6 Insider Interior Design Decisions to Start Now If You Want a Home You Truly Love Living In by the End of 2026

Creating a home you love isn’t about chasing trends or constantly buying new things. It’s about making the right interior design decisions early. The ones that quietly shape how your home feels, functions and holds up over time.

As an interior designer I see the same small choices make the difference between a home that feels calm, cohesive and easy to live in… and one that looks fine, but never quite works. These aren’t the flashy decisions. They’re the foundational ones.

If 2026 is the year you want your home to genuinely support how you live these are 6x insider interior design tips worth starting now.

1️⃣ Decide what won’t matter to you

Great homes aren’t perfect everywhere.

Getting clear on where you’re happy to compromise early on frees up budget, time and energy to invest properly where it counts. The most successful interior design projects always start with prioritisation not perfection.

2️⃣ Plan lighting first

Furniture can move. Lighting rarely does.

Lighting dictates how a space feels more than almost anything else and it’s one of the most expensive interior design mistakes to change later. Thoughtful lighting design elevates everything that comes after it.

3️⃣ Stop designing for photos, start designing for routines

If your daily habits don’t fit the layout, no amount of styling will fix it.

Good home interior design supports real life - how you move through the space, where things naturally land and how your day actually flows. Design follows life.

4️⃣ Buy fewer pieces but bigger impact ones

One well chosen anchor piece will elevate a room more than several smaller “safe” purchases ever will.

Editing is half the design process. Thoughtful restraint is often what makes a home feel intentional rather than overfilled.

5️⃣ Leave negative space on purpose

Not every wall or corner needs something.

Some of the most high end, timeless interior design comes from what’s left out. Space to breathe is a design choice and a powerful one.

6️⃣ Get professional input before you fall in love with anything

The most expensive interior design mistakes usually start with the sentence “I already bought it…”

Early advice from a professional interior designer is where real value is created - saving money, avoiding regret and setting the project up properly from the start.

These aren’t the exciting decisions but they’re the ones that quietly shape a home you’ll enjoy living in for years.

Start here. The rest gets easier.