Watch the full video here: 2027 Interior Design Trends – WORTH IT or a WASTE of Money?
Quick Answer
The five 2027 interior design trends actually worth your money are the den replacing the home office, asymmetry, supersized ceramics, modern cottage style, and rich wood on cabinets, floors and vanities — all five are rooted in how people actually live, not a passing look. The four to skip are high-gloss lacquer, exposed-hardware “inside out” furniture, fashion-inspired furniture like fringe and tassels, and whimsical floral light fixtures. All four are showing up at design fairs and showhouses right now, but they’re the kind of trend that reads as “this exact year” within a few seasons.
Key Takeaways
- The den, not the home office, is the room designers expect to be one of the trendiest in 2027 — a 1stDibs designer survey found home office requests have fallen, and Apartment Therapy calls the den one of 2027’s trendiest rooms.
- Rich wood is overtaking white and pale finishes: Houzz’s latest kitchen study has wood cabinets beating white 29% to 28%, and the National Kitchen and Bath Association says wood vanities have overtaken painted ones.
- Modern cottage (English countryside style) is what’s replacing modern farmhouse, according to color expert Maria Killam and the design team at Havenly.
- Asymmetrical styling — a lamp that doesn’t match, art hung off-center — is one of the only 2027 trends that costs nothing to try.
- Gloss, exposed hardware, fringe/tassel furniture, and floral light fixtures are everywhere at 2026’s design fairs and showhouses, but all four carry a real risk of looking dated within a few years.
If you’re decorating or remodeling in 2027 and don’t want to pick something that looks dated in two or three years, this breakdown is for you. These nine verdicts come from what actually debuted this fall at the Kips Bay Show House in New York, Maison et Objet in Paris, Salone del Mobile in Milan, and the Spring 2027 runways — not a generic trend roundup. Five of these are worth spending on because they’re genuinely timeless. Four are worth skipping, or at least trying in a cheap, swappable way, because they’re likely to date fast.
Is the Den Replacing the Home Office in 2027?
Yes — the den is replacing the home office as one of 2027’s trendiest rooms, and it’s worth your money because it’s timeless, not a fad. A 1stDibs designer survey found that requests for home offices have fallen over the past three years, and Apartment Therapy reports designers expect the den — a cozy room for board games, movies, and hanging out — to be one of the trendiest spaces of 2027. Designer Kelly Bartley put it simply: “A den is just an easy place for everyone to end up.”
This trend isn’t about a finish or a fabric that goes out of style — it’s about how you actually live in your home, which is why it holds up. To get the look for less, convert a home office or rarely used guest bedroom: move the desk out, bring in a comfy sofa (or a sleeper sofa, so it still works as a guest room), then add a small game table, a bookcase of board games and puzzles, a big soft rug, and warm lamps instead of a bright overhead light. Thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace are both solid sources for the furniture.
What Does “Asymmetry” Mean in 2027 Interior Design?
Asymmetry means breaking up the matching pairs — two lamps, two nightstands, art centered perfectly over a sofa — in favor of an off-center arrangement, and it’s worth it because it’s both timeless and free. The look showed up on the Spring 2027 runways from Altuzarra and Coach, and at the Kips Bay Show House, designer Peter Dunham brought it into his bedroom. Designer Ginger Curtis told Homes & Gardens that asymmetry is “just as much about composition as it is about shape.”
Good designers have been breaking up perfect pairs for a hundred years, which is why this reads as deliberate rather than dated. The easiest way to try it: use two different lamps on your nightstands instead of a matching set, or hang art slightly off-center and balance the other side with a plant or a stack of books. If you don’t like it, you can move everything back in five minutes.
Why Are Oversized Ceramic Pieces a 2027 Design Trend?
Supersized ceramics are trending because clay showed up everywhere — and huge — at Maison et Objet in Paris this fall; designer Onofrio Acone showed giant hand-coiled vases inspired by ancient Roman jars, alongside ceramic stools and sculptures that twist toward the ceiling. Table Magazine reported that clay pieces at the show were bigger than ever. This one is worth it and timeless, since people have been making large clay pots for thousands of years.
One oversized piece fills an empty corner and reads as art without hanging anything on the wall. To get the look for less, check thrift stores and garden centers — an oversized planter doubles easily as a floor vase — and group one tall piece with one short piece in an empty corner for contrast.
What’s Replacing Modern Farmhouse Style in 2027?
Modern cottage, or English countryside style, is replacing modern farmhouse. Color expert Maria Killam named modern farmhouse one of the looks that’s officially out for 2027, and the design team at Havenly calls modern cottage “the new modern farmhouse” — softer and more elevated. Designer Sarah Vaile told Homes & Gardens that “granny fashion” is having a moment. This is worth it and timeless, since English country style has been around for hundreds of years: florals, plaids, painted antiques, and a skirted table, not a sign that says “Gather.”
To make the switch without buying a houseful of new furniture, start by taking down word signs and swapping a sliding barn door for a regular one. Then bring in a floral pillow, a vintage rug, an old wood dresser, and fresh flowers from the yard — small changes that shift the whole feel.
Are Wood Cabinets Replacing White Cabinets and Pale Floors in 2027?
Yes — rich wood is taking over floors, furniture, cabinets, vanities, and even walls in 2027, and it’s worth the investment because it’s timeless. Maria Killam named pale oak flooring one of the looks that’s out for 2027. In Houzz’s latest kitchen study, wood cabinets beat white — 29% to 28% — and the National Kitchen and Bath Association found wood vanities have overtaken painted ones. At Salone del Mobile in Milan, the studio David/Nicolas wrapped entire rooms in wood paneling.
Cabinets and floors are expensive, so this is a trend worth getting right the first time — a good walnut or medium oak has looked beautiful for a hundred years, and it hides scuffs and fingerprints far better than white paint. You don’t need to rip out your floors to try it: start with one rich wood piece, like a walnut side table, a wood mirror, or a wood lamp, or refinish an existing dresser in a deeper stain. If you’re redoing cabinets or a vanity, a medium tone is the safer long-term choice.
Which 2027 Interior Design Trends Should You Skip?
Four 2027 trends are popular at design fairs right now but are likely to look dated within a few years: high-gloss lacquer furniture, “inside out” furniture with exposed hardware, fashion-inspired furniture (fringe, tassels, embroidery), and whimsical floral light fixtures. Here’s why, and the swappable version of each if you still love the look.
Is High-Gloss Lacquer Furniture Worth It in 2027?
No — not on anything big. After a decade of flat, matte finishes, shiny lacquer is back: at Salone del Mobile in Milan, Wallpaper magazine spotted glossy lacquer on armchairs and sofas from brands like Tacchini and Frigerio, and Decorilla’s 2027 trend report confirms shine has returned. A lacquered sofa or high-gloss kitchen cabinets will likely look like “2027” within three years, and they show every fingerprint. If you love the shine, keep it to pieces you can swap easily — a glossy tray, a lacquered side table, or a shiny lamp — or paint a secondhand dresser in high gloss as a weekend project you can redo later.
Should You Buy Furniture With Exposed Screws and Zippers?
No. “Inside out” furniture — pieces that show off their screws, seams, straps, and zippers instead of hiding them — was named one of Heimtextil’s 2027 trends. For years the goal was to hide every screw and seam; now they’re the design. A sofa with visible hardware is likely to look dated fast, and a sofa is one of the biggest purchases in your living room. The one part of this trend worth keeping: a washable, removable slipcover. You get the same practicality — clean it, replace it, keep the sofa for years — without the exposed hardware that dates it.
Are Fringe, Tassels, and “Dressed Up” Furniture Worth It?
No — this one peaks fast. At the Kips Bay Show House, chairs were upholstered like designer coats in embroidered fabric, tweed, and tiger print, with tassels on curtain tiebacks, doorknobs, and chairs; Homes & Gardens called the tassel the show’s most “actionable” trend. A fringe-covered chair or tiger-print sofa reads as very specifically “this year” and will look that way again soon. If you want to try it, keep it cheap and removable: tassel tiebacks on curtains, or fringe trim glued onto a plain lampshade — something you can take off in five minutes.
Are Floral Light Fixtures a Good Investment?
No, at least not as a hardwired fixture. Whimsical floral lighting — sconces, chandeliers, and lamps shaped like flowers — was everywhere at the Kips Bay Show House, including a sculptural pendant by artist Katie Stout. Homes & Gardens says the trend is “going absolutely nowhere,” but a light fixture is hardwired into your ceiling or wall, which makes it an expensive trend to undo. For anything hardwired, a simple, classic shape (a plain glass globe, a plaster sconce) ages better. If you love the floral look, get it in a table lamp instead — you can move it, swap it, or retire it to a guest room whenever you’re ready.
2027 Interior Design Trends at a Glance
| Trend | Verdict |
|---|---|
| The den replaces the home office | Worth it — timeless |
| Asymmetry | Worth it — timeless, and free |
| Supersized ceramics | Worth it — timeless |
| Modern cottage | Worth it — timeless; replacing modern farmhouse |
| Rich wood takes over | Worth it — timeless; go medium tone |
| High-gloss lacquer | Not worth it — dated within a few years; keep to swappable pieces |
| “Inside out” exposed hardware | Not worth it — dated within a few years; buy the washable slipcover instead |
| Fashion-inspired furniture (fringe/tassels) | Not worth it — dated within a few years; use removable trims |
| Whimsical floral lighting | Not worth it as a fixture — try a floral table lamp instead |
FAQ: 2027 Interior Design Trends
What are the top 2027 interior design trends worth spending on?
The five worth spending on are converting a home office into a den, embracing asymmetrical styling, adding oversized ceramic pieces, leaning into modern cottage (English countryside) style, and choosing rich wood tones for cabinets, floors, and vanities. All five are backed by designer surveys and trend reports from this fall’s design fairs, and all five are rooted in timeless design principles rather than a single season’s look.
Is modern farmhouse out in 2027?
Yes, according to color expert Maria Killam, who named modern farmhouse one of the looks that’s officially out for 2027. It’s being replaced by modern cottage, or English countryside style, which designers at Havenly describe as softer and more elevated than farmhouse’s barn doors and “Gather” signs.
Is pale oak flooring going out of style?
Maria Killam named pale oak flooring one of the trends that’s out for 2027, with rich, darker wood tones taking its place. If you already have pale oak floors, you don’t need to replace them right away — bringing in richer wood furniture pieces can balance the look while the trend shifts.
Are wood cabinets better than white cabinets in 2027?
Wood cabinets have edged out white in popularity: Houzz’s latest kitchen study found wood cabinets beat white, 29% to 28%. A medium-tone wood, like walnut or medium oak, is the safer long-term choice since it hides scuffs and fingerprints better than white paint and has stayed in style for decades.
What interior design trends should I avoid in 2027?
Four trends are worth avoiding on big-ticket items: high-gloss lacquer furniture, furniture with exposed screws and zippers (“inside out” design), fashion-inspired furniture like fringe and tassels, and whimsical floral light fixtures. All four are popular at design fairs right now, but tend to look dated within a few years — so they’re better tried in small, inexpensive, swappable pieces than in a sofa or a hardwired fixture.
How do I get the den trend without a full remodel?
Convert an existing home office or rarely used guest bedroom. Move the desk out, bring in a comfortable sofa or sleeper sofa, and add a small game table, a bookcase of board games and puzzles, a soft rug, and warm lamp lighting instead of a bright overhead fixture. Most of the furniture can come from what you already own, a thrift store, or Facebook Marketplace.
Is asymmetrical decor hard to pull off?
No — it’s one of the easiest and cheapest trends to try. Swap a matching pair of lamps for two different ones, or hang art slightly off-center and balance the other side with a plant or stack of books. Since it costs nothing, it’s easy to undo if you don’t like the result.
Resources
Want help choosing a color palette that ties these trends together in your own home? Carrie’s guide walks through it: Get the Whole Home Color Palette Guide.
Planning to redo your floors as part of a rich-wood refresh? Start with the FREE Ultimate Flooring Guide.
If the wood-cabinet trend has you thinking about a kitchen update, the Ultimate Kitchen Planner and the Ultimate Bathroom Remodel Planner can help you plan the wood vanity or cabinets without the overwhelm.
Watch the full breakdown with all nine trends on video: 2027 Interior Design Trends – WORTH IT or a WASTE of Money?
Carrie Gonzalez is the self-taught interior designer and founder of Penny Modern. For more than a decade, she has helped everyday homeowners decorate and remodel kitchens and bathrooms with designer-level ideas on a realistic budget.
Last Updated: October 2026