Designing the Future: Life Instyle shares the top ethical homewares trends for 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, the future of design feels less about reinvention and more about intention. At Life Instyle, the focus is firmly on curating things that support real life: objects made to be lived with, loved, and returned to day after day. From tactile materials and emotional utility to Australian-made craftsmanship and slower, more considered production, the trends emerging may not be loud, but you can bet they’re lasting. Ahead of their Sydney showcase this February, we asked Life Instyle’s Exhibition Director Nina Vidale to share her take on the values, ideas and rituals shaping the year to come, and the brands leading the way with care for people, planet and the creative process.

The Life Instyle team has the fun privilege of being immersed in the creative retail landscape year-round: what are the key design and lifestyle trends emerging for 2026?

Across Life Instyle, we’re seeing a clear move away from trend-led novelty and toward design that genuinely supports real life – emotionally, physically and aesthetically. One key theme is quiet expression: a move beyond minimalism into something warmer and more personal, where neutrals are enriched through texture, materiality and subtle character. Brands like BOEM and by carmont sit here beautifully, offering pieces that feel considered rather than showy. 

We’re also seeing nature reinterpreted. Rather than literal florals, nature is influencing form, finish and process – organic silhouettes, earthen tones and raw, grounding materials. Brands such as The Foundry and FLOX express this through designs that feel calm, tactile and enduring. 

Another strong theme is emotional utility, where function alone isn’t enough. These are products that elevate daily rituals and create a sense of comfort, meaning or delight. Brands like Good Throw Co and mink and me demonstrate how thoughtful design and quality craftsmanship can transform everyday objects into pieces people genuinely connect with. 

For kids, the focus is on fun, unique and quality products that parents feel good about bringing into the home. Products are designed to grow with the child, delight their senses, and stand the test of time. Brands like Flippi and Nana Huchey exemplify this approach, blending creativity, practicality, and long-lasting quality in ways that feel fresh, engaging and memorable. 

Finally, heritage meets modernity. There’s a renewed respect for traditional techniques and craftsmanship, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Brands including Makers & Providers and INARTISAN are leading this space, offering artisan pieces with depth, story and longevity.

Why do you think values-led design (be it sustainability, craftsmanship, longevity, Australian-made) resonates so strongly right now?

Values-led design is resonating because it delivers something shoppers are actively seeking right now: confidence in what they’re buying. Australian-made and small-scale production offer a level of transparency, craftsmanship and care that mass production can’t replicate. There’s pride in supporting local creativity, but there’s also reassurance in choosing products that are well made, thoughtfully designed and built to last. For retailers, Life Instyle is where this connection becomes tangible: buying from brands whose values show up in the quality of the product itself, and curating ranges that customers trust, return for and feel-good investing in.

Are there particular materials, processes or design approaches you’ve noticed gaining momentum among sustainable brands heading into 2026? What feels like it’s here to stay?

What’s gaining real momentum is design with intention: and it’s here to stay. Brands are slowing down, producing less and placing greater emphasis on quality, craftsmanship and materials that stand the test of time. We’re seeing more natural fibres like linen and hemp, thoughtful small-batch production, and products designed for longevity – refillable formats, reusable objects and pieces made to age well rather than date quickly. For retailers, this shows up at Life Instyle through tighter, more considered ranges and clearer design thinking. Buying into these brands isn’t just a values-led choice; it’s a quality-led one offering customers products that feel well-made, purposeful and worth investing in.

For retailers and creatives gearing up for 2026, what’s one shift in mindset or buying behaviour you think will be most important: especially for those wanting to support ethical, small-scale and planet-considerate brands?

Curate in high resolution. The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter.

Life Instyle’s 2026 Neighbourhood theme, The Daily Ritual, feels especially timely. How are you seeing this idea of ritual show up in the products, materials and stories of the brands you’re curating?

The Daily Ritual has emerged very organically from the brands themselves. We’re seeing a lot more products designed to slow people down, ceramics made for a morning coffee moment, skincare that encourages that pause at night, and textiles that soften daily routines. It’s not about indulgence, but about being present. The brands resonating most with this are those creating objects that anchor everyday life, transforming simple moments into meaningful ones. 

Better Together is a collection of Peppermint Partnerships where we team up with brands we love to bring you inspirational stories. We’re so grateful for their help so we can keep doing what we do!

THIS POST WAS CREATED WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR FRIENDS AT LIFE INSTYLE, THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR HIGH-END TRADE RETAIL. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST BRANDS FOR YOUR STORE, MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS THE NEXT EVENT IN SYDNEY 14 – 17 FEBRUARY AT THE ICC, DARLING HARBOUR.