A new generation of interior designers is turning their backs on tired clichés and overused formulas that have dominated home décor in recent years. Eight leading interior architects are predicting major shifts for 2026, rejecting everything from ubiquitous beige walls to fake Mediterranean aesthetics in favor of more authentic, personalized spaces.
Just ten years ago, gray was considered the new white. Then came the trend of beige and neutral tones, along with the "Mediterranean chic" movement that created uniform spaces lacking authenticity. Today's designers are drawing clear lines around what they refuse to reproduce anymore, signaling a more critical, personal, and conscious approach to interior design.
Sigfrido Serra, working from Valencia, has built his reputation on creating genuine experiences for those who inhabit his spaces. His stance is decisive: "In 2026, I will no longer agree to paint a wall in off-white, because in the end, it's never truly white nor truly off-white, and we end up lost in endless debates about color codes." Serra advocates for chromatic boldness, preferring to take risks with colors that have personality and tell real stories within spaces. He argues that consensus around neutrality only leads to boredom.
Omar Miranda, known for his provocative and unexpected contemporary proposals, challenges common practices like eliminating textured walls to achieve perfectly smooth white surfaces. "I think we can explore and experiment with alternative solutions that bring more interesting gradations to vertical surfaces," he explains. His second major rejection is even more categorical: removing hallways for simple functional reasons or space optimization. "A hallway introduces the element of time, journey, and narrative into architecture. I love the idea that interiors are trajectories and stories, spaces where you appear, disappear, run, and wait."
Paula Mena, architect and director of Yeyé Studio, has extensive experience transforming real estate market traps into genuine homes. She has zero patience for the coldness of false ceilings saturated with LED lights. "In 2026, I want to end the profusion of recessed LEDs and false ceilings studded with spotlights, which end up making homes colder and giving them an almost museum-like appearance," she states. Her preference lies in more human and expressive lighting through indirect lights, wall sconces, and decorative lamps that have clear intention and add character and value to spaces.
From Barcelona, Noé Prades has established himself by creating eclectic, relaxed interiors rich in contrasts, where Nordic, rustic, and exotic styles coexist without strict rules. This flexibility leads to his own renunciation: "In 2026, I will no longer make the decision to force a project in a direction that doesn't suit it." He insists on authenticity, believing each space has its own rhythm and essence, with his job being to design projects that accompany clients in finding the authenticity of the place.
Gloria Matías, founder of Mikamoka agency, specializes in transforming some of Madrid's most joyful spaces and offices, giving them character and that elusive playful touch. Her projects seek to stand out and speak about the client rather than following Instagram dictates. "In 2026, I will not choose a color or material based on trends. We bet on originality, on creating spaces that reflect our clients' lifestyle and personality, not the fashion of the moment," she declares. Her principle resembles a manifesto: "A design should not have an expiration date, but durable authenticity."
Alejandro Cateto, founder of Cateto Cateto, represents more than an architecture agency – it's a way of seeing life. He revalues Andalusian art with avant-garde proximity, rejecting generic approaches. "I think one of the decorative trends that should disappear in 2026 is restaurants and bars filled with clone chairs and lamps, which end up creating impersonal spaces, interchangeable between Madrid, Torremolinos, or Istanbul without noticing the difference." His alternative is radical: returning to "provincialism" and embracing indigenous, locally-specific design elements.
Antonio Antequera, who leads the young Madrid-based Extrarradio agency, has made expressivity and color his weapons in small spaces. His battle cry is unequivocal: "Down with beige! Long live chaos!" According to him, fake Mediterranean style with neutral walls must give way to more visceral architecture. "Beige, lime mortars, and artificial Mediterranean style give way to expressive and deeply personal architecture," he clarifies. "Chaos is not disorder, it's a strategy, the superposition of layers, textures, and memories."
Borja Maristany from BOMAA Studio designs restaurants where experience goes beyond simple food service. He formulates a very concrete demand: the coat closet. "For the type of projects I carry out, in 2026, beyond pure aesthetics, I will not forget practical and functional aspects," he states. "Particularly, integrating into the design a space for a cloakroom or coat rack. I find it very uncomfortable to sit down to eat with your coat on the chair, poorly placed or still worn."
These eight professionals represent a broader movement away from algorithmic trends and dubious trend reports, instead listening to the voices of those who work daily with clients, spaces, and materials. Their collective "no" list opens the way to freer, more expressive, and more sincere forms of design, prioritizing authentic experiences over Instagram-worthy aesthetics.
