Interior designer and color expert Maria Killam shares the top five interior design trends that are out in 2027, with the caveat that falling out of favor doesn't always mean…
by Tessa Kowalski • Jul 23, 2026 • 4 min read
Interior designer and color expert Maria Killam shares the top five interior design trends that are out in 2027, with the caveat that falling out of favor doesn't always mean looking dated.
She encourages homeowners to recognize what still works in their spaces and where decorating can make a difference before committing to a renovation.
Killam encourages homeowners to use Pinterest and Instagram images as inspiration, rather than blueprints to copy exactly.
Many images are AI-generated or feature architecture that doesn't suit a real home.
Trying to recreate them without a clear plan can lead to conflicting advice, budget overruns, and disappointing compromises.
Instead, homeowners should identify what they like about an image, what their home’s architecture supports, and what they plan to keep.
Before committing to a renovation, they should also consider whether decorating could solve the problem.
White kitchens may be moving out of the spotlight, but Killam still considers a well-designed white kitchen one of the most timeless choices.
Simple, classic finishes, thoughtful details, and quiet, versatile countertops make it difficult to pinpoint when the kitchen was installed.
She also places many of today’s warm, neutral kitchens within the white kitchen category.
The shift toward wood, warmth, and color doesn't mean perfectly good white cabinets need replacing.
What can give a kitchen a timestamp is an overload of black: hardware, lighting, windows, bar stools, and busy countertops all competing for attention.
If you have a white kitchen, bring in color and decorate around what you already have. White, gray, and black provide a backdrop that color can bring to life.
Killam describes black and white as the biggest interior design trend she has seen during her career.
Initially, it felt like a fresh, clean contrast after the Tuscan brown and gray eras.
But as the palette spread across homes, developments, and even nurseries, that freshness became predictability.
Black and white can still be timeless. The problem, she explains, is using too much of it.
Strong black lines, fixtures, and frames repeatedly pull the eye, making a room feel harsh and flat.
Color offers relief by softening the contrast and bringing life into the space.
For homeowners surrounded by black and white, Killam’s advice is to consider where color could return before deciding what to remove.
Killam believes some of the confusion around modern farmhouse comes from treating “modern” as another word for “new.”
Modern architecture has specific characteristics: clean lines, minimal trim, large expanses of glass, open spaces, slab-front cabinetry, and little ornamentation.
Modern farmhouse, meanwhile, leans transitional or traditional, with Shaker cabinets, paneled doors, apron sinks, trim, and familiar rooflines.
Its modern elements came largely through simplified styling, cleaner palettes, and black accents.
That distinction matters when choosing features. A waterfall island may suit a modern house, but it doesn't automatically belong in a modern farmhouse.
Rather than asking whether a detail is trending, Killam encourages homeowners to ask whether it belongs in their house.
Pale oak flooring is another example of a finish that can stop leading the trends while remaining timeless.
Killam continues to recommend pale oak, alongside medium brown and warmer natural woods that don't lean too red, orange, or cherry.
With pale oak having dominated for years, she welcomes the return of richer wood tones.
Homeowners who already have pale oak floors shouldn't view them as a problem.
Those choosing new flooring can consider a broader range of warm woods that work with their home. Remember: Timeless and current aren't interchangeable.
Killam challenges claims that sage green is out simply because olive green is gaining attention.
She sees green as an ongoing direction, rather than a sequence in which one shade immediately replaces another.
She also disagrees with declarations that Taj Mahal quartzite is already over.
In her view, trend reporting sometimes confuses overexposure with a finish having run its course.
The key is identifying what actually dates a room, what can remain, and where color would make the greatest difference.
Killam encourages homeowners to use inspiration images for direction while considering their own architecture, existing finishes, and practical constraints.
Copying a room exactly, especially an AI-generated space, can lead to expensive compromises.
A home needs a clear plan more than it needs the latest trend. Knowing what to change first can reveal that a beautiful room is closer than you might think.
