11 Once-Popular Bedroom Trends That Aren't Making A Comeback In 2026

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Not every design trend stands the test of time, and a number of once-beloved bedroom styles aren't making the cut in 2026. If you like to stay on top of home trends, including knowing those that are going out of style, you don't want to drift off to the view of an outdated bedroom every night. For those looking to make fashionable updates, it can be just as important to know what's out of style as what's up-and-coming. Ahead are some once-trending bedroom designs to skip.

In 2026, trendy bedrooms are cozy and welcoming. There is less pressure to make bedrooms look a specific way, and instead, more emphasis on how the space feels. Certain aesthetic trends can help create a warm and inviting atmosphere. In exclusive interviews, we spoke with several interior design experts about what's "out" when it comes to bedroom decorating this year. From ultra-minimalism to flat white color palettes, these are some previously popular bedroom trends that experts don't see coming back this year.

Minimalism was once the biggest buzz word in home decorating, but there's been a notable shift away from this sparse styling in recent years. Most people enjoy a serene and relaxed bedroom, but it doesn't mean it has to be minimalist. Chantal Martin, director of interior design at the Northern California division of Thomas James Homes explains, "We've seen a clear shift away from modern, clean-lined bedrooms toward spaces that feel more collected, layered and personal. The ultra-minimal, hotel-like aesthetic is giving way to rooms with warmth and character."

It doesn't mean you have to stuff your bedroom with decoration, but keeping it near-empty for the sake of it is no longer in-vogue. In part because of trend fatigue, but also because of a myriad of other factors, many people want their homes to feel more personal. When it comes to your home, what's more personal than the bedroom, which is often the once space that is truly yours? Ultra-minimalism really falls flat when coziness is trending; there's pretty much a need for texture and color in cozy spaces. Layering in decor and textiles is popular for 2026, which automatically strays from minimalism, since it simply requires more item to build up the look.

Color is so back. That doesn't mean white is out: After all, a white hue is Pantone's official paint color of the year. However, in all rooms of the home, 2026 tends to skew toward richer, deeper colors. Chantal Martin expands on one popular alternative, saying, "Rather than crisp white walls, jewel tones such as emerald green and sapphire blue are becoming increasingly popular."

In general, current trending colors aim to make a room feel more cozy and rich, whether you choose a warm white (like Pantone's Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer) or a jewel tone, like deep emerald green. These are far from the only options though. With a trend toward more personalized spaces, this also opens the door to a lot more colors, encouraging you to choose shades that suit your personal style. Earthy colors are another popular choice, particularly vibrant earthy tones, like terracotta red and golden ochre. Rich browns are coming back as a warmer neutral to replace millennial gray. In short, you don't need to default to white to have a stylish bedroom in 2026. Even if you are after a more neutral and serene space, there are other colors to explore.

Farmhouse styling has been popular for a while now, as a go-to for creating rustic, but homey, spaces. It's been a good choice for the bedroom, since it's cozy but not haughty, and still quite personalizable, with more and more affordable ways to get the look as it rose in popularity. Nowadays, though, modern farmhouse in particular has become an oversaturated trend, though farmhouse style in general has fallen victim to trend fatigue. There are ways to get a similar feeling, without going full-on farmhouse.

As Chantal Martin states, "We've removed barn doors from our bedrooms and are continuing to move away from farmhouse influences in favor of a more updated traditional style." We must say, the most enduring elements of farmhouse will always be in fashion. Whether modern or classic, there's always a place for natural materials like wood and cotton, layered designs and textures, vintage accents, and a comfortable and cozy ambiance overall. However, rather than the rustic-based look of farmhouse, 2026 goes back to tradition. Though still with a warm touch, traditional interior design is a bit more refined, and is a nod to a European style, rather than being rural, farm-inspired.

Bedroom accent walls are getting a major update in 2026. Gone are the days of a single accent wall as the main feature of a plain white room. This styling feels overdone and there's a lot more room for imagination. Chantal Martin says, "Accent walls, whether created through paint or applied finish carpentry, are no longer a primary focus. Instead, we're seeing a resurgence of patterned wallpaper and a renewed embrace of color throughout the entire room." The intention is to use the walls to contribute to the ambiance and aesthetic of the room, rather than to have one wall be the centerpiece.

One goal of the accent wall in recent years was to bring visual interest to otherwise minimalist rooms. With the move away from minimalism, trending styles just ask for more overall. There's no rule book that says to paint just one wall a color you love — why not do all? The same idea applies to wallpaper and wall trim too. In 2026, it's no longer "too much" to apply designs to all walls — this can actually contribute to a more enveloping and cozy bedroom feel. An example that shows this idea in action is the painting trend of color drenching, which involves painting the walls, ceiling, doors, and trim of a room the same color to create an all-encompassing feeling. Or, you can try new trend color capping, which involves creating a gradient and painting the ceiling a different color. Color capping shows one way to take the concept behind accent walls and transform it into something that feels fresh and new.

Straight lines will never be out of style, but their prominence waxes and wanes, depending on trending aesthetics. It's no surprise they were so popular in the era of modern minimalism, which valued clean lines above all. Straight lines do have visual benefits: They create order, structure, and stability, so they always have their place in outlining features. They're less inviting, but can make a space feel more orderly. However, a bedroom that's only straight lines can feel too sharp and uninviting, especially for a room where you go to relax and sleep. Curves in all forms introduce softness into a space. Arches are one appealing example.

Katie Mills, an interior designer at the Arizona Division of Thomas James Homes says, "Soft arches are becoming more prevalent, whether introduced through furniture silhouettes or structural framing." They look pretty and come in many forms. For example, one of the easiest ways to add the shape is through furniture with arched elements. With its curved back, the Christopher Knight Home Nettie Modern Accent Chair can bring in the shape in a distinctive way. Arched doorways, window openings, and nooks are another gorgeous way to incorporate the design in your bedroom. There are some shortcut ways to convert straight lines into arches without renovating, such as by using a DIY arch kit like the Unifamily Gypsum Doorway Arch Kit.

Blank walls once communicated minimalism and an elegant level of restraint, but now, they can just feel boring. Unlike shared spaces, such as living rooms and kitchens, the bedroom might be the only place that's truly yours in the house. It would be a shame to not use it to showcase your design personality, and that means taking advantage of one of the biggest blank canvases in the room: your walls.

As Katie Mills explains, "We're seeing increased demand for wall features that add depth, including patterned wallpaper, bold millwork or wood paneling that brings in a more organic, nature-inspired feel." Again, as ultra stark minimalism goes out of vogue, there's a desire to bring more character to spaces, whether that's in the form of charming wainscoting or intricately-designed wallpapers. Renters can take advantage of this trend too, with a variety of peel and stick products on the market. A few examples include classic Command Picture Hanging Strips for you to hang your favorite artworks, peel and stick wallpapers like this NuWallpaper Saraya Peel & Stick Wallpaper for adding playful designs, or even peel and stick trim like Trimold Peel and Stick Chair Rail Molding for creating a simulated traditional aesthetic.

Table lamps feel like the go-to option for nightstands, not even always from a style perspective, but just because they're so utilitarian. It's impossible for functional lighting to truly be "out" completely, but if you're looking to add that extra oomph to your bedroom lighting, there are more creative options than a lamp.

According to Katie Mills, "Hanging pendants above nightstands and wall sconces are also gaining popularity as homeowners look to introduce warmer tones and layered lighting into the space." These two ideas bring just as much functional lighting, but also a lot more visual interest, adding a design element to the wall or ceiling. Even better, they can free up space on your nightstand for other decorations or bedtime essentials. Both small pendant lights and wall sconces come in a huge variety of designs: We're highlighting the Weston Fluted Glass Pendant and Lee Brass Fabric Shade Sconce Wall Light as two stylish options. Installing these lighting types can involve wiring, but not always. You can find plug-in pendants and sconces, like the Tala Plug-In Pendant and Globe Electric Wall Sconce. Or, even battery-powered peel-and-stick sconces, like the Koopala LED Wall-Mounted Sconces. In short, table lamps are not the only option, even for renters. 

Fireplaces can feel very old-fashioned. In previous years, an old built-in fireplace was often seen as a dated fixture in your home, worth covering up. Concealing a fireplace completely can make your home look more uniform and modern, and creates a blank slate that is particularly suited to minimalist aesthetics. For those who couldn't hide it completely, it was also common to put decorations in front to direct attention away from the fixture. However, uncovering an old fireplace might now be the key to bringing character back into a bedroom. With coziness taking centre-stage, it makes sense that fireplaces are having a moment.

Sarah Stafford Turner, House Digest's design historian explains, "In older builds (pre-1900), most bedrooms have fireplaces, and we've been trying to find ways to cover them and disguise them for decades. Now, though, many designers and homeowners are — instead — embracing history, using a mantel as a decor moment and adding irons and fire screens even to non-functioning hearths, for a bit of old world charm." If you want to add instant antique charm, uncover an old fireplace and decorate the hearth. Even if it's out-of-commission, you can still add a product like the Duraflame Faux Electric Log Set to pretend you have a working hearth with a crackling fire.

A big pile of throw pillows was once a way to add personality to a bed, letting you blend textures, colors, and patterns to create an easily-customizable display. But just like any design trend that becomes the norm, there comes a day where it feels a little boring and overdone. Sarah Stafford Turner explains, "Even in this maximalist era, it seems designers are going for minimalist luxe when it comes to throw pillows on the bed."

There are other ways to add layered pattern and texture to a bed without using a big pile of throw pillows you have to toss to the side every night anyways. Turner continues, "Instead of piling on decorative cushions, many are instead infusing their bedscapes with design through plush, unique quilts, bed canopies, and sculptural headboards, rather than relying on decor that eventually gets in the way." Colorful or patterned duvet sets and decorative accent blankets are two more simple ways to add character to a bed, sans pillow pile.

Neutral colors and minimalist decorations really took over the entire home, even children's bedrooms. After years of these plain colorways and spartan decorations, many parents are looking to infuse more playfulness into their children's spaces. Of course, looks isn't the most important aspect of a child's room, but Sarah Stafford Turner states, "While safety reigns supreme for every parents, designers are coming up with fabulous, safety-minded ways to keep nurseries and children's bedrooms safe while imbuing them with charm — from soft, tactile floral wallpapers to whimsical chandeliers that offer a designer's touch with the luxurious look adults will love, but keeping breakable decor out-of-reach of little hands."

More than anywhere else in your home, a child's bedroom gives you the opportunity to try very playful and over-the-top design ideas. You might as well take advantage of it! A little creativity and some attention paid to their interests can make a child's bedroom more memorable too. Have fun with it!

If you need complete darkness to go to sleep, you might view blackout curtains as a necessity. But if you don't, they could be holding back your bedroom's full potential. There are other options that balance light blocking with a bit more style. Blackout curtains have a very heavy look that might not suit certain design aesthetics, particularly if you're going for an airy or whimsical look. Sarah Stafford Turner explains, "Big, bulky blackout curtains are, contrary to decades of popular opinion, not the only option for bedrooms. Designers are moving towards clever combinations of window coverings that add taste and filter light at the same time."

She continues, "Shades with valances are an increasingly popular option. The real rogues among us, meanwhile, go with sheer panels that enable privacy and encourage waking up to natural light." Essentially, blackout curtains don't need to be the default, unless you specifically want their superior light blocking properties. If you absolutely need blackout curtains, you can also find more decorative options than the basic single-color products popular in recent years. The Elrene Home Fashions Mia Jacquard Scroll Curtains are an example of blackout curtains with an old-school look, complete with a valance. Or a more boho option is the HomeChoice Boho Ruched Window Treatments, which have playful ruffles to give them more charm.