As homeowners continue to seek spaces that balance comfort, character and longevity, the design landscape for 2026 places a renewed focus on natural materials, elevated textures and refined colour palettes. Drawing on his experience as a judge at the prestigious British institute of Interior Design Awards, and his deep understanding of global design narratives, Paul Moody, Global Marketing & Digital Director at Havwoods, outlines the trends set to shape the year ahead - demonstrating how the brand’s extensive and carefully curated timber portfolio enables truly future-proof, beautifully crafted interiors. With an emphasis on responsibly sourced timber with an incredible portfolio of species, colours and patterns across multiple surface applications, Havwoods continues to lead the conversation on timber surfaces that deliver both beauty and durability.
Warm Neutrals
“Soft, comforting tones, including warm neutrals, clays and muted browns, remain central to 2026 interiors. These shades help to create a cocooning, grounded atmosphere and work effortlessly alongside natural materials such as wood and stone. Their versatility means they can be used to soften contemporary spaces or bring balance and warmth to more traditional settings. Designers looking to incorporate this palette often gravitate toward gently toned timber flooring, which enhances the sense of calm and natural harmony. Some of the lighter oaks and subtle honey hues of our extensive flagship Venture Plank collection are a great example, offering colours that sit quietly within the scheme while reinforcing the trend’s understated, nature-led character.”
Look Beyond the Floor
“In 2026, timber planks as wall panelling and wood veneers will continue to introduce warmth, texture and architectural depth into a space. Designers and homeowners are increasingly using wood to create feature walls that feel refined rather than rustic, favouring slim profiles, clean lines and soft, natural tones that enhance a room without overwhelming it. This trend celebrates timber as a tactile, calming backdrop, which is ideal for living areas, bedrooms and transitional spaces where a sense of quiet luxury is desired. Premium veneers such as our Elegante range, introduce three-dimensional natural beauty to walls, ceilings and curved architectural features, whereas materials such as Brezza, from our Italian Collection, exemplify the type of contemporary timber surface that works beautifully on vertical applications, helping to create interiors that feel both grounded and elevated.”
Tactile Texture
“Tactility continues to grow in importance for 2026, with interiors increasingly celebrating the authentic aesthetic of natural materials. Designers are gravitating toward surfaces that showcase visible grain, natural wood textures and handcrafted patterning - elements that add depth and character, while maintaining a sense of calm. This renewed interest in organic texture is also encouraging the use of innovative, wood-based surfaces that offer subtle variation and a crafted sensibility. Havwoods’ TreeAzzo range introduces a modern, terrazzo-influenced approach to timber, showing how pattern and natural warmth can be combined in a refined, contemporary way. Used on floors, kitchen surfaces, tabletops or vertical applications, these softly tonal surfaces help bring movement and a comforting, tactile dimension to interior schemes.”
Creating Zones with Flooring
“With open-plan layouts continuing to dominate residential design, flooring has become an effective tool for subtle spatial zoning. Homeowners and designers are increasingly using pattern variations - such as herringbone, chevron or Versailles panels - to guide movement, define living areas or frame dining zones without relying on physical partitions. These shifts in plank formats help to introduce architectural rhythm and layered visual interest whilst maintaining a cohesive overall aesthetic. A wide choice of formats enables specifiers and homeowners to create gentle transitions that enhance both functionality and flow within open-plan spaces.”
Sustainability as a Design Essential
“Sustainability remains a defining design driver for 2026, influencing not only the material choices but the wider aesthetic and ethical direction of interior spaces. As homeowners seek environments that feel meaningful, enduring and genuinely connected to nature, materials with clear provenance and low-impact credentials are becoming central to every trend conversation. Havwoods’ long-standing commitment to responsibly sourced timber, reduced-waste manufacturing and transparent material assessment aligns seamlessly with this shift. Our products and supply chain are supported by the industry’s most respected environmental certifications, demonstrating how you can achieve a refined, luxury finish without compromising environmental integrity. Through rigorous supply-chain responsibility and ongoing carbon-reduction initiatives, Havwoods supports the growing demand for interiors that are not only beautiful, but consciously crafted for the future.” www.havwoods.com/uk
