Cloud Dancer and colour capping: The interior design directions to watch out for in 2026
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The Trend Monitor's Forecast
Ask any experienced interior designer or stylist about trends for the new year, and you're likely to be met with the same answer: 'I don't do trends.'
But here's where it gets interesting. If you've found yourself cultivating a growing collection of indoor plants, experiencing a preference for earthier wall colours, or falling in love with art deco design, you've been influenced by some of the strongest trends of the past few years, making you just as susceptible to broader design directions as the rest of us.
So, what's in store for 2026? We've spoken to a range of design professionals about their predictions and insights.
The Colour Forecaster
Let's start with an unashamed trend monitor. Each year, paint company Dulux releases its Australian forecast for the following 12 months in the form of three colour palettes. Among other tools, the forecast is largely based on international indicators, particularly new designs and releases at the annual Milan Design Fair, to which the team travels each year.
Colour and design manager Lauren Treloar expects Elemental to be the most popular with homeowners in 2026. This palette is heavy on warm neutrals such as Hog Bristle Quarter and Blended Cream, with added depth from shades of caramel and gold, as well as chocolate browns and steel blues.
"Elemental features a lot of earthy tonal shades, perfect for those looking to introduce more colour in subtle steps," she says. "It's all about layering, with some warm greys creeping into the palette. It gives stillness and structure to a space."
While Treloar thought Cloud Dancer was a surprising choice for Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2026, she expects the neutral white to be popular with interiors lovers.
For more adventurous types, the Evoke palette will appeal to those seeking a sense of connection and sanctuary. "Evoke is very nostalgic," Treloar says. "We think those colours will be really popular, especially in the cooler months. It has a rich feel and character-filled colours like blush pink, melon, and warm mustard."
As well as the choice of colours, Treloar expects the popularity of colour drenching to gain further traction in 2026 as homeowners become more comfortable with the concept and feel confident to experiment.
"Next, we'll see colour capping, which is more popular in commercial spaces, where you can see shades or similar colours being used on the ceiling and walls, but deeper on the ceiling and lighter on the walls," she says. "It elevates the space and creates a sense of luxury and brings another dimension to a room."
The Stylist's Take
Sydney-based stylist, author, and podcaster Jono Fleming has extensive experience creating commercial campaigns, styling for leading interior design magazines, and designing beautiful homes for various clients. He is not a fan of Pantone's choice for 2026.
"Cloud Dancer felt like a cop-out to me," he says. "It's inoffensive, but it doesn't really say anything about who we are or the moment we're living in on a wider scale, not just in interiors and fashion."
Fleming suggests that 2026 will see a greater emphasis on pattern, with the most beautiful interiors focused on layering. His hot tip: don't hold back.
"Pattern on pattern is having a moment," Fleming says. "We're seeing pattern layered with pattern, florals with stripes, prints that feel decorative rather than restrained."
He also notes a noticeable move back towards separation in spatial planning, with living rooms becoming their own spaces again, rather than an extension of the kitchen. Even within open-plan homes, people are looking for ways to create division through curtains, joinery, levels, or furniture layouts.
The Interior Designer's Vision
James Treble, a passionate trendsetter, loves nothing better than new projects and new trends. Each year, he guides industry visitors through emerging design directions via the trade event, Decor+Design in Melbourne. He agrees that next year we'll see more personalised spaces that truly reflect their owners' tastes.
"Go for some bold, slightly jarring accent pieces to add to your existing scheme," he says. "It's cost-effective and tells your story. Maybe pink, orange, and navy blue, or some textural fun with some chenille. Have bedspreads in a few rooms and some statement scatter cushions adding pattern and colour."
The post-Christmas period could be the perfect time to keep a sharp eye out for a quirky roadside find or a piece of furniture your grandmother no longer wants.
"Matchy-matchy furniture sets are not so much in any more, but they are being merged with more eclectic mixed furniture combinations, like it's been created over time," he says. "Something old, something new, an armchair from nonna, a new coffee table, a lamp from the markets."
Along with earthy colours, Treble says shapes are becoming more organic with curved edges on furniture, shelving, bedheads, and island benches. This design trend has been evident for several years now.
"Curves in all their glory are here to stay," he proclaims.
The I-Don't-Do-Trends Decorator
To describe Lynda Gardener as a decorator hardly seems adequate. The Melbourne-based author, stylist, retailer, and designer has refined her bohemian-country-chic-meets-city-vintage style over decades, and she is quick to advise one thing: she doesn't follow trends.
But there are some things she loves right now.
"I am always drawn to autumnal tones, chocolates, caramels, natural and neutrals, always layering with texture, and patterns this year for me are stripes, all about a stripe," she says. "My style is timeless, with an emphasis on layered materials that confidently show their age."
She loves mixing multiple patterns, such as a checkered rug, stripe cushions, and an old floral floor cushion, all in the same autumnal tones, creating a perfect and unpredictable combination.
