The Animal-Inspired Decor Trend Giving Homes A Luxurious Touch In 2026

Art lovers who peruse sites like Art.com are likely already familiar with navigation features like the drop-down menu. For those who want to decorate their homes with the most popular images of the moment, this site tool offers a convenient way to discover trending art subjects. While many art trends come and go, one theme — horses — remains stubbornly on this menu, even as other fads get bucked. In 2026, horse-inspired decor is expected to get a lot of play as equine decor fans look for distinctive home pieces.

Aside from this trend's popularity on art sites, there are other indications that people's unbridled passion for ponies is ramping up. Equine design has gotten its share of write-ups in respected industry publications such as The Spruce and Real Simple. The reasons behind the surge are myriad, though one sentiment expressed by designer Jennifer Miller in House Beautiful encapsulates the zeitgeist behind the decor style: "The resurgence [of horse decor] seems to stem from a deep-seated yearning for connection with nature and a romanticized notion of freedom and open horizons."

The topic has also seen its share of chatter on sites like Reddit and Facebook. These hubs offer variations on the more well-known influences in equine decor. For horse lovers who'd like to move beyond the influences of cowboys and polo matches, topics like the Year of the Horse in Chinese astrology and Mongolian warrior horse riders offer up inspiration, too, lending the trending theme an international scope.

Curating pieces of equine art is one of the simplest ways you can create an equestrian-themed home (consider taking some inspo from this 19th-century carriage house in Massachusetts). This decor falls into a couple of categories: wall art, sculpture, and pottery. The first is probably the most common method for integrating this theme, and there's a lot you can do with it. Large-scale horse-themed pieces — think 30 inches by 40 inches or bigger — can become the focal point in a room filled with equine-adjacent design accents, such as leather couches and chairs with plaid-covered throw pillows.

As for what types of art to use, that depends on your preference. You can design the perfect gallery wall by hanging up black-and-white photos of horses kicking up dust across a barren plain, but that's going to feel different in your space than a painting of a pack of stallions. The same goes for minimalist prints depicting themes from the Chinese horoscope, for example. If you prefer more three-dimensional art, it's hard to go wrong with statues of horses, particularly if they're abstract in some way. Maybe they're painted unnatural colors, like blue, or are made from materials like scrap metal or drift wood.

You can also give a nod to art history by introducing replicas of Greek pottery featuring chariot races from the Geometric Period. Pieces like these are one way to introduce different cultural elements into the mix. Try adding some miniatures that resemble Chinese terracotta warriors' horses as another way to give your horse decor a historical slant.

Part of the appeal of a horse-forward design comes from its duality. Thanks to decades of fox hunts on horseback and dressage matches, equine decor exudes luxury. However, there's also a country-living element that definitely leans toward the casual — still opulent, just more relaxed. These design elements can be super direct, like a near mural-sized horse painting that hangs over the couch, but professionals commenting on the equine trend also point to items that designer Lindsay Gerber Northart describes as "horse-adjacent decor" (per House Beautiful).

This sentiment finds expression in more subtle design elements. HGTV contributing designer Jenny Reimold told Real Simple, "You don't need a stable — just subtle nods like brass horseshoe bowls, glass-framed riding prints, or a saddle-style ottoman." You can also achieve the look if you introduce elements like plaid patterns, soft leather couches to lounge on, and dark wood accents throughout the space. These tell a story as old as horse lore itself: timeless, elegant, and powerful.