Every November, I start thinking about what deserves to stay in the year behind us and what might benefit from a fresh start. Usually, it’s a closet cleanout or a few things on my calendar. But this year, I’m thinking about our homes! Interior design has a funny way of reminding us how quickly our tastes change. Remember when every other house seemed to have gray walls, gray floors and gray furniture? For a while, you could walk into a home and wonder whether the owners had accidentally selected “grayscale” in their design settings. Millennial gray had its moment, but I think we’re ready to let a little color back into our lives.
And the numbers agree! FIXR’s 2026 Interior Design and Color Trends Report found that 58% of design professionals consider Millennial gray interiors a thing of the past. The broader shift is toward personalization, with warmer colors, interesting textures and spaces that feel collected rather than ordered from the same catalog. I think that’s exciting. A home should tell you something about the people who live there, and beige walls and matching furniture can only tell you so much.
This brings me to another change I’ve noticed: the coffee table is no longer simply a place to put your coffee. Designers are moving beyond predictable arrangements of matching books, a decorative bowl and a candle that nobody is allowed to light. Today’s coffee tables are becoming opportunities to show personality through unusual shapes, sculptural materials, treasured objects and collections that actually mean something to the homeowner. A beautiful antique beside a contemporary piece can be far more interesting than a perfectly coordinated set. After all, if everything matches, where is the fun in that?
I’m also loving the renewed interest in activities that bring people together at home. Mahjong, chess and other traditional games are finding their way into thoughtfully designed living spaces, libraries and dedicated game rooms. According to Architectural Digest, designers are increasingly incorporating game tables and spaces for analog activities into homes. Mahjong, in particular, has become a design conversation of its own, inspiring colorful tables and inviting spaces that encourage people to put down their phones and spend time together. Who knew a set of tiles could have such an influence on interior design?
What I find especially interesting is that these changes reflect something bigger than decorating preferences. We live in a culture where we can see thousands of homes, outfits and interiors online before breakfast. It’s easier than ever to recreate someone else’s style, yet I think that makes individuality even more valuable. We don’t necessarily want our homes to look like everyone else’s. We want them to feel like ours. Maybe that means displaying a collection of vintage porcelain, turning an underused room into a mahjong parlor or choosing a wildly unexpected piece of furniture simply because it makes you smile. Not every decision needs to be approved by a trend report!
Of course, I’m not suggesting that everyone needs to repaint their house, replace their coffee table or learn mahjong before December. Trends are fun to follow, but they shouldn’t dictate every decision we make. Some of the most beautiful homes combine pieces from different eras, unexpected colors and personal collections that have taken years to acquire. They feel interesting because they reflect a person, not a moment in time.
As we head into a new year, here’s my challenge: look around your home and ask yourself whether you genuinely love what you see or whether you’re simply accustomed to it. Perhaps it’s time to retire a trend that no longer suits you, bring in something with a little more character or finally give that underused room a purpose. You don’t need to start from scratch to make a space feel fresh. Sometimes, all it takes is one unexpected choice.
After all, the best homes don’t follow trends perfectly. They have a little personality, a few surprises and absolutely no fear of being themselves. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that a little personality goes a long way. Fortunately, I know exactly where to find a home to match yours!
Until next time,
Dee Dee Guggenheim Howes
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