The Otherworldly Home Decor Trend That Pinterest Says Is Gaining Popularity In 2026

Say what you want about artificial intelligence, but it's definitely changing how fashion and home decor trends work. With tech companies like Pinterest leveraging extensive amounts of data to analyze and predict upcoming trends for the new year, it's no surprise that they are incredibly accurate. These trends are based on information coming from billions of searches, so it's not just some designer or celebrity with a sense of what's going to be hot in the coming months. That's why every year, designers and influencers wait expectantly for the Pinterest Predicts Trends to drop. For 2026, one of the top design trends emerging from the data is the opalescent, futuristic alien core aesthetic that's been quietly gaining momentum over the past several years. In fact, searches for "alien core aesthetics" are up by 80%, according to the trends report.

In 2026, with its place as one of the 21 trends that Pinterest picked for the coming year, alien core (or "Extra-Celestial", as Pinterest calls it) is the most out-of-this-world home decor trend we've seen. This isn't like any other home decor trend millennials have had. Boldly different from ones we've seen before, Pinterest says to look for "soft dewy makeup", "opalescent features", and "holographic home accents" as key components of the style.

If Pinterest Trends are as predictable as they say, turning your living room into a cosmic playground where Area 51 meets the Jetsons could be the dramatic home decor move of the year. But before you redecorate, it might be wise to take a closer look at what the Pinterest trend data really says.

With everything the Pinterest data is telling us about 2026, the coming year is shaping up to be all about nonconformity, and the alien core fad fits right in with this overarching theme.  There's no doubt that futuristic architecture, which has been around since the early 1900s, and the more modern space age decor, which has been around since the 1960s, have laid the groundwork for futuristic home interior design. But while we catch glimpses of this aesthetic, such as the futuristic floating bed trend that's making a comeback, it's hard to tell if we're at the beginning of a major fad or if the alien core aesthetic will remain largely confined to the fashion, movie, and music genres.

While alien core may not be ready to turn the interior design world on its ear, some elements of this trend have been showing up over the past few years. Maverick designers like Philippe Starck, Miriam Alía, and the Martín Peláez Studio have been experimenting with iridescent vinyls and sculptural furniture for a while, hinting at the aesthetic without fully embracing it. While this otherworldly look is showing up in modern chrome trends, sleek furniture shapes, and sustainable design, the opalescent and neon colors of alien core fashion may not fully translate into mainstream interior design anytime soon. Even so, for homeowners who are looking to experiment, there's a lot of room to do just that without committing to a full sci-fi makeover of your home.