As 2025 comes to a close, interior designers are already looking ahead to which color trends will define the coming year. While 2025 was celebrated as a year of bold, vibrant tones – from cherry reds and burgundies to buttery yellows and chocolate browns – design experts are now identifying which once-popular colors are losing their appeal as we move into 2026.
The shift represents a movement away from the saturated, attention-grabbing hues that dominated recent years toward more muted, nuanced versions of these playful colors. Three specific color trends, in particular, are being left behind by professional designers who are embracing more sophisticated alternatives.
The first major casualty is the overdone forest green that has been ubiquitous in interior design circles. Los Angeles-based designer Jessica Nicastro explains that "forest green is going out of style for 2026 – it has been done so much." Hannah Goldberg of Hannah Charlotte Interiors in Washington D.C. echoes this sentiment, noting that "the once-beloved pale sage and the deep forest green are shades of green that are overdone. People are feeling a bit tired of them."
Instead of these saturated forest greens, designers are gravitating toward two distinct alternatives. The first option involves embracing in-between colors such as teals, including Benjamin Moore's Oasis Blue and Behr's Color of the Year for 2026, Hidden Gem. "If you want something bolder, go for a deep blue with a hint of green," Jessica suggests. "It's rich, modern, and feels way more current."
The second alternative focuses on much earthier and muddier shades of green that feel more sophisticated and timeless. "Opt for a moodier, softened olive or moss-toned hue to create an enveloping, timeless oasis," Hannah recommends. "These are emerging as the new neutrals. Rooted in nature, they pair effortlessly with wood, stone, and linen, bringing quiet sophistication and longevity to any space." Farrow & Ball's Card Room Green exemplifies this approach, managing to balance earthiness with a touch of vibrancy.
The second outdated trend designers are abandoning is saturated mustard yellow. Kristina Khersonsky of Los Angeles-based STUDIO KEETA states simply that "it has had its moment." This bright, attention-demanding shade is being replaced by richer, more complex alternatives that offer greater depth and sophistication.
Designers are now favoring rich shades of ochre as the preferred yellow alternative, with colors like Farrow & Ball's Duster leading the way. These ochre tones provide warmth without the overwhelming intensity of mustard yellow, creating spaces that feel both inviting and refined.
The third trend losing favor involves artificial-looking shades that lack the authenticity modern homeowners are seeking. As the design world continues to embrace natural materials and organic forms, colors that appear too processed or synthetic are being rejected in favor of hues that feel more connected to the natural world.
This broader shift reflects a larger movement in interior design toward what experts are calling "quiet luxury" – an approach that emphasizes understated elegance over bold statements. The new color palette for 2026 focuses on creating spaces that feel sophisticated yet comfortable, timeless yet current.
Design professionals recommend incorporating these emerging trends through carefully selected accent pieces, textiles, and paint choices. Throw pillows in earthy greens, linen quilts in muddy olive tones, and accessories in rich ochre can help transition spaces toward the new aesthetic without requiring major renovations.
As we move into 2026, the message from interior designers is clear: the era of saturated, attention-grabbing colors is giving way to a more nuanced approach that prioritizes sophistication, authenticity, and lasting appeal over trendy statements that quickly become dated.
