Interior design is anything but a flash-in-the-pan fad. Your home is built for your comfort, your expensive proximity, and is all things you. However, with every year, the world ushers in a host of new adventures, headlines, and, of course, trends, which can add to your lifestyle and help you find ways to add that extra wrinkle of entertainment in your life. For this article, we are taking a look at all things trendy in the world of interior design, speaking with two of Ann Arbor’s prominent interior designers about their predictions of what they believe will be the talk of the interior design world for 2026.
We spoke with two Ann Arbor Interior designers, Amber Lisowicz, owner of Amber Lisowicz Designs, a residential interior design company that focuses on turning individual style into a unique, functional space; and Natalie Adams, owner of Natalie Adams Interiors, a full-service design studio focused on residential renovations, new builds and small commercial projects.
While both offer interior design, both have unique perspectives, as Adams highlights fashion, while Lisowicz examines functionality.
Adams, whose work centers on translating how clients want their spaces to both feel and function into cohesive and intentional design, noted that her prediction for 2026 design is the
“Spaces will feel less mechanically styled. I want to see messy shelves filled with books you’ve actually read and objects that carry meaning from travel, thrift stores or silly handmade gifts,” Adams said. “Materials are selected for how they age and patina over time. It’s a shift toward authenticity and individuality, where homes feel real, comfortable, and connected to the people who live in them.”
Adams, who began her business in 2020 and freelanced with businesses such as Synecdoche Detroit before launching her own, said that in 2025, the interior design world highlighted a shift away from minimalist designs. Noting the star of interior fashion “was warmth and earth tones paired with muted pops of color.”
“Sculptural soft curved furniture that felt organic and emphasized comfort and coziness,” Adams said. “I think these will continue to evolve throughout 2026.”
Regarding any particular must-have items for the new-year interior trend, Adams said that there are no specific items that a living space should have. However, she encourages everyone to look for second-hand, vintage, or locally made items first.
“Sustainability has been a part of design since the beginning of time,” Adams said. “With the ever-growing environmental concerns, its popularity and demand from consumers is rising.”
While Adams sees the world as more sustainable, Lisowicz, whose focus is functionality, predicts a new use of white oak, a timeless design choice known for its lasting durability.
“I’m hoping that people are going to be using white oak with a twist. I’ve already seen that in planning processes, where people are open to doing white oak with a stain, to get into the mid-tones,” Lisowicz said. “We are moving away from the bright, clear coat look, to mid-tone cabinets, walnuts, I’m seeing more of an interesting use of mixing metals as well, like metal vent hoods, for example. Interesting light fixtures, unusual cabinet hardware, which are ways to personalize a project.”
Lisowicz, who began her business six years ago, prioritizes long-term happiness and practicality in design choices, working with clients through project phases, including budget management and step-by-step schematics.
“There is your code of standards that you have to follow. So trends like European design do not necessarily translate to what works for our codes,” Lisowicz said. “Beyond the space looking beautiful and having these cool elements, staying true to that in 2026 at the core is that it’s going to enhance their day-to-day. It is less about aesthetic trends and more about creating functional spaces for people.”
In terms of who determines the trend of interior design, Adams said much like anything trendy today, trends “emerge from a shared cultural pulse.”
“It’s easy to say that trends come from influencers, top designers or social media, and that’s definitely part of it. But I think it goes much deeper,” Adams said. “For something to take hold, it has to resonate with people on a broader level. It has to reflect what’s happening in the world and how people are feeling at a given time. In that way, trends are less dictated from the top down and more formed collectively. They become a kind of mirror for our shared mindset, whether that’s a desire for comfort, optimism, simplicity, or something else entirely.”
Regardless of whatever trend you select this year, Lisowicz said the best trend is doing what makes you happy in your living space.
“Work towards designing a space that makes you happy with things you like. I think overall, homeowners have good instincts and have a good sense of what works well for them,” Lisowicz said. “My advice would be to lean into that and not doubt.”
Antonio Cooper is a freelance journalist from Detroit, Michigan. His coverage of music festivals and interviews with local celebrities appeared in The E-Current Magazine, The Detroit Metro Times, XXL Magazine, RichMagDigital, The Ann Arbor Observer, and Pop Magazine.
