POPPY WILCOX

Hello 2026!

I appreciate this isn’t a hot take - but I wanted to share it anyway, because I think it’s important to say out loud and to normalise, personality belongs in our homes.

This is the year I want us all to step into our spaces with a real sense of who we are, what we like, and how we actually live — and apply that to our interior design choices. Gone are the days of following a trend just because you think you should. Endless scrolling the top trends of the year and algorithm chasing. This is the year of homes reflecting . Your life, your memories, your quirks. Not a showroom. Not a Pinterest checklist.

Think about how you dress. You don’t get dressed in the morning purely because something is “in” - you choose pieces that feel like you. Maybe you add a soft cashmere glove, or that brooch your slightly eccentric auntie gave you that makes you smile every time you wear it. Dressing your home is exactly the same. Unique pieces spark conversation and create little storytelling moments, which in turn create shared experiences when guests walk into your space.

Yes, there are a few little rules and principles that help things feel calm and cohesive (because no one wants to try and relax in a room where the wallpaper, clashing prints and colours are all fighting for attention and physically won’t let your eyes settle).

But the core principle still stands: if you love it, include it - and make it work.

Why the best homes all feel the same (and yet completely different).

When I ask clients to describe how they want their home to feel, I often hear the same words repeated:

Sanctuary. Haven. Retreat. Happy place.

And here’s the thing - every single person who says this has one key thing in common.

...

Their homes are full of pieces, colours, textures, art and lighting that bring them joy.

A home should feel alive. It should hold memories, emotion and personality in every sense of the word - especially in its interior design. That could be a cushion you love purely for the pattern, a coffee table book that says something about you, or artwork that sparks a feeling you can’t quite explain. If it reflects you, it belongs.

New pieces, old souls & why both matter

I believe the most beautiful interiors blend new pieces with antique or sentimental ones.

Don’t get me wrong - I am absolutely not against buying something new that you love. But it’s just as important (if not more so) to showcase and celebrate older pieces with meaning.

My client once told me about her nan’s jewellery box. It used to sit on her bedside table and, whenever she visited, she was allowed to choose a “treasure” from inside. Not valuable in the traditional sense - but priceless in sentiment. That jewellery box now takes pride of place in her bedroom, old and proud, bringing so much warmth and personality into the space.

Those are the pieces that make a home feel layered, lived-in and deeply personal. They’re irreplaceable.

The no-trend trend of 2026

So as I move into 2026, I’m embracing a no-trends trend.

Instead of chasing what’s “done”, I’m designing interiors that prioritise personality. Homes that are client-led, thoughtfully curated, and still undeniably beautiful - but never at the cost of feeling.

You’ll find me leaning into texture (those of you who know me know I’m tactile obsessed), movement, flow and spaces that make you smile when you walk into them. It might sound like design speak, but you can feel when a home works - it’s the difference between a space you admire and one you actually want to live in.

The most timeless homes aren’t built on trends, they’re built on feeling. And that, to me at least, is interior design re-imagined for 2026.

Happy year of the Fire Horse - I’m excited to see what this year brings.

love Poppy ✨