08/01/2026
Interior and Design
Luxury Defined surveyed the experts, the architects, the designers, and even the influencers on glossy websites and magazines to gauge the top trends emerging for interior design in 2026.
Wood in all its ingrained glory never left: Last year it was all about paneling. In 2026, anything goes; “parquet flooring, material drenching, dark wood, travertine, boucle fabric, and curved furniture silhouettes,” according to Architectural Digest. Wood in bathrooms, wood in kitchens (particularly Douglas fir, oak, and walnut), “wood in general,” says Vogue: “Our 2026 obsession with wood doesn’t stop at the kitchen.” The fashion bible also pointed to reclaimed wood, unique patterns, and more textured forms, such as burl. It’s part of the patinaed, well-worn, lived-in look: “substance over styling,” says Wallpaper magazine.
Minimalism is out, which means that decorative detailing, such as hand-painted antique tiles and tasseled soft furnishings, is having a moment. Color, too, is always in, but it’s deeper this year, and earthier: charcoal gray, burnt orange, and chocolate brown paired with pale, dusty blue. We’ll also see more green, in natural, muted—even “muddy” tones.
White has made a comeback in the ethereal form of Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year, “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.” Of course, white is the perfect frame for the next “really big” trend in wall coverings: large-scale art to fill that “daunting empty wall with something striking,” says Vogue.
Speaking of striking: lavish furnishings—think bespoke sofas—are also set to make a bold statement in interior design this year. Read on to see how these top trends play out in five luxury homes.
This château-inspired country house has a peaceful, parklike setting in Belgium’s beautiful Meuse Valley, close to the cities of Maaseik and Maastricht.
The main residence has been elegantly designed to evoke a sense of lived-in luxury—a place for day-to-day living, pampered relaxation, and elegant entertaining.
The great hall is graced with white stone walls and a mezzanine gallery, and vaulted steps to the wine cellar. An elegant lounge/study and a grand living room with old oak parquet floors, timber beams, and a log-burning fireplace share access to a lovely garden terrace. Reclaimed wood floors grace the library, formal dining room, and chef’s kitchen, warmed by an AGA and a stone hearth.
The tower houses an office that could also serve as a guest suite. Just across the hall is the primary suite, lavishly appointed with two dressing rooms, a spa bathroom (with soaking tub and walk-in shower), and a private terrace.
The home is arrayed with lifestyle amenities, including a gym, sauna, yoga room, and a showroom-style, car-collector’s garage. Smart-home automation, underfloor heating, and double-glazing throughout provide an additional layer of comfort.
Belgian landscape architect Ludo Dierckx designed the home’s magnificent gardens. There are several south-facing terraces and a solar-heated swimming pool for summer sojourns, as well as a pond, potting shed, and automated irrigation system.
Residence #802 is one of just 22 units at 900 West Washington, a 10-story, LEED Gold-certified residential tower in the city’s trendy West Loop.
The 3,310-square-foot, full-floor condominium features soaring ceilings, more than 10 feet high; gallery walls; and large casement windows with north, south, and east exposures. The decor has been boldly reimagined with vibrant colors and rich textures. Automated window treatments, radiant heated floors, Lutron lighting, a whole-house sound system, and MERV-13 hospital-grade air filtration are among the high-tech features.
The heart of the home is a chef’s kitchen outfitted with stone countertops, Scavolini cabinetry, a 48-inch Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and Miele dishwasher. It flows seamlessly into a generous living room popping with color—carpets, curtains, and beautiful bespoke sofas—and an integrated dining space with a city-view terrace.
The northeast wing of the home is dedicated to the primary suite, offering two custom closets and a spa-inspired bathroom with soaking tub and an oversized shower. Three additional en suite bedrooms are all luxuriously appointed; one is configured as an office, and another is a flexible den/media space.
A mudroom with elevator access to the lobby and two private parking spaces are further amenities. The building is in the heart of the West Loop, minutes from some of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurants, galleries, and boutiques.
Tall, wide, gallery walls demand art displays of commensurate scale. That’s exemplified in this remarkable contemporary loft just steps from the historic Palais Royal Gardens and the Place des Victoires in the 2nd Arrondissement of Paris.
Elegantly situated within a mid-17th century mansion, the apartment offers cool white living space of 5,016 square feet, or 466 square meters. Its art walls begin in the entrance hall, leading to a sumptuous reception room with parquetry floors and a 4.5-meter ceiling (14.7 feet) adorned with historically listed, figurative paintings.
The art expands into a grand reception room under a vast, central, skylight. Its ceiling soars 5.3 meters (17.4 feet) above Versailles-style parquet flooring, lounge seating, and a fireplace, opening to terraces. The scale allows for proper display of even the largest artworks.
The primary suite, adjacent, has its own listed, painted ceiling; a full bathroom; and a dressing room. A floating staircase rises between the study/office and full kitchen to the upper level, where two airy mezzanine bedrooms share a shower room and look on to a leafy courtyard.
Elegance, as Webster’s Dictionary defines it, is “tasteful richness of design or ornamentation,” and there is plenty of it on offer within the cool, white walls of this exquisitely finished, turnkey beachfront villa on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.
Big glass walls let ample natural light flow into interiors of timeless design, executed in exceptional materials—including more than 30 types of Italian marble—with world-class craftsmanship. Fully furnished, the villa features bespoke European furniture, and custom pieces sourced locally and from Australia, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The interior space of 12,469 square feet (1,158 square meters) accommodates an expansive, open-plan living space served by a state-of-the-art island kitchen with marble counters and built-in commercial-grade appliances including a grill, deep fryer and multifunction Quooker water system.
There are six spacious bedrooms and eight opulent, marble-clad bathrooms, all supported by Control4 home automation, Lutron and Targetti lighting. The 35 Bose speakers integrated into the ceilings provide an immersive soundscape.
Outside, expansive terraces overlook the Arabian Gulf and crystal blue infinity pool with a Jacuzzi and heater, illuminated by 300 fiberoptic lights. Towering trees and lush greenery include a 500-year-old Chorisia tree.
The Ajioka House is a 1960 post-and-beam masterwork by Buff & Hensman, the profoundly influential master builders who helped create postwar California modernism.
Meticulously restored and reimagined by Commune Design, the compound’s four structures are tucked behind gates and a high wall on nearly an acre of lush, mature, landscaped grounds in LA’s tranquil Nichols Canyon.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom main residence, one-bedroom guest quarters, and two studio buildings are linked by terraces, lush garden pathways, a walk-in swimming pool and spillover spa, fire pit, bar and barbecue station, and two Stan Bitters ceramic water installations.
The interiors are wrapped in reclaimed, rustic oak cladding, grounded by polished concrete floors, exposed beam ceilings, and a dramatic brick fireplace that anchors the double-height main living space. At the heart of the home, a 24-foot Boffi kitchen island of stainless steel and walnut opens to expansive outdoor living spaces, an open-air bar, and serene spaces for gathering or quiet retreat.
A floating staircase rises to the primary suite, with integrated seating, a walk-in closet, a tiled bath with dual vanities, a deep soaking tub, and a glass-encased shower.
Further amenities include the ample, one-bedroom, one-bath guest suite, a design studio/office and a wellness room with a sauna and Himalayan salt wall.
An eight-vehicle motor court and a two-car garage complete this architectural jewel, beautifully secluded, yet just minutes from Mulholland Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, and the bustling Sunset Strip.
Explore homes with the latest interior design trends here.
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