A few weeks ago, Pinterest invited me for an exclusive look at their Pinterest Predicts 2026 — an annual “not-yet-trending “report built on search behavior across the platform. And Pinterest is very intentional with that phrasing. These aren’t guaranteed trends. These are cultural signals that may or may not hit the mainstream next year, but the sentiment behind them is beneficial for marketers.
Read the full report HERE.
Across all of the predictions, one thing is clear to me…
People want connection, creativity, curation, and moments that pull them back into real life.
The future looks more like micro-worlds people build for themselves, whether that’s through home décor, beauty routines, travel intentions, or the objects they choose to surround themselves with. Some of these might not apply to every brand, and that’s fine. The power of a trend report isn’t in copying the aesthetics — it’s understanding the emotional need behind them.
Here’s your quick, two-second read on each trend and the bigger signals marketers should be paying attention to.
Afrohemian Decor — African + boho textures take over the home; maximal warmth, woven nostalgia.
Brooched — Men go full heirloom energy with brooches and pins as personality.
Cabbage Crush — Cauliflower is out; cabbage is the new culinary star.
Cool Blue — Glacier tones everywhere. This applies to beauty, drinks, fits, events, etc.
Trends pictured in order Darecations — Travel pivots to adrenaline and bucket-list adventure. Skydiving, anyone?
Extra Celestial — Futuristic, opalescent, alien-coded everything.
FunHaus — Circus-inspired interiors: stripes, whimsy, statement silhouettes.
Gimme Gummy — Squishy, stretchy, sensory-driven beauty and accessories.
Glamoratti — ’80s luxury: sculpted tailoring, gold, excess returns.
Glitchy Glam — Asymmetry as beauty: mismatched, off-kilter, bold color.
Khaki Coded — Utility-meets-desert aesthetics: pockets on pockets.
Laced Up — Doilies and lace reimagined as fashion statements.
Mystic Outlands — Moody, mythical travel to foggy forests + ruins.
Neo Deco — Chrome-trimmed Art Deco gets a 2026 refresh.
Opera Aesthetic — Dramatic, theatrical celebrations with maximal ambiance.
Pen Pals — Letter writing goes from nostalgic to aspirational.
Poetcore — Literary characters as an aesthetic: capes, satchels, turtlenecks.
Scent Stacking — Layered fragrances as self-expression.
Throwback Kid — Vintage toys and retro kids’ fashion return.
Vamp Romantic — Glossy goth beauty and nighttime glamour.
Wilderkind — Retro childhood play reimagined through a nature lens (from Parenting).
The Biggest Takeaways for Marketers
1. People are craving tangible connection again.
Pen Pals, Poetcore, letter writing, handcrafted décor, tactile beauty (Gimme Gummy, Laced Up) are all signs pointing to a rejection of the algorithm and polished feed. People want to be real- I love it.
Opportunity: Brands that help people create or exchange something real will win.
2. Playfulness is culturally necessary right now.
FunHaus, Gimme Gummy, Brooched, Cabbage Crush — the vibe is whimsical, unserious, experimental. I think people need an escape from the world’s toxicity, social media being one of them.
Opportunity: Inject humor and play into brand worlds; lean into delight.
3. Curated identity is the new self-expression currency.
Scent Stacking, Glitchy Glam, Brooched, Cool Blue — people want to assemble their look, not follow a single aesthetic.
Opportunity: Give audiences modular frameworks — mix, match, remix.
4. Home is becoming a stage for personality again.
Afrohemian Decor, Neo Deco, FunHaus — indoor spaces are now expressions of cultural identity.
Opportunity: Retail and home brands should think in “micro-moments” of décor. I’m talking about experimental collaborations that deliver unique pieces to consumers.
5. Offline activities are becoming status behaviors.
Writing letters, journaling, hosting, high-effort celebrations, and analog crafting. It’s safe to say being offline is the new flex. This report is another indicator that iRL is here to stay. People want to return to the ‘good ole ‘ days before social media.
Opportunity: Build campaigns around IRL rituals, not just digital touchpoints.
6. Adventure is rising as an antidote to burnout.
Darecations + Mystic Outlands signal two sides of escapism — extreme adrenaline or ethereal quiet.
Opportunity: Travel, CPG, beverage, and apparel brands can tap into the “choose your escape” narrative.
I’d love to hear from you. Which of these “not-yet-trends” stood out to you the most? Let’s chat!
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"The future looks more like micro-worlds people build for themselves, whether that’s through home décor, beauty routines, travel intentions, or the objects they choose to surround themselves with." Dystopian but accurate