Looking Forward: 2026

The supreme art is the art of living ~ Francois Xavier Lalanne

Welcome to the year 2026! Though it is exciting to look forward, I think you miss something if you do not also reflect what has already passed… With the world in a tumultuous state, that feeling of comfort and solace that a personally appointed home can give you is of extreme importance. What are the objects in your home that you cherish the most? What are you interacting with on a daily basis that elevates a basic function? Your dishes and glassware? Your flatware or coffee maker? Your sofa, a favorite throw, your mattress and bedding? A silk sleep mask? It is with these thoughts that I look towards 2026.

A had a friend earlier this year ask me how she could elevate her morning routine at her kitchen table/ desk as she began her day. It got me thinking about all of the elements that contribute to a more enjoyable daily experience, even if it is just one table in one room. Lighting, scent, sound, textures in the materials you interface with. You don’t have to be moving into your dream home to make your daily life more pleasurable. It can be as simple as a beautiful cup and saucer for your morning coffee, a scented candle or lamp (think LED like Slamp’s Lefleur) on the table with a gentle light that allows you to ease into the day, a fresh bouquet of flowers that provide scent and colour, a linen napkin to place on your lap. Your daily interactions with items you love can bring you simple pleasures more regularly than waiting to go to that fancy restaurant or hotel.

I recently experienced this myself when I upgraded my flatware to this one. My old Lenox flatware was perfectly acceptable, but I didn’t love it. I have beautiful dishes and I like my glassware, but changing to this flatware has absolutely elevated my dining experience in ways I can’t quite describe. It makes me so happy to see it in the drawer, dishwasher and on my table (even dirty in the sink!!).

These are the types of experiences I think are worth investing in in 2026!

Here are a few ideas to elevate your daily life with the items you interact with most:

Replace your kitchen/ bathroom hardware:

I have used the unlaquered brass from this company and am thrilled with the results. They have a solid weight to them and patina nicely, adding a human touch to an otherwise very modern setting.

Everyday Dishes you Love:

Even if you are eating take-out, make the dishes elegant and it feels so much more decadent. But when you put the effort into a homemade meal, you absolutely must plate it elegantly. We take great care in choosing the perfect plate for the meal we are serving, and it absolutely makes a difference.

Placemats and Tablecloths:

I don’t often put the effort into adding placemats or a tablecloth to my table, but this is another elegant way to elevate your dining scene. When you think about how many meals you have sitting at your table, it is nice to think about differentiating meals with placemats to create a different mood. There are so many fun placemats out there, but these are my current favourites.

Always add something vintage:

…but make it modern with super long tapers or a brightly coloured candlestick. Who doesn’t love a candlelit dinner, and the light is very flattering.

Luxe Dining Chairs (or new cushions for existing chairs):

I have some flat chair cushions that need replacing and I’m eyeing the leather ones on the right from Werktat.

New Bath Towels and Soap:

The mundane task of grooming becomes instantly more luxurious when you love the weight and feel of your bath towels and they look that much better (wet or dry) hanging on the towel bar. All bathroom accessories can be elevated. I am in love with the German brand Decor Walther, whom I discovered in Milan during design week. Their products can be found at Italian department store, Rinascente. The washcloth rack (bottom right) can be placed on a counter or mounted to hang on a wall. They have many other beautiful products as well.

Keychains for your House key:

I don’t know about you, but having a nice key chain has become “de rigeur” for me. Particularly if your key (and chain) sit in the lock on display. I haven’t upgraded to this level, yet…

Espresso Maker:

For me, homemade espresso, exactly as I like it with the precise beans, grind, and water to espresso ratio is of supreme importance to my morning routine (after my lemon water!). I have both the Sage and Breville coffee makers and can recommend them both. I also love the mocha express, but it isn’t so useful on an induction cooktop and I haven’t quite figured out that formula.

What elevates the experience even more are vintage espresso cups… Scour your local antique shop for the perfect cup and your morning espresso will never be the same. I have several I can choose from and each one sets a different vibe for me.

Pyjamas:

I am quite particular about pyjamas (and clothes). I am the dork that is always looking at the label to see what material it is made of. I do not like synthetics and neither does my skin. I have found that it doesn’t pay to buy expensive pjs, as they wear out quickly when you wash them regularly or are as violent a sleeper as I seem to be. My most recent pyjama purchase is from Ralph Lauren, and only the 100% cotton varieties. They are reasonably priced, all cotton, and I love the style.

Slippers and Sleep Mask:

I’ve become so used to sleeping with a silk sleep mask, I feel naked without one. Plus, it is supposedly good for your skin. It also comes in handy when you are traveling as you never know how dark draperies will be. And after moisturizing my feet in bed, I simply must wear slippers on my last trip to the loo before sleep. I love these natural wool ones from Gottstein.

Bedding:

My favourites are Matouk, Frette, and Libeco. For ease of bed making, not that I do much of that these days, but, I love a fitted sheet from matouk, a duvet from Frette and a linen coverlet from Libeco. Because I prefer white bedding, I use the gray Libeco linen coverlet to keep the dirty paws off my white bedding! In summer the linen coverlet works well as your only blanket. We don’t have air conditioning in Switzerland, but the linen is of a nice weight and so breathable, so you are comfortable even on the hottest evenings. The Libeco Coverlet is also very generous in size, fitting a US king mattress graciously.

Pillows:

The final piece of the formula for a good night’s sleep. I am a fan of a memory foam pillow (with a silk pillowcase!) for my sleeping pillow and I also have become dependent on a round tubular pillow, like a body pillow or neck pillow to cradle. I am a side sleeper so this is what I find most comfortable. If you are a side sleeper, I highly recommend trying one. I also like to put it under my knees if I’m laying on my back.

If you are looking to upgrade your daily life in small ways in 2026, I can’t think of a better way to start than exploring some of the small items you interact with daily, and simply upgrading them. Your life will be positively impacted by elevating your art of living. Cheers to 2026!!