As the end of summer draws closer, we all find ourselves retreating indoors, spending more time in our living spaces and waving goodbye to our garden furniture for another year.
The changing seasons often mean our homes are in need of a refresh. Fortunately, the YourHomeStyle team has a direct line to some of the top interior designers and experts – so we can tell you about the trends heading our way for this year’s autumn and winter décor.
We’ve gathered together some top tips from interiors professionals, who have the insider scoop of what you can expect from this year’s autumn/winter interiors trends.
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Autumn winter interior decorating trends 2026
Winter coastal blues
Coastal tones aren’t just for summer. Those who prefer lighter, brighter interior spaces can opt for dusky sea-blue tones this season, which work beautifully alongside the hero colour of the season, chocolate brown.
Think about incorporating blues into pretty patterned wallpaper, velvet sofas and painted furniture alongside layers with warm neutrals, soft lighting and tactile fabrics for a look that feels calm and cosy rather than breezy, but will work all year round.
Frills
‘I’m excited to see more and more trim finding its way into our homes. Trim is a great way to elevate an otherwise standard piece of upholstery by adding detail and enhancing the silhouette of a piece. From tasselled sofas, pom-pom curtains and ruched skirts on armchairs, detail is back and bigger than ever. These kinds of soft embellishments bring a lot of joy to a space and, if you're looking for quick way to add a bit of whimsy, they are easy to achieve with a glue gun. The key is to be bold, opt for contrasting colours or oversized frills.’
Micaela Sharp is an interior designer and broadcaster. Her book Modern Upholstery and course with Create Academy are available now. @micaelasharpdesign or visit micaelasharpdesign.com
Create spaces for hosting
‘We’re finally trading pristine, untouchable ‘show homes’ for warm, soul-filled spaces built for proper hosting and gathering. I love this shift because a home should feel like a giant hug, filled with what you love, telling your story through the things you actually cherish. To refresh your existing space for the season, you don’t need a total overhaul.
Try painting a cosy gathering nook in a grounding, moody shade like an earthy tobacco or deep green. Then, shop your own home. Put your favourite vinyl records or your much-loved ceramic display out loud and proud, so you feel that instant connection to a home that is unapologetically yours.’
Lia Gold is the 2026 winner of BBC’s Interior Design Masters. She also hosts the podcast Til design do us part. @liagoldinteriors
Whimsical paintwork
Paint is getting more playful this season, with small decorative flourishes replacing full-room transformations. Look out for hand-painted finishes in your favourite high-street shops – think scalloped borders, imperfect stripes and characterful floral motifs.
This look is also ideal for anyone dabbling in some creative DIY. Simply use a few tester pots or a stencilling kit to try upcycling old candle holders, a chest of drawers or even your walls, if you’re feeling confident. The key is to keep the palette considered, so the effect feels charming rather than chaotic.
Practical magic
Utility rooms, pantries and laundry corners are stepping out from behind closed doors, with hardworking spaces getting a more decorative finish. Think patterned flooring or wallpaper, painted shelving, coordinated storage jars, woven baskets, skirted sinks and stylish hooks that make everyday tasks a little more joyful. It’s a trend that works just as well in a downstairs cloakroom or under-stairs nook, proving practical spaces can have plenty of personality.
Pattern play
‘This autumn, I’m really excited by the return of small-scale heritage prints, ditsy florals, block prints, faded checks and little motifs that feel curated rather than contrived. I love them because they bring instant warmth, softness and soul to a room, especially when the nights draw in.
The key is not to make it too perfect: mix a printed lampshade with a plain velvet cushion, add a patterned blind, or re-cover a tired chair. Start with one colour running through everything so it feels intentional, then layer in texture – think wool, aged wood, ceramic and warm lamplight – for that cosy, lived-in feeling.’
Roisin Quinn is an interior designer and winner of BBC’s Interior Design Masters series 5. @roisinquinn
Modern heritage
‘For AW26, I’m excited to see people increasingly mixing vintage finds and inherited pieces with contemporary design to create spaces that feel unique to them. What appeals to me most is the sense of permanence. Good design shouldn’t feel disposable, and this trend encourages people to buy less but buy better.
If you’re looking to embrace it, start with one or two pieces with history, like an antique chest or framed artwork, then bring in vintage finishes, like brushed brass. Balance these out with a warm, contemporary colour palette for a look that feels collected rather than themed.’
Matt Smith-Wood is an interior designer and finalist on BBC's Interior Design Masters series 5. @matt.smithwood
Earthy maximalism
‘One trend I'm thrilled to see is what I’d call “Earthy maximalism”. It's about creating richly layered interiors that feel cocooning and deeply atmospheric. After years of pared-back neutrals, I'm so happy we’re embracing colour again. Think oxblood red, rich burgundy and forest green layered with maximalist pattern, texture and collected treasures. I love this trend because it celebrates individuality and creates homes that nourish the senses.
Start with deep, grounding colour on the walls and then build textured layers through fabric on cushions, lampshades and rugs. Next, add your own style with artwork and vintage finds. The magic happens when colour, texture and your personality come together.’
Sophie Robinson is a colour-loving interior designer, stylist and broadcaster. @sophierobinsoninteriors
Softly lit spaces
Lighting is taking on a softer, more decorative mood with fabric shades, pleated finishes and portable lamps, helping rooms feel instantly more inviting. Floppy fabric lampshades are an easy way to bring relaxed character to a bedside, on top of a sideboard or in a kitchen corner, especially when paired with warm bulbs and layered natural textures. Rather than relying on one overhead light, this look is about creating gentle pools of glow around the home.
Grown-up cottagecore
‘I believe the cottagecore trend will continue to evolve in AW26, bringing warmth, nostalgia and storytelling into your home. It creates spaces that feel welcoming, layered and lived in, rather than perfectly styled. That’s why I love it as a trend.
I specialise in designing interiors that embrace imperfection, celebrating the property’s character and transforming spaces that may have once felt a bit dull. My top tip, if you want to refresh your existing space, is to start with colour – it has the power to completely change the mood of a room. Add vintage artwork, natural materials and plenty of texture to create personality and a home that feels authentically yours and reflects your lifestyle.’
Rita Millat is an interior designer and finalist of BBC’s Interior Design Masters series 6. @ritamillat
Mocha moments
Brown is moving beyond your typical woods and into the harder-working finishes of the home, bringing new depth to kitchens and bathrooms. Think cocoa-hued, zellige-style tiles, sepia-toned splashbacks, glossy handcrafted ceramics and stone-effect surfaces that feel cocooning without making a space too dark. Pair with dark bronze, which is this season’s favourite metallic finish, on hardware for extra warmth. It’s a deep but soft alternative to black.
Moonstone surfaces
Quick Step
Pebbly, concrete-effect tones are bringing a softer kind of shine to autumn and winter interiors, appearing on everything from kettles and toasters to side tables, lamps and vases. With their smooth, stone-like quality, these faux finishes catch the light without feeling too glossy or glam. Use them to lift darker seasonal schemes, soften practical corners or add a sophisticated element to kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms alike.
Storied spaces
‘The most exciting trend right now isn’t a pattern or a designer collaboration. It’s authenticity. The objects people are choosing to display are there because they have meaning, not because they are on trend. In my own home, there’s the number plate from my mum’s 1960s Mini, a rather odd vintage crocodile nutcracker gifted to me by a former lodger, now lifelong friend, and my Chopper bike that I’ve held onto since I was ten. None of them would make it into a designer magazine shoot, but I’d rescue them first if my house was on fire.
I see a trend for things that spark conversations, trigger memories and make a house feel uniquely you. In a world increasingly driven by algorithms, authenticity is becoming the ultimate luxury. Because while anyone can buy good taste, nobody can buy your story – and a story can last forever.’
Anna Campbell Jones is an interior designer and TV presenter judge on Scotland's Home of the Year. @annacampbelljones
Grounded bedrooms
‘We’re moving into what I call “colour with meaning”, where we choose colours not because they’re on trend, but because of how we want our homes to make us feel. That’s what inspired the newest shades I’ve created. Green 23 reflects a move away from the cool sage greens we’ve seen for years and towards richer olive greens with warm yellow undertones. They feel more grounded, more connected to nature and create spaces that instantly feel restorative.’
Tash Bradley is the director of interior design at Lick. @tash_lickcolour
Nature-led palettes
‘One of the trends I’m most excited to see this autumn and winter is a move towards creating calm, cohesive interiors through colour. Painting furniture, kitchen cabinetry and woodwork in the same colour family as the walls gives a beautifully integrated look that feels both sophisticated and comforting. At the same time, I love seeing people embrace individualist upcycling, transforming old pieces into unique heirlooms that tell a story. Nature-inspired shades will continue to be popular too.
Think earthy greens, rich browns and soft blues. Colours such as my chalk paint in Olive, Honfleur and Duck Egg Blue bring warmth, character and a timeless connection to the natural world.’
Annie Sloan is an author, colour expert and the inventor of chalk paint. Find Annie on Instagram at @anniesloanhome or visit anniesloan.com
