Popular color palettes are cyclical. About every 20 years, we can expect to see a return of the shades from two decades ago. That's why, when we want truly innovative interior design inspiration, we tend to turn to the past. Today's source material is Kirk Douglas's living room in 1984.
An archival photo of the actor and producer's home is the embodiment of warm neutrals. The living room color palette combines cream walls with brown furnishings, and rounds it out with burnt orange accents (These $9 cushions from Amazon are a great option for recreating the look). The effect is earthy and inviting.
Interestingly, Douglas's choice of colors is more characteristic of '70s trends than the aesthetics of the '80s. According to the experts, these shades are right in line with the color palettes we expect to be most popular in 2026. Given that they were still stylish 15 years after they were first popularized, it's no surprise that this warm neutral color palette is once again en vogue.
Hannah Armstrong, Senior Furniture Buyer and interiors expert at Heal’s, explains, 'Towards the end of 2025, we have seen a notable shift in interiors styles. Whilst still a well-loved and opted for style, the focus is less on the classic and comfortable modern-neutral aesthetic and instead, leaning into more of an elevated retro style. Looking ahead to 2026, using our internal sales and customer search data, we can see that we are set for a 70s-inspired interior takeover, as we see notable and consistent sales increases in products featuring classic elements of the iconic style.'
Recreate Michael's Look at Home
This pillow offers a subtle nod to the warm, rich tones of fall, making it an effortless way to bring a touch of Kirk Douglas’s classic style into your home. Its timeless design looks beautiful year-round and complements any sofa, adding understated elegance to your living room.
These beautiful and elevated book ends are the perfect piece to bring a hint of organic modern style to your living room. They feel at once luxurious and grounded.
One of the most striking cream features of Sofía's living room is a beautiful textural table lamp. This reasonably priced one from Amazon would be the perfect addition to any sideboard.
Create a calming and sophisticated living room decor scheme with this textured cream pillow, complete with fringed edging for added interest.
With a retro meets coastal look, this tray can be used on your coffee table to house a vase, candles, and matches, or as a drinks tray complete with pretty coasters.
I love this plush pillow, whose deep green hue brings a touch of sophistication to a neutral sofa. Its velvet-like texture adds warmth and creates an inviting, cozy feel, perfect for a living room with timeless style.
Hannah explains: 'We’ve seen a clear uptick in sales for warm, earthy-toned products, with big year-on-year sales increases for brown (+78%), shades of orange (77%), natural (59%) and green (14%) coloured items across different categories such as furniture, textiles and decor.'
She further explicates the 2026 interior design trend, stating: 'These colours are a clear winner for 2026 interiors, not bright enough to overwhelm and not bland enough to bore, these shades complement each other to create a warm and inviting ambience in almost any space. What is really great about these colours is that they work perfectly together, but also complement many other colours, shades and tones, so they can be drip-fed into most spaces without the need for a complete style overhaul.'
Kirk Douglas's living room proves that color palettes from the past are likely to come back into style. For 2026, we're looking back in time.
