Quiet Luxury, Slow Living: What I’m Specifying in 2026

Michelle Webb Interior Design — Photography: Content Catchers Photography

I’ve been talking about slow living in design for a while now, not as a trend or a “style”, but as a way of coming back to what matters for us all. Slow living is about being being more mindful, mindful in the choices we make, what we bring into our homes, the way a home flows, and the feeling a space holds when real life is happening - when the bench is covered in lunchboxes, when the dishwasher needs unpacking, when everyone’s home at once and it’s a little chaotic!

Life feels increasingly hurried, and for many of us there’s a daily disconnection from what actually matters. Our homes are holding more than ever before - work, family, rest, recovery, connection and when so much is asked of us day to day, it makes sense that we want home to feel like we can just exhale and be. A place to come back to ourselves and each other.

So this isn’t about trends for 2026. It’s simply a reflection on what I’m choosing in real homes right now and why these choices continue to matter in 2026 and beyond, especially if you are wanting to make space for a more slower, calmer life at home.

Designing for the everyday

I love homes that feel calm on an ordinary day. When the bench is a little cluttered, the laundry’s half-folded, and everyone’s coming and going, and the space still feels steady. That’s real life, and design should make room for it.

It’s a colour palette that doesn’t overstimulate you at the end of the day. It’s materials that still feel like “home” when the light shifts. It’s rooms that aren’t overfilled with stuff, so your nervous system can settle. It’s finishes that age gracefully rather than need replacing the moment they show wear.

More and more, I hear clients say: “I just want it to feel like it’s always been here.” Not shiny new, not overly styled, not everything matching, just ours. The kind of home where school bags by the door don’t ruin the feeling, because the space is grounded enough to hold real life.

Warm whites that soften a space

I still love light-filled homes, but I’m choosing fewer crisp whites and more warm neutrals that feel grounding in New Zealand light and landscape. Our light can be beautiful, but it can also be cool and changeable, and the wrong white can quickly make a room feel stark rather than calm.

Two colours I return to often are Dulux Half Haast and Dulux Half Opononi. They’re gentle whites that sit beautifully alongside timber, linen and stone, and they tend to feel softer as the day moves through a space.

Paint is never just a colour on a wall. It’s what that colour does in the morning light, in the late afternoon, and next to the undertones already in your home. I want it to feel like a calm backdrop, not something sharp. Crisp whites can be stunning — I’m just more selective with them now.

When you are looking for something deeper, I’ve been loving Dulux Musket Bay. It’s a greyed-off olive that still feels restful, and it connects beautifully to the landscape. Nature is often the best palette guide for me! Look out in nature, all the colours seem to just work together, even with a blue sky!

If you’re choosing paint right now, the most helpful question is “What does the light do in this room?” Once you understand the light, the right colour becomes much easier to see.

Texture that carries a room

I love using texture as the element that gives a space life, it is a subtle uplift you feel more than you notice. It’s those homes that feels warm and lived-in from the start.

I’m talking about timber grain you can see, linen curtains that move gently when the windows are open, a rug with softness underfoot, natural fibres that wear in over time, and stone with variation rather than perfection.

Texture creates warmth without noise, which is essential if you’re designing for calm. It also brings depth that doesn’t rely on trend-led styling because it’s tied to materials, not “stuff”.

And it doesn’t always have to be bought. Sometimes it’s as simple as branches from the garden, a bowl of citrus on the bench, or letting honest materials speak for themselves. The most timeless homes rarely try too hard.

Kitchens designed for connection

I’m specifying a mix of painted and timber kitchens, but timber accents is definitely coming through more and more. Timber brings warmth and softness, which matters because kitchens aren’t just about cooking. They’re where mornings begin, where we all gather, where everyone leans on the bench to chat, even when there are chairs nearby.

These spaces should support connection, not perfection. I’m always thinking about how a kitchen feels when it’s actually being lived in — toast happening, homework at the island, friends hovering with a glass of wine, and dishes in the sink because that’s what kitchens are for.

And here’s a personal opinion, I’d love to see more island benches with sinks again.

For a while, so many kitchens were designed with the sink on the back bench, which can look beautiful if you’re aiming for a very minimalist aesthetic. But I love the connection of standing at the island, washing dishes, chatting — not having my back to family or friends. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, it feels strange to design it so you’re facing the wall.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m always up for a good chat while doing the dishes.

Choosing materials that last

I will always love natural stone, but I also believe strongly in choosing materials thoughtfully. There are beautiful engineered stone and porcelain options available now that feel timeless when chosen well — calm tones, soft movement, and finishes that won’t feel dated once the novelty wears off.

Sustainability, to me, isn’t just about what something is made from. It’s also about longevity. A home that needs constant updating isn’t a sustainable one — and it isn’t a calm one either.

When clients are choosing between options, I come back to a few simple filters: does this feel good when you’re tired and overstimulated? Does it sit quietly with the rest of the home, or fight for attention? Will it wear in gracefully, or show every fingerprint and chip? And most importantly — is it supporting everyday life for your family?

details that make a difference

I’ve always been drawn to aged brass and brushed nickel for their softness and warmth, though chrome can be beautiful when paired thoughtfully (I have it in my own bathrooms). Anything that patinas over time adds a sense of ease — a feeling that a home can be lived in, not constantly polished.

Flooring continues to be timber where possible, something I’ve always loved. I’m currently specifying Forte Flooring for a new build in their Moda Range, colourway Verona, and Flooring Xtra also has beautiful options across different budgets. Equally, there’s something deeply satisfying about seeing an old villa timber floor brought back to life - the feeling underfoot, the imperfect grain, the story it carries. That’s hard to replicate and I love that.

Why this matters

Slow living isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing things with intention. And when it comes to your home — the place you get to live in every day — I truly believe that intention is worth investing in properly.

The best homes aren’t the ones that follow trends, they are the ones that feel something when you walk in, the ones that tell the stories of the families imperfectly perfect, within them. The ones that make you want to stay a while. The ones that support your nervous system, even with school bags dumped by the door and the laundry pile growing on the couch (that is me today!).

My purpose is to help families, create homes that can feel calm and still be lived in.

So for 2026, let’s aim for a little more intention in what we bring into our homes. Let’s use the good dishes more often. Light a candle for no reason just cause. Romanticise the small moments at home because it makes us feel good! And why wait….

Michelle x

Want support making these decisions?

If you’re renovating or building and want calm, clear direction on colours, materials, layout or joinery choices, my Design Advice Session is a beautiful place to start. You can enquire via my website contact page.