Why Whimsical Home Decor Is 2026’s Biggest Trend, According to 100 Designers
3 min readAs Country Living’s resident trend reporter, I spend a lot of time tracking the rise and fall of various design and decor trends. Whether they come from designers or take social media by storm, I’m always on the hunt for the latest design movement. (Don’t believe me? I’ve tackled everything from cottagecore to the colorful bathroom revival and the unfitted kitchen trend.) Recently, I spoke with 100 designers—all part of our Country Design 100 list—to get their takes on the biggest trends heading our way in 2026. I captured the six biggest ideas in my 2026 trend report last month, but one has stuck with me in the intervening weeks: whimsical design.
Whimsical design is, as the name suggests, a frills-forward approach to decorating. It’s dopamine decorating on, well, even more dopamine. Frequent collaborator and Country Design 100 honoree Christina Salway hit the nail on the head when asked which trend she was most looking forward to: “Let 2026 be the year we release our grip a little. Let’s have some fun.” So what does having fun with your interiors look like in 2026? I get into it below and share some of my favorite examples of how you can bring a bit of whimsy to your spaces this year.
Embrace Maximalism—With a Personal Twist
Maximalism has been the design buzzword for a few years now—mostly in response to the bouclé-laden minimalism that defined the mid-to-late 2010s. It’s 2026, and people are finally letting their homes be wonderfully weird, and that starts with an embrace of happily busy patterns and layers of color.
After the rise of butter yellow and the unexpected red theory dominated color conversations in 2024 and 2025, people are ready to embrace fun, dynamic colors like never before. Even Pinterest is getting in on the color rush: The platform named “Funhaus” interiors one of its big trends for 2026, focusing on colorful accents—think stripes, checks, and scallops.
If you fear a pattern power clash, you can still embrace this whimsical trend. For most people, maximalism looks like that extra little flair that brings a room together. “Think ruffles, pleats, and fringe layered into cozy textiles and soft furnishings,” says designer and Country Design 100 honoree Shea McGee.
You can certainly go all-in on color drenching (and, FWIW, I think you should!), but if that feels overwhelming, start by embracing those extra touches that spark joy. You can still have a richly layered space full of personality with neutral walls.
RELATED: The Complete Design Guide to Maximalism
Focus on Painterly Details
While we’re talking color and pattern, let’s chat details. Part of the charm of a whimsical interior comes from the handmade accents. Stenciling—both on floors and on furniture—is at the heart of this revival, fueled by renewed interest in folk art motifs. Expect to see even more folksy crafts make their way to the forefront of your feeds this year as America marks its 250th anniversary and the design community takes time to honor the DNA of American craftsmanship and its role in shaping contemporary interiors.
Seek Out Unique Shapes and Silhouettes
Now is your chance to cast off the shackles of poorly reproduced mid-century modern furniture. You don’t have to live that way! If you’ve been taught—whether by well-meaning friends or the all-knowing algorithm—that “cool” furniture comes from a box and needs to be assembled, it’s time to rethink things. The most interesting pieces in someone’s home are the ones they’ve found while digging through the back room of an antiques store or that were handed down to them by that eccentric great-aunt. These are the pieces that tell a story and turn a house into a home.
RELATED: The 10 Antiques That Will Be Everywhere in 2026
Bring On the Tchotchkes
Singing bird boxes like these are from the 1950s and ’60s and can be found for around $150.
Embracing whimsy in your home means embracing the delightfully weird collections that make it feel like home. “I see us trading quiet simplicity for incredibly personal, thoughtful maximalism. Picture color-drenched rooms layered with the things people truly love—hand-picked books, trinkets, lots of art covering the walls,” says Country Design 100 honoree and renovation guru Leanne Ford. Now is the time to trot out your collection of singing bird boxes and mechanical banks—the more unique, the better.
RELATED: 100+ Best Places to Shop for Antiques and Vintage Online
Our Favorite Whimsical Interiors
Patterned plates, pleated lampshades, and a skirted table complete with dramatic fringe add a fun twirl to this cottage entry.
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
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