What will some of the major dining room trends be in 2026? Here, Southern designers gave us a bit of a sneak peek, sharing four looks that they expect will be everywhere in the new year. It’s safe to say that next year’s dining rooms will be full of personality and fun.
Hutches
The hutch will be an integral piece of furniture in next year’s dining rooms, explains Lauren Saab, the founder of Saab Studios in Dallas, Texas. Do note, the designer clarifies, that these aren’t your parents’ hutches from 20 years ago and will instead feature “a lighter look and glass fronts that keep things feeling open while showing off what’s inside.”
A changing interior landscape is prompting the return of hutches, Saab adds, attributing it to a few different elements. “After years of minimalism and pared back spaces, people are ready for interiors that feel more personal and lasting,” she says. “There is a renewed love for natural materials and for furniture that feels thoughtfully made.” Plus, she adds, people are enjoying being collectors and hutches make it easy to corral a wide range of special, intentional pieces. “Whether filled with heirloom china, handmade pottery, or everyday glassware, a hutch now acts as a showcase for the pieces you actually live with and love, not just the ones you store and forget,” Saab says.
Coziness
In 2026, “We’ll see a continued shift toward a reinterpretation of formal dining,” says Jayme Ritchie, the founder of Jayme Ritchie Interiors in Springfield, Virginia. She explains that open concept homes are falling out of favor and dining rooms are coming back in vogue, but they’re not going to be set up how they once were. These well-defined spaces are “replacing traditionally stuffy dining rooms with comfortable, cozy spaces that feel luxurious through richly layered textiles and earthy colors,” Ritchie says. “The goal is ‘beautiful to behold, but approachable enough for everyday use.'”
Bold Ceilings
Don’t shy away from adding some oomph to your dining room ceiling in 2026. “Walls have had their moment with the resurgence of wallpaper, but now all eyes are on the ceiling,” says Grace Frederick, the founder of Grace Frederick Design in Charleston, South Carolina. She anticipates statement ceilings making waves, whether they feature trim work, murals, lacquer, fabric draping, or something else entirely. “People aren’t afraid to go bold anymore, and the dining room is the perfect place to do it,” the designer reflects.
Alicia Hassen, the founder of Brooklinteriors in Austin, Texas, agrees that all eyes will be on dining room ceilings next year. “No longer are people thoughtlessly selecting flat ceiling white,” she says. In her own projects, she enjoys we love using a warmer white on both the trim and ceiling paired alongside a more saturated wall color.
Pattern Play
Don’t hesitate to embrace pattern play in the dining room next year when it comes to napkins and table runners, according to Hassen. “If we have remnant fabric with a lovely design, we love making a set of napkins that work with the space, giving the dining room a unique and special touch,” she says. “It is a smaller, less expensive detail that can really elevate the room and bring a distinctive quality.” Who doesn’t love a good DIY?
