2026's Unexpected Furniture Trend Is All About The Edges

New year, same home — just with a few new touches. There is one rising decor trend in particular that can seriously elevate your space: furniture with decorative edges. In an interview with Homes & Gardens, U.K.-based interior designer Sean Symington revealed that he has his eye on this subtle but unmissable trend for 2026. "Furniture is becoming more expressive through detail," he explained. "I think we'll see more upholstered legs on sofas, chairs, ottomans, and less skirting." He also predicts a rise in bold piping and detailing with shell or mother of pearl, two simple, luxe touches that can have a big impact on the overall vibe of a piece of furniture.

We dig this trend because it's a match made in interior-design heaven for maximalist home decor, another hot style for 2026. Though it's one you can definitely shop, it also lends itself well to certain home DIY projects. It's less about replacing or transforming an item and more about making it your own with some unique details. Keep reading to learn more about how to incorporate furniture with decorative edges into your space in a tasteful way.

Whether you're in the market for a new couch, ottoman, or side table in 2026, shopping this trend is all in the details. Look for playful pieces with unexpected edges, trims, or add-ons — think gently curved silhouettes, metal or shell accents, fringe, or colorful piping. As with all furniture shopping, it can be helpful to set a target budget. For the sake of easy styling, browse with the design style and color palette of your space in mind, too.

You can purchase furniture with decorative edges online from many home goods retailers, such as Anthropologie or Wayfair, which sells a number of curved ottomans from brands like Ivy Bronx and Joss & Main. Some interior designers might be tired of curved furniture, but it's still widely available. See also: this retro-inspired Hokku Designs Green Casual Sofa from Wayfair with fun contrast piping, which would be the perfect juxtaposition to a minimalist living room. For a super of-the-moment look, prioritize detailing and another bold furniture trend for 2026: patterned upholstery.

Curious about going the DIY route? For the average homemaker, adding contrast piping to a couch or armchair might be too difficult or risky — the goal here is to zhuzh up your furniture with decorative edges, not to make yourself feel on edge by potentially ruining an expensive item. However, it would be fairly easy to paint or dip-dye the legs of your dining chairs, or to use upholstery paint to detail an ottoman for a pop of color. The key is to not go overboard with it. Adding character to your home with unique touches is good, but too many furniture items with eclectic detailing can look jumbled (or worse, tacky).