By Victoria Pearson Interiors 09.01.2026

Living Life on the Edge: Inside The Classic Décor Style Having a Major Moment

It’s a small detail with big impact – here’s how to embrace it in 2026.

For years, bedding has orbited the realm of softness. Think washed linen, relaxed silhouettes, plush fabrications, and colours intended to blend rather than define. But as interiors shift toward greater intention and clarity, something more structured is re-entering the frame: piping.

Once associated with tailoring, upholstery, and classic hotel bedding, piped edges are re-emerging across homewares in 2026 in a way that feels at once both nostalgic and newly relevant. According to recent Pinterest trend forecasts, in 2026 we’ll embrace a continued move toward detail-driven design – spaces that feel considered and expressive (without being overwhelming!). With all this in mind, piping just… makes sense? This is definition without fuss – the kind of structure we can get behind.

A Heritage Detail

For centuries piping has done double duty as both a functional and decorative device. In fashion, it reinforced seams while adding contrast in tailored suits, military uniforms, and mid-century couture, among others. While in interiors, it followed a similar path as a discrete marker of craftsmanship, appearing along the edges of upholstered furniture, cushions, curtains, and hotel linens.

Historically, piped bedding was anchored in order and formality, but this modern return has softened those associations. Rather than rigidity, today’s piped homewares feel more intuitive – a way to introduce contrast and visual interest without eschewing comfort.

It's evocative of a broader shift in interiors away from minimalism and toward a growing appetite for classic motifs given a contemporary spin. With insiders predicting a renewed interest in tailoring-inspired details, contrast trims, and reversible textiles, we’re ready to embrace elements that feel familiar, but also allow for personal expression. “Fringe accents add a pop of visual and tactile interest to any piece of furniture,” the designer Kathy Kuo tells Homes & Gardens. “This detail may feel historic and traditional, but it can embellish chaises, accent chairs, ottomans, and sofas of any style. It’s the kind of unexpected touch that brings a hint of wow factor to your living room.”

Why Now?

Part of piping’s resurgence lies in how we’re using our homes. As living spaces continue to carry multiple roles – rest, work, entertaining – there’s a growing demand for bedding that feels finished during the day and relaxed at night. Piped edges offer that duality, holding the bed visually (even when unmade, which… well, we’ve all been there).

It’s also 2026 – we’re booked, busy, and crave design details that do more than one thing. We’re talking reversible textiles, contrast trims and mix-and-match elements allow people to refresh a space without replacing everything. Our mantra for the year ahead? Versatility matters!

How to Style Piped Bedding and Homewares

The beauty of piping is that it’s inherently adaptable, so whether you lean pared back or layered, there’s enough room to play.

Use contrast as a frame
High-contrast piping works like a border, grounding softer colours and creating visual structure. It’s especially effective in bedrooms with neutral walls or furnishings, allowing the bed to anchor the space.
It doesn’t always have to match
Piped pillowcases pair easily with plain sheets or two-toned throws. Rather than styling a full matching set, consider using piping as a way to introduce a graphic accent alongside softer, textured elements.
Play with proportion
Consider mixing and matching your pillow sizes to add dimension and presence at the head of the bed or across a lounge space.

For the long haul

What makes piping feel especially right for 2026 is its staying power. It isn’t locked into a particular colour story or aesthetic moment, and it doesn’t shriek for attention. Instead, it lives comfortably between heritage and modern life – one of those design details that’s been around forever, but feels fresh when you look at it again. And as homes continue to become more personal and layered, piped bedding offers a low-key way to join that shift. Living life on the edge never looked so good.