If 2025 has been a year of recalibration, 2026 will be a year of resilience. That’s the message running through the American Society of Interior Designers’ (ASID) latest research, which tracks how design businesses are adapting to a marketplace defined by persistent inflation, evolving consumer behavior, and a gradual—but uneven—economic recovery.

According to ASID’s 2025 State of Interior Design and Economic Outlook reports, design firms have entered a new phase of post-pandemic maturity, marked by smarter operations, diversified revenue streams, and sharper attention to client value. Yet the environment remains complex. Costs and tariffs continue to shape sourcing decisions, hiring remains a challenge, and consumer spending, while steady, has shifted toward smaller, phased projects rather than large-scale remodels.

ASID’s economic analysis projects that 2026 will bring a “steady but slower” economy. GDP growth is expected to moderate as higher borrowing costs continue to weigh on construction, yet design activity should remain steady, buoyed by renovation and retrofit demand, sustainability upgrades, and the ongoing reconfiguration of how people live and work.

Price pressures will continue to be a defining feature for 2026, but they are no longer uniform. Some material costs have stabilized, while tariffs still affect key imports like cabinetry, hardware, and fixtures. Transparency around pricing, sourcing, and substitutions is emerging as a trust-building advantage, and firms that communicate those trade-offs clearly are seeing stronger client retention.

Labor constraints also remain a reality, prompting firms to rethink workflow and capacity. Many are investing in digital tools—from AI-assisted takeoffs to client dashboards—to streamline documentation, communication, and scheduling. 

Despite these headwinds, optimism persists. ASID’s State of Interior Design report shows most design firms reporting stable or growing revenues. Larger firms benefit from scale, but independents are thriving through specialization—particularly in adaptive living, wellness design, and sustainability. These are precisely the areas where storage and organization specialists can lead. Adaptive living, for example, connects directly to ergonomics and accessibility, from pull-down rods and contrast-edge shelving to  smart lighting that improves visibility and safety. Wellness design, long associated with air and light quality, is increasingly entering utility spaces—laundries, pantries, and mudrooms—where material health, sound, and comfort all influence daily well-being.

Ultimately, the path forward for 2026 is not about chasing market growth but about sustaining design integrity through smart adaptation. The firms that thrive will be those that read the economic signals, plan for flexibility, and stay anchored in client needs. As ASID’s 2025 Economic Outlook concludes, “resilience is not about weathering change—it’s about working with it.” If 2025 has been a year of recalibration, 2026 will be a year of resilience. That’s the message running through the American Society of Interior Designers’ (ASID) latest research, which tracks how design businesses are adapting to a marketplace defined by persistent inflation, evolving consumer behavior, and a gradual—but uneven—economic recovery.

According to ASID’s 2025 State of Interior Design and Economic Outlook reports, design firms have entered a new phase of post-pandemic maturity, marked by smarter operations, diversified revenue streams, and sharper attention to client value. Yet the environment remains complex. Costs and tariffs continue to shape sourcing decisions, hiring remains a challenge, and consumer spending, while steady, has shifted toward smaller, phased projects rather than large-scale remodels.

ASID’s economic analysis projects that 2026 will bring a “steady but slower” economy. GDP growth is expected to moderate as higher borrowing costs continue to weigh on construction, yet design activity should remain steady, buoyed by renovation and retrofit demand, sustainability upgrades, and the ongoing reconfiguration of how people live and work.

Price pressures will continue to be a defining feature for 2026, but they are no longer uniform. Some material costs have stabilized, while tariffs still affect key imports like cabinetry, hardware, and fixtures. Transparency around pricing, sourcing, and substitutions is emerging as a trust-building advantage, and firms that communicate those trade-offs clearly are seeing stronger client retention.

Labor constraints also remain a reality, prompting firms to rethink workflow and capacity. Many are investing in digital tools—from AI-assisted takeoffs to client dashboards—to streamline documentation, communication, and scheduling. 

Despite these headwinds, optimism persists. ASID’s State of Interior Design report shows most design firms reporting stable or growing revenues. Larger firms benefit from scale, but independents are thriving through specialization—particularly in adaptive living, wellness design, and sustainability. These are precisely the areas where storage and organization specialists can lead. Adaptive living, for example, connects directly to ergonomics and accessibility, from pull-down rods and contrast-edge shelving to smart lighting that improves visibility and safety. Wellness design, long associated with air and light quality, is increasingly entering utility spaces—laundries, pantries, and mudrooms—where material health, sound, and comfort all influence daily well-being.

Ultimately, the path forward for 2026 is not about chasing market growth but about sustaining design integrity through smart adaptation. The firms that thrive will be those that read the economic signals, plan for flexibility, and stay anchored in client needs. As ASID’s 2025 Economic Outlook concludes, “resilience is not about weathering change—it’s about working with it.”

Sources: ASID 2025 State of Interior Design and ASID 2025 Economic Outlook Reports, available at www.asid.org/research