For our annual design outlook, Jason Lazarz presents a perspective that pushes beyond trend cycles and underscores why performance—not predictions—should lead the spaces we create this year.
On a recent Saturday, I sat in my very blue living room (Benjamin Moore Dusty Cornflower) and opened the Wall Street Journal.
An Off Duty headline grabbed my attention: Interior Design: What’s In and Out for 2026. It wasn’t long before three words jumped off the page: OUT: Moody Blues. “Hmm, okay,” I thought. I kept reading: OUT: Splashy Stone. I glanced toward my kitchen. Twice guilty.
It’s a funny feeling when the things that bring you joy are suddenly labeled “out of style.”
Every January, the design world produces its ritual lists—colors crowned, finishes retired, and once-favored styles deemed obsolete. Paint companies announce a Color of the Year, publications churn out predictions, and manufacturers follow suit. I’ve even contributed to the cycle myself.
But lately, I’ve been asking: does this obsession with what’s “in” and “out” distract us from what really matters?
The Shift We Actually Need
At KI, we focus less on trend forecasting and more on performance—how spaces actually support people. Recently, we introduced the 8 Performance Design Considerations, a framework for creating environments that reduce stress, nurture participation, and unlock deeper engagement. Instead of asking, “What’s next?” we asked, “What works?” That shift—from opinions to outcomes—is what design needs now.
Design That Speaks Inclusion
When you move beyond trend lists, you start designing for inclusion rather than novelty. Accessibility becomes a baseline, not an afterthought. Spaces that allow everyone to participate—through adjustable surfaces, intuitive layouts, and clear sightlines—send a powerful message: you belong here. That sense of belonging is timeless.
Comfort Beyond the Mood Board
Comfort follows the same logic. It’s not a vibe; it’s a set of conditions that keep people regulated and focused. Glare-free lighting, balanced acoustics, and thermal stability matter more than any seasonal palette. Color can spark joy, but comfort is what makes that joy last.
Movement as a Design Language
Movement is another consideration that rarely appears on trend lists. Ergonomic furniture and layouts that encourage circulation improve health and attention. A chair that supports posture or a room that reconfigures in seconds isn’t glamorous, but it’s transformative. The best “statement piece” is the one your body thanks you for.
The Hidden Power of Sensory Balance
Design is multisensory, not just visual. A room that photographs beautifully can be unbearable if sound ricochets or textures overwhelm. Modulating sensory input—tuning acoustics, balancing contrast, choosing tactile materials that calm rather than agitate—creates spaces where diverse brains can thrive. This isn’t about stripping character; it’s about tuning the instrument so everyone can play.
Safety You Can Feel
Safety is foundational. Legible layouts, predictable paths, and furniture that feels stable build trust. Softening strategies—welcoming finishes, rounded gestures, orderly arrangements—reinforce psychological safety without turning spaces into stage sets. Safety succeeds when it’s felt, not announced.
Belonging as a Design Outcome
Emotional safety matters as much as physical safety. Spaces can signal respect and inclusion through choices: imagery that reflects real communities, zones for different energy levels, and places to step forward or step back. Belonging rarely makes a glossy list, but it shapes every experience. And when belonging flows into connection, culture thrives. Layouts that balance visibility and privacy, furniture that supports both collaboration and focus—these choices make teamwork possible without sacrificing solitude.
Stewardship Over Style
Finally, sustainability exposes the limits of trend thinking. Responsible materials, reparable components, and modular systems aren’t “hot” or “cold.” They’re essential. Stewardship is never seasonal. It’s the difference between design that endures and design that becomes waste. Authentic materials, modularity, and lifecycle thinking create spaces that adapt gracefully over time.
What’s Really “In” for 2026
When you pull these threads together, you get something sturdier than a list. You get principles that support real human outcomes—engagement, comfort, safety, connection, belonging—across markets and moments. Ironically, spaces built on performance often look beautiful because purpose clarifies aesthetics. Intent creates coherence.
So, what’s truly “in” for 2026? Not a color or finish. What’s in is designing for people, not for lists. What’s in is spaces that adapt to bodies and brains, not the other way around. What’s in is environments tuned for comfort, movement, and focus, with room for joy—yes, even moody blues—because joy is part of performance too.
If you still want a list (it’s January, I understand), here’s mine:
- In: Outcomes over opinions.
- In: Rooms that feel right because they’re designed right.
- In: Belonging, connection, stewardship.
- Out: Declaring individuality “out” because a headline says so.
Trend lists will keep spinning, and that’s fine. But the spaces we inhabit—schools, workplaces, and waiting rooms—are not costumes. They are ecosystems for human experience. And the best ones never go out of style.
Would you agree? Let's connect and discuss further; I'd love to hear from you. Message me on LinkedIn or email me directly.
