As both an editor and an artist, one of my favorite parts of the Southern Home & Garden Show's Designer Showcase is seeing how creative professionals use color, texture, and art to tell a story. While every space reflected a unique vision, several themes emerged that point to where interior design is headed.

The overarching trend? Homes are becoming more personal, layered, and expressive. Designers are moving away from formulaic interiors and embracing spaces that feel collected, meaningful, and reflective of the people who live in them.

Key Trends I Noticed

• Bold, Unexpected Color Designers aren't afraid of color. Rich wall colors, moody cabinetry and surprising color combinations created rooms with personality and depth. Rather than playing it safe, many spaces used color as a defining design element.

• Texture Takes Center Stage Whether through stucco-inspired wallcoverings, limewash finishes, natural woods or layered textiles, texture was everywhere. These tactile elements brought warmth and visual interest, proving that a room doesn't need to rely solely on color or pattern to make an impact.

• Personalization Over Perfection The most memorable spaces felt deeply personal. Designers incorporated meaningful collections, heirlooms, vintage finds, and artwork to create rooms that told a story rather than followed a trend.

• Layered Interiors Many rooms embraced a mix of old and new, polished and imperfect. Antique furnishings, contemporary pieces, handmade objects, and collected accessories worked together to create spaces that felt evolved over time rather than purchased all at once.

• Pattern Mixing Florals, stripes, geometrics, and organic prints appeared together in thoughtful combinations. Instead of matching perfectly, patterns were layered to create energy, movement, and individuality.

• Art as the Foundation As an artist, this was perhaps my favorite trend. Rather than treating art as an afterthought, many designers appeared to build entire rooms around a piece of artwork. Art informed the color palette, influenced material choices and provided the personality that made each space unique.