As the final days of 2025 approach, the focus shifts to the future of Australian home interiors. Four of the country's most successful stylists have shared their expert forecasts for the defining trends of 2026, revealing a collective move towards personalised, warm, and textured spaces with a standout favourite colour.
The Shift to Grounded and Personal Interiors
According to Zoe Gilpin, known as The DIY Decorator and ranked among Australia's top ten home décor influencers, the coming year will see a departure from overly curated looks. Australian homes are expected to embrace a more grounded and personal style, she explains. Interiors will feel genuinely lived-in and individual, blending handcrafted or vintage finds with contemporary design. This mix aims to evoke nostalgia, comfort, and a unique sense of home.
Gilpin predicts colour palettes will shift towards earthy and muted tones. "Colour palettes will shift toward olive, terracotta, deep burgundy and muted blue tones," she said. When paired with a neutral base, these colours are set to give rooms a new sense of depth and personality.
Blue Takes Centre Stage for Kitchens and Bathrooms
Carla Anderson, the creative force behind a well-established design studio in Bendigo, central Victoria, identifies a specific colour trend poised for dominance. "I think blue will be big for 2026," Anderson states confidently. She envisions powdery blue kitchens and bathrooms, with blue tones extending into paints, furniture, and textiles throughout the home.
Beyond colour, Anderson notes a change in finishes for fixtures. Polished nickel is forecast to rise in popularity for tapware, with chrome serving as a more accessible alternative. Her overall vision for 2026 involves the thoughtful pairing of vintage or beautifully crafted furniture with modern minimalist styling, creating a harmonious blend of old and new eras.
Calming Neutrals and Tactile Warmth
Amber Phillips, an interior design expert collaborating with brands like Fenton & Fenton and Wattyl, highlights a movement towards serenity. She observes a shift towards softer, calming neutrals that are layered with warmth and texture. Colours like Cloud Dancer, announced as the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2026, create a fresh and optimistic backdrop.
"It's about balance," Phillips emphasises. "Pairing light, airy hues with grounded materials and tactile finishes to create spaces that feel both considered and deeply liveable. Calm, but never flat." This approach allows richer accent tones and sculptural furniture pieces to stand out.
Queensland-based designer Georgina Redenbach of Olive and Pear Designs echoes the theme of warmth and texture. She sees Australian homes leaning into quietly confident design choices where earthy tones and softer greens replace cooler palettes. Matte finishes are also gaining favour.
Redenbach points to flooring as a critical element for year-round comfort, expressing a preference for wide-plank timber-look hybrid flooring, such as from the Andersens range. "These choices add warmth, flexibility and a sense of calm that feels both timeless and very liveable," she said, recommending they be paired with layered window treatments for a complete look.
The consensus from these industry leaders is clear: 2026 will be the year Australian interiors become more authentic, comfortable, and rich with character. The trends point towards a palette inspired by nature, a celebration of mixed eras, and a masterful use of texture to create homes that are not just designed, but truly lived in.
