SINGAPORE – If you were sick of seeing homes in the Japanese-Scandinavian minimalist style with cream tones in 2025, do not hold your breath for 2026.

Designers and architects speaking to The Straits Times say this “Japandi” style that

dominated Singapore’s interior design scene in 2025

However, they also point out some popular features of Singapore homes that appear to be on their way out, and the rise of alternative styles popular among a growing minority of home owners.

The prevalence of Japandi and other minimalist designs is a natural consequence of the majority of Singapore households living in space-limited HDB and condominium apartments, says Mr Tan Yue Wei, principal architect and founder of YWA Studio.

In contrast, a greater diversity of styles can be seen in larger condominiums and landed properties.

“That being said, I have heard my fair share of ‘I do not want to see another Japandi house’ from home owners and interior designers alike,” he adds.

Mr Lionel Leow, principal architect and co-founder of architecture firm TA.LE, says Japandi will not disappear in 2026, but mature. He has observed an evolution from formulaic minimal spaces towards warmer, tactile and personal spaces with a more “lived-in” aesthetic.

Data backs these predictions. Google search interest in the term “Japandi” by Singapore users has continued to increase since its emergence in 2016, according to Google Trends data.

At the same time, search interest in the term “wabi-sabi” appears to have eclipsed it. Though both are Japanese-influenced approaches which emphasise simplicity, the wabi-sabi style focuses on imperfection, natural ...