With the arrival of autumn’s crisp air and seasonal colours, the UK interiors market is evolving once again. According to ufurnish.com, shoppers are embracing a balance between cosy familiarity and forward-looking design, with strong themes of sustainability, individuality and colour expression.
The season ahead will be shaped by renewed interest in rich textures, layered fabrics and natural materials, alongside trend-defining moments such as the reveal of the Dulux Colour of the Year. In total, eight key trends are expected to set the pace in homes this autumn.
The Dulux Colour of the Year 2026: “Rhythm of Blues”
Each year, Dulux’s colour reveal sets the mood for home décor across the UK, and the 2026 launch in London was no exception. At the event, Dulux introduced “Rhythm of Blues” as the shade to watch for the year ahead. Dulux has concluded that fluid blues are leading the way bringing a calming effect to homes. The tone is supported by three carefully curated palettes:
- Slow Swing
- Free Grove
- Mellow Flow
These colours pair effortlessly with natural wood tones, warm neutrals, and deeper, earthy shades, creating an inviting and harmonious atmosphere in the home. Expect to see it widely adopted in living rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens, promoting a sense of peace and wellbeing for households across the UK.
To conceptualise this, think living walls, botanical prints and furniture crafted from raw, organic materials. The aim is to create serene, restorative environments that mimic the natural world, promoting mental clarity and relaxation. A trend that is clearly coming through from Dulux’s research on trending colours.
The popularity of these materials is that they invite touch and create a sense of luxurious cosiness, perfect for curling up indoors as the weather cools. For retailers, layering different textures is key to achieving this look and feel in products.
After years of lighter woods dominating the home interiors scene, dark wood accents are making a sophisticated comeback. Rich walnut, deep oak and even ebonised finishes are appearing in consumer searches across furniture, flooring and decorative items. ufurnish.com has seen a 183% uplift in darkwood searches across multiple categories in the past 3 months indicating that this is a deal trend which is here to stay. These darker tones add a sense of gravitas, warmth and luxury to a space, contrasting beautifully with the lighter neutral palettes and “Rhythm of Blues” blue colour.
Bedrooms are transforming into ultimate sanctuaries, embracing a “cocooning” effect. This trend emphasises consumers searching for plush bedding, soft lighting, soundproofing and calming soft furnishings. Upholstered headboards, often in luxurious fabrics like velvet or linen are really trending this Autumn with search volumes up 96% year on year on ufurnish.com.
With flexible working continuing to be a part of many lives, the home office remains a crucial space. This Autumn the trend is towards versatile and integrated home office nooks rather than dedicated rooms. These spaces are often carved out of living rooms, spare bedrooms or even hallways. They are designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. ufurnish.com Home Awards winner, Sarah Twigg Doyle emphasises this with her innovative and versatile home office design.
Bathrooms are evolving from purely functional spaces into luxurious retreats. Autumn 2025 sees a focus on spa-like elements: freestanding tubs, large walk-in showers with rainfall heads and natural materials like stone and wood are definitely on trend. Soft, indirect lighting, candles and high-quality towels contribute to the serene ambiance. Expect to see touches of biophilic design even coming in here, with small potted plants or botanical art enhancing the connection to nature (even if they are faux plants). The colour palette often mirrors the rest of the home, utilising calming blues and warm neutrals to promote relaxation.
