Amthal Karim – Head of Design at Furniture And Choice – shares her monthly overview of on-trend styles and interior looks currently inspiring furniture buyers.
This month we’re looking at furniture trends for 2026 – what sofa and dining looks are customers aspiring to for the year ahead.
Muted Colours
At the forefront of 2026 trends are muted, earth tones. Whether it’s olive green, ochre or caramel brown, shades inspired by the earth are ascendant in contemporary high-end design.
Coffee tones are still popular (latte, caramel, espresso) but we’re now seeing more compelling shades of cinnamon, khaki and mahogany. These new hues emanate modern elegance and create an exciting new palette to style with.
We’re also excited about fresh takes on familiar themes as we expect to see designers experimenting with hues not normally associated with furniture. For example, ochre leaning away from its traditional mustard stereotype and into brown undertones for a sophisticated, muted backdrop to a brown velvet sofa.
Retro Revival
There are few styles more retro than a living room in earth tones offset with dark wood furniture. Dark wood has evolved with the combination of a handful of popular trends, in particular quiet luxury with its understated aura and focus on quality and craftmanship.
Earthy backdrops have gained momentum since Pantone’s ‘Mocha Mousse’, and their distinct 1970s flavour shows off dark wood beautifully. Combine with biophilic design featuring natural materials and textures for a space with depth, interest and enduring appeal.
Warm Wood
A penchant for nostalgia and 1970s design signals the comeback of classic oak in dining furniture. We’re noticing retailers expanding their range of oak dining tables and chairs and embracing the simplicity of minimal Scandinavian design.
The contemporary take on wooden furniture is not just about practicality but more the attraction of a warm aesthetic that blends seamlessly into a modern home. This versatility across multiple interior styles makes a wood comeback most welcome.
Softened Edges
Biophilic endures, now a mainstay in interiors it’s showing up in softened table edges, curved chairs with sloping armrests and cut-out seating. Whether it’s architecture, a curved sofa or smaller organic detailing, customers are obsessed with soft, sinuous shapes that evoke cosiness and comfort.
The addition of curves is frequently a short-cut to a desirable, chic, designer look. Accordingly, furniture retailers are finding new ways to introduce them, from curved wooden dining chairs to rounded sections in modular sofa ranges.
Flexible Furniture
Moving past aesthetic and into practicality, multi-functional furniture has taken everyone by surprise. Purpose is increasingly considered, with utilitarian furniture designed to fit around us. Modular sofas with numerous configurations, bistro-style dining sets for compact spaces and seating that previously matched your dining table is now a pick and mix of styles, shapes and colours.
Modern designers are required to understand how people live and what suits their habits, not just day-to-day but hour-to-hour, from breakfast to hybrid working, cinema night-in to working-out. It seems that customers really know what they want, and that’s design that doesn’t just look good but also enhances their lifestyle.
