What is the interior colour of 2026?

The Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 is PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a billowy, balanced white. We love how this colour represents a calming influence in a noisy world. Because it is a neutral white, its application relies heavily on sensory textures and architectural form rather than bold colour saturation. We leverage this hue to capture and reflect natural light, and to provide contrast to dark, grounding accents.

Is grey still in style in 2026?

Yes. Although current design shifts lean toward a warmer, earthy palette, grey remains timeless when thoughtfully applied.

What materials are trending in Australian interiors in 2026?

We anticipate a focus on organic and bespoke finishes—specifically tactile linens, wools, and velvets paired with cork and rattan. This aesthetic is grounded by expressive timber grains, and the timeless warmth of brass, bronze, and nickel accents. Our vision for the year ahead embraces a shift toward sensory spaces defined by rich immersive colours and sculptural, functional art.

Is minimalism or maximalism more popular in 2026?

Neither, exclusively — the broader shift is toward calm, curated interiors: layered and personal, but edited with restraint rather than maximally filled. At EB Interiors we design across both ends of that spectrum depending on the client and the aesthetic of the home, rather than pushing everyone toward one look.

Are the 1970s really coming back in interior design?

Yes, key elements of 1970s design philosophy are influencing modern spaces with tactile comfort, warm earthy tones, modular layouts, open-plan inside-outside living, and reimagined heritage pieces.

Does EB Interiors design around trends?

Not as a starting point. Our clients invest in classic, enduring elegance — not a look that reads as dated within a few years. We stay across what's happening globally, but every project is built on timeless design principles, with current details layered in carefully so the space feels current now and considered in a decade's time.

Trends

2026 Interior Design Trends in Australia Right Now

June 2026 · 6 min read

What’s shaping our homes this year?

Australian interiors are softening in 2026 and we couldn’t be happier about it. The cool greys that defined the last decade are giving way to warm, earthy tones drawn from the landscape, and rooms are being built around texture and natural, handcrafted materials rather than flat, perfect surfaces. Shapes are growing softer and more organic, the connection to nature is deepening, and there’s a real affection for heritage — including the considered return of seventies warmth and reimagined classics. Most of all, the maximalist moment is quietly passing in favour of spaces that feel personal and collected over time. Beneath it all sits one simple shift: homes are being designed to be felt, not just seen.

At EB Interiors, we’ve never been especially interested in chasing trends for their own sake. A well-resolved space outlives any passing moment — but the conversations happening across Australian design in 2026 are worth paying attention to, because they point to something deeper: a collective return to warmth, craft and calm.

Here’s how we read the year ahead…

What are the biggest interior design trends in Australia for 2026?

Warm, earthy colour palettes

The long reign of cool grey and stark white is ending. In its place are grounded, sunlit tones like clay, sand, ochre, terracotta, olive green and deep plum. These colours are drawn directly from the Australian landscape, and what we love about them is how they bring depth and character into a space — flattering natural light rather than fighting it.

Interestingly, this sits alongside Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer — a soft, airy, balanced white intended as a calming foundation. The two aren't in conflict; the most considered 2026 palettes pair warm earth tones with quiet, restful neutrals, letting each give the other room to breathe.

Tactile, artisanal and natural materials

If 2026 has a single throughline, it's texture. Surfaces are moving toward tactile, handcrafted materials that give a room a grounded, inviting presence. Think layered linen, velvet, wool, cork and rattan; timber that shows the hand of its maker; and tiles treated as a site of genuine expression rather than a quiet afterthought.

Finishes are warming, too — matte, natural surfaces with a gentle patina replacing high gloss. In tapware and hardware, warm metals like nickel and chrome are returning for their ability to blend rather than dominate.

Soft, organic and curved forms

Curved and organic shapes continue to rise across all elements of design — furniture, kitchen islands, archways and joinery. The aim is furniture and architecture that feel architectural yet human, sculptural yet familiar — curated pieces you settle into rather than simply admire. We love how rounded forms soften a room and make it more relaxed and welcoming.

Biophilic and sustainable design

The connection to nature remains central, and biophilic design continues to gain momentum — valued as much for its impact on wellbeing as for its beauty. Natural timber finishes, indoor planting, generous glazing and a strong sense of indoor-outdoor glow are key. Sustainability has also transitioned from a “nice to have” to a foundational expectation, with people choosing natural fibres and responsibly produced textiles, and long-lasting materials becoming the baseline.

A considered return to heritage and the 1970s

Several of Australia's leading designers point to a revival of the 1970s — warm midtone timbers, glass bricks, lacquer, mosaic tiling and bold patterned carpet — but critically, reinterpreted for the way we live now. More broadly, there's a return to heritage through the thoughtful reimagining of classic pieces: familiar forms reissued with subtle shifts in colour and finish. Done well, this isn't nostalgia, it's longevity.

Curation over maximalism

The maximalist moment is quietly winding down. With life busier and noisier than ever, the home is being reclaimed as a place to switch off. The emphasis is on rooms that feel collected over years rather than decorated all at once — a layered, personal mix of vintage and contemporary, edited with restraint. As the principle goes: too much of anything means nothing is truly special.

Smart, but unobtrusive, technology

Integrated technology — automated lighting, climate control and connected devices — is now an expected layer of modern interiors. The best applications in 2026 are invisible, supporting comfort and atmosphere without ever drawing attention to themselves.

How EB Interiors approaches the year ahead

What we love about 2026's direction is that it rewards the things we already believe in: warmth, craft, a strong connection between a space and the people who live in it, and design resolved with intent rather than for show. Whether your home leans contemporary, heritage or somewhere thoughtfully in between, the goal is the same — a space that feels unmistakably yours, and feels good to be in every single day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the interior colour of 2026?: The Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 is PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a billowy, balanced white. We love how this colour represents a calming influence in a noisy world. Because it is a neutral white, its application relies heavily on sensory textures and architectural form rather than bold colour saturation. We leverage this hue to capture and reflect natural light, and to provide contrast to dark, grounding accents.
Is grey still in style in 2026?: Yes. Although current design shifts lean toward a warmer, earthy palette, grey remains timeless when thoughtfully applied.
What materials are trending in Australian interiors in 2026?: We anticipate a focus on organic and bespoke finishes—specifically tactile linens, wools, and velvets paired with cork and rattan. This aesthetic is grounded by expressive timber grains, and the timeless warmth of brass, bronze, and nickel accents. Our vision for the year ahead embraces a shift toward sensory spaces defined by rich immersive colours and sculptural, functional art.
Is minimalism or maximalism more popular in 2026?: Neither, exclusively — the broader shift is toward calm, curated interiors: layered and personal, but edited with restraint rather than maximally filled. At EB Interiors we design across both ends of that spectrum depending on the client and the aesthetic of the home, rather than pushing everyone toward one look.
Are the 1970s really coming back in interior design?: Yes, key elements of 1970s design philosophy are influencing modern spaces with tactile comfort, warm earthy tones, modular layouts, open-plan inside-outside living, and reimagined heritage pieces.
Does EB Interiors design around trends?: Not as a starting point. Our clients invest in classic, enduring elegance — not a look that reads as dated within a few years. We stay across what's happening globally, but every project is built on timeless design principles, with current details layered in carefully so the space feels current now and considered in a decade's time.