Lauren Lerner, founder and principal designer of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Living with Lolo, shares her take on the 2026 design trends – what’s waning and what’s winning.
Statement Marble Everything
I love a bold stone moment, but when every surface is screaming for attention, nothing lands. Dramatic marble on the counters, backsplash, and floors doesn’t read as luxurious. It reads as overwhelming.
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Use statement stone where it matters. A waterfall island, a fireplace surround, one intentional moment. Then step back everywhere else. The restraint is what makes it feel expensive.
Overuse of Black Fixtures and Hardware
Black had its moment. Now it feels safe, and worse, it shows every fingerprint and water spot. It can also read harsh in spaces that need warmth.
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I’m reaching for aged brass, bronze, or brushed nickel instead. They bring depth, patina, and a sense of history. Mixing metals within a cohesive palette keeps a home feeling current without chasing trends.
Tech-Heavy Homes
There’s a difference between convenient and complicated. When you need an app to turn on a light or adjust the temperature, your home starts working against you instead of for you.
Be selective with smart tech. Choose features that genuinely make life easier, and make sure they still function manually. Real luxury should feel effortless, not like you’re managing a control room.
Fast Furniture
Cheap, trendy furniture might photograph well, but it doesn’t hold up. And it’s not just wasteful for the planet. It’s wasteful for your budget when you’re replacing it every few years.
Invest in fewer, better pieces. A well-made sofa or a solid wood dining table anchors a room for decades. Save the experimentation for pillows, art, and accessories that you can swap out when you want a refresh.
All-Open Floor Plans
Open concept makes sense, but total openness can leave a space feeling loud, exposed, and undefined. Every room needs some sense of boundary to feel like it has purpose.
Create soft separation. Use furniture groupings, built-ins, or architectural details like arches to define zones without closing things off. You keep the flow but gain intimacy and function.
Faux Luxury Finishes
Anything trying too hard to look expensive usually does the opposite. High-gloss veneers, synthetic stone, overly polished finishes. They might seem like shortcuts, but they don’t age well and they don’t feel real.
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Go authentic. Plaster walls, real wood, natural stone, unlacquered metals. These materials have depth and texture that only improve with time. That’s the difference between looking luxurious and actually being luxurious.
—By Lauren Lerner
