By Victoria Pearson Interiors 06.03.2026

Not Minimalism, Not Maximalism – There’s a New Way To Decorate in 2026

Why 2026’s most intriguing design trend is about editing, not emptying.

If the last decade of interiors swung between extremes - the pared-back austerity of minimalism on one side, the dopamine-drenched maximalist revival on the other – 2026 appears to be carving out its own middle path.

Call it “essentialism”: a way of living shaped less by what you remove or accumulate, and more by what you choose to keep. It’s a philosophy that feels particularly pertinent in this age defined by productivity trackers, algorithmic inspiration and a constant stream of *visual noise*.

Where minimalism focuses on decluttering and maximalism celebrates abundance, essentialism asks a subtler question: does this object actually contribute to the room? For Sydney-based interior designer Larissa Orso, founder of Larissa Leigh Interiors, that question has long sat at the centre of thoughtful design.

“Essentialism is really about purpose, as it’s worded. It’s something I naturally gravitate toward in my work, where spaces are layered but always intentional in their detail.”

Rather than emptying rooms or filling them with statement pieces, the approach sits somewhere in between. “Minimalism removes and maximalism stacks. Essentialism asks whether what exists in the room truly contributes to it,” she explains. “I’m constantly editing and curating objects within a space, considering how they relate to one another and to the overall composition.”

That process of editing – an ongoing and deeply personal mission – is why Orso doesn’t see essentialism as a fleeting aesthetic moment. “I don’t see it as a trend,” she says. “If anything, it aligns more closely with a classic approach to refined interiors where pieces are chosen carefully and allowed to hold their place over time.”

Essentialism isn’t classified as necessarily stark or austere; nor is it overly exuberant and overflowing. Instead, it invites the subject on a journey of curation – sifting through their personal relics and keeping objects that hold emotional gravity. You’re choosing items that reflect where you’ve been and support the atmosphere of a room.

The rise of “intentional” styling

If the last few years were about the ‘aesthetic’ home – moodboards, big visual gestures, etc – then this year’s interiors are leaning toward something more… grounded. And instead of aspirational perfection, people are embracing the overtly personal. Travel mementos are resurfacing in thoughtful ways: a ceramic bowl found in Kyoto now sitting on a bedside table; a vintage print picked up at a Berlin flea market; a timber stool from a favourite local maker; linen bedding in calming tones that mirror the natural world rather than compete with it. Not everything needs to be displayed, but the pieces that remain often carry a clear line back to memory.

In this sense, essentialism isn’t just a design philosophy; it’s a form of preservation. A way to create small pockets of sanctuary in a world that demands your unceasing attention. And the core principle is deceptively simple: when you reduce visual noise, you create emotional space.

Colour and texture (without the noise)

While essentialist spaces often feel calm, they’re rarely flat or purely neutral. “Not all of my interiors sit within a ‘calm palette’ but when that direction is desired I tend to approach it through tonal layering,” Orso explains.

Instead of relying on stark minimal palettes, the approach often leans into depth and material richness. “Clients are gravitating toward warmth and depth, even those who initially think they want neutral. Materials like timber, stone, plaster and textured textiles allow richness to sit within a refined palette.”

In many homes, that warmth emerges through natural materials and subtle shifts in tone rather than bold colour contrasts. Mineral blues, clay reds, earthy neutrals and soft greens are appearing frequently – the kinds of hues that echo the natural world rather than competing with it.

For Orso, the goal is never simply following colour trends. “...it’s less about colour trends and more about curating tone, texture and materiality so the space feels balanced, considered, and aligned with the people who will live within it.”

Editing the modern home

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of essentialism is its flexibility. You don’t have to throw everything away, and you also don’t need to curate a perfectly styled gallery wall of objects. Instead, the philosophy begins with a much simpler act: editing. “Start with one room and look at it as a composition rather than a collection of objects,” suggests Orso.

Viewing a space compositionally – the way a designer might – can reveal which objects actually shape the room and which simply fill it. “Identify the pieces that deserve presence and allow them to lead the space. Once those anchors are clear, it becomes easier to edit what surrounds them.”

Often, the shift toward a more intentional home isn’t about subtraction so much as space. “[It’s] less about removing everything and more about giving the right pieces space to breathe. Over time the room begins to feel more intentional.”

The middle ground

A large reason why essentialism resonates right now is because it reflects the tension of modern life: the speed of our days and the slowness we crave when we return home. It’s not minimalism, and it isn’t maximalism. It’s the thoughtful middle ground – the place where home stops performing and starts nurturing. And perhaps that’s the real essence of the idea overall: not what you remove or display, but the feeling that lingers once you step inside.