette, and a photo-ready furniture arrangement, I share several playful ways to explore and embrace the seasonal changes.
While perusing the product preview submissions for Atlanta Market, Winter 2024, we noticed recurring terms in the product descriptions: fun, ease, texture, warmth, and modernity.