5 Trends in Design Redefining Cities & Homes
5 Trends in Design Redefining Cities & Homes
Journalist: Alirio Aguilera for Economia y Desarrollo Newspaper. Connect with Paola Moya here
Urban design is undergoing a profound transformation. Looking towards 2026, concepts such as wellbeing, place narrative, and emotional architecture are no longer isolated trends, but fundamental criteria that define a space’s relevance.
For Paola Moya (Moya Design Partners) design has moved beyond form and function. “A space that does not improve the way we breathe, sleep, work, or live together fails to fulfill its true purpose.”
She outlines five defining design directions for 2026: Wellbeing Is No Longer “Nice to Have”. It Is a Design KPI
In 2026, design is no longer evaluated solely by appearance, but by its measurable impact on health. We spend close to 90% of our time indoors, making interior environments a matter of public health.
Clean air, well-regulated natural light, and acoustic comfort are no luxuries. They are baseline conditions. It is no coincidence that standards such as WELL Building Standard are now present in more than 74,000 projects across 137 countries, covering 5.87 billion square meters.
Wellbeing is no longer conceptual. It is measured.
Emotional Architecture: Spaces That Are Felt—and Remembered
The defining question of design in 2026 is no longer “How does it look?” but “How does it feel?”
Emotional architecture gains strength because it designs everyday experiences: arriving, waiting, gathering, and inhabiting. Clear thresholds, human scale, honest materials, and warm light foster connection and belonging.
A space that is easy to understand and fit to live in, does more than function properly. It becomes memorable.
Air, Light, and Silence: The New Invisible Infrastructure
True innovation is not always visible. Measurable ventilation, humidity control, air filtration, circadian lighting strategies, and acoustic comfort have become essential infrastructures.
The urgency is real. In Colombia, The Health National Institute (Instituto Nacional de Salud – INS) estimates that nearly 8% of annual deaths are associated with environmental factors such as contaminated air and water.1
Design excellence is no longer solely aesthetic—it is preventive.
Integrated Nature and Buildings to Preserve and Conserve Resources
Biophilia has evolved from decorative gesture to strategic framework. Research shows that integrating nature improves wellbeing, productivity, and creativity.
Additionally, The Colombian Chamber of Construction (CAMACOL) estimates that buildings meeting green standards can reduce energy and water consumption by 20% to 40%, while increasing durability and asset value.2
In 2026, sustainability and efficiency are no longer optional add- ons, they are competitive advantages.
Color Moves Beyond Neutral: 2026 Embraces Warm, Deep, Emotional Tones
Color becomes a central narrative thread in interior design in 2026. According to a report by Vogue, the premise is clear: the home must become a refuge, and color is a primary tool in achieving that.3
The cool palettes that dominated for years —pure whites, grays, and neutral beiges— are gradually giving way to richer, nature-inspired tones with emotional depth. Warm browns, ochres, terracottas, and caramel hues emerge as new chromatic foundations, offering depth, character, and an immediate sense of warmth.
This shift does not pursue immediate impact, but harmony and permanence. Butter yellows evolve into more toasted variations; reds deepen into brick, wine, or burgundy tones; and neutrals are redefined through warmer nuances such as Classic Beige or Wax Paper.
Bold accents such as Crimson, Emerald, Indigo, or Chocolate appear across larger surfaces, furnishings, and full-height walls. The result is more sophisticated, enduring, and emotionally resonant spaces, where color does not decorate, but constructs atmosphere and wellbeing.
Designing for Tangible Impact
Looking ahead to 2026, architectural design is increasingly defined as a tool for tangible impact in daily life. For Paola Moya, this means integrating wellbeing, place narrative, and emotion into every project, with the understanding that spaces are not simply used—they are felt, remembered, and inhabited.
“When a space succeeds in moving people while caring for them at the same time, it has fulfilled its reason for being,” she concludes.
