12 Interior Design Trends for 2026

Are you looking to remodel your Milwaukee or Waukesha home? The Kowalske designers have you covered with the interior design trends for 2026. From the latest colors and shapes to cutting edge technology and wellness options, we are ready for the hottest new remodeling trends on the horizon. Take a look at some of the bathroom and kitchen interior design trends you can expect in 2026.

What’s Hot in Kitchen Trends & Bathroom Trends:

1. Add Personality & Character to Your Home

Our best advice for creating a home you love is to infuse your space with the personality of you and your family members. Consider how you like to use your home and make it a space that works for your lifestyle. Tell us about your entertaining needs, interests, and cooking preferences. Every home is unique and every family has unique needs. Maybe you need a pet feeding station for your furry family member? Or maybe you want a sauna in your basement for creating a wellness retreat? Speak with a Kowalske designer about your needs and lifestyle.

2. Bathroom Design Trend: Create a Sanctuary

In this day and age, we all need our place of peace and serenity. At the top of bathroom trends for the past few years, wellness in bathroom design continues to grow in popularity for 2026. Life is stressful and Waukesha homeowners want their bathroom to be a calm, quiet space where they can relax and unwind. Some ways to bring this vision to life are with:

• Sauna
• Steam Showers
• A luxury bathtub
• Wet rooms
• A walk-in shower with several showerheads
• Heated floors
• Bidet toilets
• Multiple bathroom sinks

With one or more of these bathroom remodeling ideas, our designers can transform your bathroom into the beautiful haven of your dreams.

3. Warm Wood Cabinet Trend

Ready for some warmth in your kitchen? In 2026, we expect to see more warm wood tones and neutral colors for cabinet and paint colors. The trend is a welcoming space with a touch of class. Both light and dark woods such as white oak, hickory, walnut and maple are popular right now in many designs. 

Consider painted cabinets in taupe – a trendy neutral beige. As the most used room of your house, your kitchen should be cozy and inviting – and this interior design trend of using warm neutral shades will accomplish that!

4. Trending: Bold Colors & Designs in 2026

Bold color and patterns top the list of kitchen and bathroom design trends for 2026. Don’t shy away from bright colors and designs, preferring to play it safe with just a simple “loud” throw pillow. Instead have fun with color and give your room a pop of personality! Consider brighter shades for your kitchen cabinets, wall paint, wallpaper, backsplash and tile flooring. 

The top paint companies chose rich and deep colors for their 2026 color of the year.

1. Sherwin‑Williams – Universal Khaki (SW 6150) a warm, earthy neutral.
2. Behr Paint – Hidden Gem (N430‑6A), a smoky jade blue‑green.
3. Valspar – Warm Eucalyptus (8004‑28F), a muted green with warm undertones.
4. Glidden – Warm Mahogany, a rich clay red-brown.
5. Dunn Edwards – Midnight Garden (DE5657), a deep earthy green.

5. Biophilic Design Trend

Bring the outside in! For the past few years, biophilic design has been a top trend that we believe will continue into 2026 and beyond. Many of our clients are looking to find ways to connect with nature by bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside their home. This includes sunlight through windows and skylights. Other design elements include water elements and plants. 

Bringing a touch of nature into your indoor living space has many benefits such as:

• Enhancing mental well being
• Improving physical health
• Reducing stress and fatigue
• Increasing productivity

As the gathering space of your home, the kitchen is the perfect place to transform with the most calming aspects of the outdoors. However, the same serenity can be added to your bathroom in both subtle and more significant ways.

6. Technology in the Home

One of the top requests from our clients when undertaking a home remodel is TECHNOLOGY. “Smart” devices can automate tasks and allow remote access. These hubs let you control your:

• Lighting
• Temperature (heat, air or water)
• Security 
• Appliances
• Entertainment
• Sound / Music
• Water On/Off

Take things up a notch with built-in touchscreen appliances and even voice-controlled smart cabinets. Examples include a touch faucet that is motion activated or voice controlled. A trend we are seeing in the kitchen is apps to control appliances such as cooktops and ovens. For your bathroom, consider heated floors and/or a smart shower that is controlled via digital thermostat.

7. A Family Focused Kitchen

Not a surprise, we see the trend of a family-focused kitchen growing as we move into 2026. Because this is the hub of the home, the kitchen needs to be a comfortable area. It should have ample seating and open space for spending time with loved ones. This can be accomplished with features like:

• A self-serve coffee bar where guests can grab coffee or espresso
• A beverage station
• Plenty of seating – comfortable stools or a breakfast nook
• A multipurpose island
• An open floorplan for more interaction
• Easy-cleaning appliances
• Scratch-resistant, practical materials

When you start on your kitchen remodel, keep this trend in mind because it’s likely here to stay. The kitchen should be inviting and a place where friends, family and guests can feel at home. As a family, we spend most of our time together in the kitchen – prepping for the day and reconvening in the evening. It’s also where we entertain. 

8. Kitchen Design Trend: The Pantry

The 2026 kitchen is organized and neat, without cluttered countertops. A hidden or walk-in pantry can be your Waukesha kitchen’s “best kept secret”. When planning your kitchen remodel, consider how you plan to organize and store food items. Where will you put baking items? Do you have storage for small appliances such as a coffee pot, mixer, blender or crockpot? These are all things to consider. 

The good news is you have options! Pantries come in a variety of styles and features. A hidden pantry may blend into adjacent cabinetry. An open pantry right off the kitchen provides easy access to everyday items. Whichever one you choose, this can be a spacious area to keep your food and appliances both accessible and orderly.

Are open shelves still in style? We are seeing less open shelving in kitchens in 2026. The latest kitchen design trend is to hide your dishes, small appliances and pantry items behind closed doors, inside the pantry or appliance cabinet.

9. Traditional Cabinet Details

Traditional cabinets and details are making a comeback. The traditional look has made a resurgence in a whole new way with many exciting options. Bringing to your home luxury, elegance, and a formal flair, traditional elements offer many opportunities for your Waukesha home.

Are China cabinets out of style? No, china cabinets are a popular choice for many homes where you want to have easy access for guests to grab glasses. It’s also a place where you can store dishes, platters and vases.

Some ways to incorporate traditional cabinet details include:

• Warm wood tones
• China cabinets
• Detailed moldings
• Intricate trim
• Glass doors
• Ornate hardware
• Classic-style cabinets
• Raised panel cabinet doors 

10. Curves & Rounded Shapes

Curved and rounded design shapes will soon be on the list for many Waukesha homeowners. As one of the top design trends this year, ornate architectural details will take your space to the next level of picture-perfect elegance. Curved items and arched doors add visual interest to any space, removing the harshness of lines and offering a softer, more seamless flow. It will give the entire room a more relaxed feel.

As we head into 2026, you can expect to see rounded shapes everywhere, including:

• Mirrors 
• Light fixtures
• Sofas and chairs
• Cabinet doors
• Doors and doorways

11. Plaster & Drywall Simplistic Hoods

Often the centerpiece of the kitchen, the hood you choose will give life to your kitchen. From stainless steel to copper to wood, materials for range hoods have varied over the years, but the latest kitchen trend for range hoods is a simplistic hood made from drywall and plaster. These hoods are often painted the same color as the cabinets or ceiling color. This gives your kitchen a more streamlined look that brings everything together.

Hoods have many benefits beyond the aesthetic, including:

• Improving air quality
• Removing excess heat
• Allowing for easier clean up
• Providing more light

Choose from many different styles and decide the best location for the hood in your Milwaukee kitchen. From there, the possibilities are virtually endless with this 2026 kitchen design trend.

12. Hardware Is Jewelry 

One simple way to quickly elevate the look of your kitchen is to add unique cabinet hardware, which is kind of like jewelry for your kitchen or bathroom. The most popular finishes includes matte black, gold, brass, chrome and brushed nickel. Dressing up your room with this adornment can change the entire appearance of the space with minimal effort. Hardware can improve both form and function as it is incorporated through:

• Cup pulls
• Knobs
• Handle pulls
• Hinges
• And more

Speak to a Kowalske designer about what styles and materials might work best in your home.

Add the Top Design Trends to YOUR Home

A new year is upon us and with that comes a chance to better ourselves and improve our lives. A major part of that is creating the living space that makes us the most happy and content. As you start to think about the kitchen or bathroom remodel you want in 2026, start your wish list now and contact our experts at Kowalske! Schedule an appointment today.

Learn More

• Remodeling Guide: How to Plan a Kitchen or Bath Remodel
• Kitchen Cabinet Trends
• Houzz Design Trends for 2026