9 Things Making Your Home Look Dated in 2026 (Easy Updates That Make a Big Difference)
I don’t believe every home needs to follow every trend. In fact, some of my favorite homes are filled with pieces collected over years that tell a story and feel uniquely personal. I certainly don’t follow trends for the sake of always having the latest and greatest space to live in. Our walls are covered with artwork that I’ve collected from travels or just took my time to find. I love the color blue so much of our wall colors are different shades of blue. believe it’s important that your personalities shine through in your home. That said, there are certain design choices that can quietly make a space feel older than it really is.
We are in the midst of 2026 and home design continues to shift toward warm, layered, lived-in spaces that feel collected rather than perfectly coordinated. The good news? Updating your home doesn’t require a major renovation. In many cases, a few small changes can instantly make a room feel fresher, brighter, and more current.
If your home feels a little stuck in the past, these are the decorating trends designers are seemingly moving away from in 2026 and what they’re embracing instead.
All Gray Everything
For years, gray walls, gray furniture, gray flooring, and gray accessories dominated home design. Today, homeowners are craving warmth. Instead of cool gray interiors, we’re seeing rich neutrals, warm whites, soft taupes, mushroom tones, sandy beiges, and earthy colors take center stage. If you’ve got the gray going on, don’t panic! You can make small swaps over time to bring it up-to-date. Things you can try instead when swapping grey for other colors?
- Warm white walls
- Greige with beige undertones
- Mushroom paint colors
- Natural wood accents
- Linen textures
Modern Farmhouse Overload
I feel like the farmhouse look really look off with that home show, Magnolia (yah, you know the one!). Everything shiplap, open-concept floor plans (I have NEVER been a fan of open concept and for a long time there I felt wildly out of style when I didn’t embrace it myself), and rustic mixed with contemporary finishes. While I don’t think the modern farmhouse vibe is totally on its way out, certain elements of it are: wood signs, “gather” decor (think anything that has decorative script on any sort of decor), distressed everything, sliding barn doors, and… excessive shiplap.
Today’s homes feel a bit more elevated, sophisticated and layered. Put those “Life, Laugh, Love” wood signs on Facebook marketplace and replace with things like natural wood tones, woven textures, stone, ceramics, and antique-inspired pieces. Look to create character without feeling overly themed. Think about mixing vintage pieces with modern accents. I just re-painted an old wood bedside table in a beautiful navy and found the loveliest little antique lamp at an estate sale. Don’t be afraid to shop at vintage stores, antique shops and even garage and estate sales. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with what you might find.
Matching Furniture Sets
Guilty as charged, I’ve purchased matching furniture sets in the past thinking it was just what you do. Not so! In 2026, homes are trending more towards a “collected” look rather than a coordinated one where everything looks the same.
Mixing wood finishes, vintage finds, and different textures creates depth and personality. Instead of matching furniture sets (e.g. the same look for your bedroom dresser, bedside table and bed frame), try these ideas instead for a much more designer-inspired look and feel:
- Upholstered bed + wood nightstands
- Vintage dresser + modern lamp
- Different accent chairs
Busy Granite Countertops
Dark Speckled Granite vs. Lighter Soapstone Countertops
Unfortunately, this is something I need to swap out in my own house. We have very dark patterned countertops and I’d LOVE to swap them out with something lighter and less speckled. What is in now instead of the speckled granite? Quartz with subtle veining, soapstone, hone-stoned finishes, and simple quartzite. If replacing a countertop isn’t in your budget (it’s definitely not in mine at the moment), there are other things you can do to update a kitchen. Update your lighting, cabinet hardware, and a bit of fresh paint can really transform a space.
Dark Espresso Cabinets & Thick Shaker Doors
One of the biggest kitchen shifts I’m seeing is the move away from very dark espresso cabinetry along with moving away from thicker shaker-style doors. These dark cabinets often absorb light and can make kitchens feel smaller. I have to admit, we still have the orangey-oak cabinets that were likely installed in the late 80s. Gah! First on my kitchen makeover will be our cabinets. Even if we don’t replace them with all-new cabinets, the plan is to paint them for the time being. What’s trending now in terms of cabinets? Warm white, soft taupe, and rich walnut accents. I’m even seeing the light oak cabinets that have been hugely popular the last few years are on their way out. The thin shaker-style doors are in style (and are quite timeless in their own right).
The “matching furniture sets” being out also applies for kitchens. Gone are the days when all of the cabinetry needed to match. A lot of designers are mixing cabinet colors or doing things like keeping the cabinets in a certain color and having a natural-wood island. Don’t be afraid to play around with different looks. It creates a more personal feel to your space. Trending cabinet colors this year? Benjamin Moore Pale Oak, Sherwin Williams Natural Linen, and Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige. My personal favorite kitchen? This one!!
Matte Black Finishes
Matte black finishes have been popular for awhile now. They look wonderful co-existing with another home trend that seems to be going out of style which is white washed everything. Yes – the matte black pops against a mainly white space. However, now that we are embracing the more neutral, warm tones like oatmeal, sage green and terracotta, the matte black just doesn’t work as well. What is in now?
Modern brass and antique nickel finishes. This change is actually pretty impactful for a small investment. If I were to start anywhere, I’d start here. (In fact, I just did and replaced all of our black door handles with antique brass.)
Open Floor Plans
I was nervous to include this because I know open floor plans have been so popular for awhile now and it’s not like it’s an “easy change” to just up and put up walls in your open concept home, lol. But I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention it. People are trending towards wanting quiet, separate spaces and dedicated living areas.
Recessed Can Lighting
Along the same lines of moving more toward a collection of different styles rather than all one look, recessed can lighting seems to be on its way out. Yes, it’s functional and a huge part of new builds, but it’s being replaced by lighting that provides more of an ambiance. Think lamps, scones and chandeliers. All of the lighting that looks “softer” than recessed can lighting. In need of lighting recos? Head on over to my post about my favorite coastal table lamps.
Mass-Produced Wall Decor
This one has, and will remain, my biggest pet peeve. When I walk into someone’s home and I see that canvas with the big highland cow head on a white background, I can barely stop my eyes from rolling. I get it, sometimes you need cheap artwork to fill wall space. But please, I beg of you, do not do it with generic mass-produced wall decor that you plopped right off the shelf of Target or Home Goods.
I framed my son’s school artwork and hung in our upstairs hallway. Along with the guitar canvas artwork referenced below.
I took a very long time decorating our walls, and i’m still not done and we’ve been in our home for over 10 years now. You don’t have to spend a lot to find something unique. Again, head out to estate sales, vintage shops, thrift stores. They have a mecca of great wall decor finds. Chose pieces that mean something to you. I have two huge canvases that sit side by side and make up a guitar with famous quotes from songs. I’m a huge fan of music and everything I look at it, I am reminded of some of the beautiful lyrics to songs I admire. On vacation in a place you love? Buy some artwork that features the local landscape. There is so much beautiful art out there that doesn’t break the bank and is unique to your own tastes and interests. And for the love… please please please get rid of signs with hokey oversized word signs like “Eat” displayed in a fancy oversized cursive and it hangs in the kitchen. We all know what’s supposed to happen in the kitchen! Instead, swap it out for a print of fruit in a bowl… ANYTHING other than word signs.
Easy Ways to Make Your Home Feel More Current
Now that we’ve identified what NOT to do, here are a few easy ways to make your home feel more current. A lot of the above will take time, effort and cash to make significant changes. That’s not alway possible at the drop of a hat… I know that first-hand. However there are some easy ways you can bring your space into the here and now. A few suggestions:
- Replace outdated light fixtures
- Swap cabinet hardware
- Add layered lighting (Visit my post about the best affordable designer-looking lighting, you may find that swapping in new lighting isn’t as costly as it seems!)
- Incorporate natural wood tones through decor
- Introduce woven textures in throw pillows, blankets and bedding. I’ve got a great recent article about Serena & Lily Bedroom Inspired Dupes that will give you some affordable options for changing up textiles and textures.
- Bring in greenery
- Replace cool-toned bulbs
- Style bookshelves with collected decor
The homes that feel most beautiful in 2026 aren’t necessarily the newest or most expensive. They’re the ones that feel warm, personal, and thoughtfully curated. Rather than chasing every design trend, focus on creating spaces that feel collected over time. Layer in natural materials, warm colors, meaningful decor, and quality pieces you truly love. Those are the design choices that tend to stand the test of time.
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Coffee Table Books: An Unexpected Home Decor Statement
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Published: June 2026