This year's most unexpected style icon isn't an actor, a musician, or even an influencer - in 2026, we're getting our best interiors inspo from our grannies. The 'Grandma Chic' trend calls for a return to rich patterns and surfaces draped with traditional textiles. It's inspired by nostalgia and the shift towards more evocative spaces. For insight into the look, we're turning to the home of one of the world's most iconic grandmothers: Barbra Streisand.
Archival photos taken in the actress's Malibu home in 2001 show a grandma chic living room alive with patchwork. It looks as if an antique quilt has been placed on every surface, from the sideboard to the coffee table to the couch. These richly patterned moments are complemented by a grouping of framed family photographs. Yellow floral curtains and red roses in a gold vase tie it all together. 25 years before 'grandma chic' had a name (and before she was even a grandmother!), Barbra had mastered the layered warmth that makes this style appealing.
Her traditional living room idea embodies the timeless, anti-trend beauty of the look dominating 2026 interior design trends. To explore, let's take a step inside Barbra's 2001 home. I've curated an edit of stylish products for emulating her look, and spoken to experts to better understand the resurgence of grandma style and how to recreate it.
Recreate Barbra's Look at Home
This patchwork quilt is the same style featured in the rooms at The Six Bells Inn. It's hand-stitched and made with patches of fabric in shades of green and white that repeat in square patterns. Its dark green border serves as an attractive contrast to its lighter interior.
Made from a textural cotton velvet, this patchwork sham has that lived-in feeling of Barbra's home. Its design features geometric shapes that repeat and vary in size and color, creating a distinct pattern. Available in three different sizes, this sham will stand out on your bed or couch.
Since patchwork designs are often made with bold colors, this muted gray blanket is a great option for anyone who prefers subtlety. It features the traditional repetitive star motif in varying shades of gray and is made from a soft, breathable cotton. It's a lightweight design, so perfect for spring.
Charming in shape, this ornate heart-shaped frame would look best paired with other styles for an eclectic array of styles that channel transitional design. It would be perfect for a gallery of family photos on a sideboard, symbolising how the heart of the home is the people it belongs to.
I love the combination of colors in these stylish cafe curtains that let just the right amount of light into your living room. They would be stunning paired with wooden furniture and patchwork quilting, and vases of flowers that pick out the shades from the beautiful floral design.
The wavy trend may be approaching oversaturation, but subtle silhouettes like this accent table from Rejuvenation keep things feeling fresh. Style it with plants, a vases of flowers, a petite plate, or anything else in your orbit. Also available in black ash if your decor favors a darker hue.
As the title indicates, the current shift towards Grandma chic interiors aligns with a rejection of more cookie-cutter aesthetics, like the modern farmhouse style. After years of gray, white, and shiplap, homeowners are ready for looks with more warmth and personality. Grandma chic permits us to layer our favorite textiles and antiques without fear of being 'too much.' Barbra Streisand's use of family photos and antique textiles mirrors these changes.
With these shifts in mind, the number one way to integrate this trend is to use pieces that are actually older by decorating with antiques and vintage furniture. Rachel Ashwell, founder of the home interiors brand Shabby Chic, advises: 'Typically modern homes and modern pieces have cleaner lines and finishes, because they haven’t had years to wear down. But the magic of vintage pieces comes in the patina and the lovely silhouettes, which can be easily welcomed into a modern setting. Bringing vintage pieces into a modern space is a great way to incorporate lovely details, detailing, and charm that perhaps the house itself doesn’t have.'
Shopping for vintage furniture is a wonderful way to embrace Barbra Streisand's look because not only is it gorgeous, but it's very sustainable. Trend Expert Nick Drewe states: 'The underlying theme behind this trend is to create a comfy, relaxing space, and one way to truly embrace this is through recycling and reusing items, so head to your local second-hand store to see what bargains you can secure. Another option is to upcycle items you have in your home, whether that's adding a lick of paint to your table and chairs, adding patchwork quilting onto an existing blanket or bedding, or adding new handles to your desk drawers.'
However, as we bring in the 'Grandma,' don't forget about the 'chic.' The most stylish spaces combine new and old for a unique and transitional look. Rachel Ashwell recommends: 'Modern is clean, and it’s simple, so it’s important not to bring in too many vintage pieces and make it look cluttered. It’s all about balance. Curate your space and again, think "beauty, comfort, function." This way, every piece will feel like it belongs and it’s cohesive, but it won’t feel like it’s taking away from the beauty of having a lovely, simple modern home.'
Whether it's Grandma chic or transitional cottage, the tides of 2026 are leading us towards alternatives to modern farmhouse style. Barbra Streisand's 2001 living room is our guiding light.
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