Cork Is Having a Moment in Interiors

Why Designers Love Humble, Hardworking Cork

The natural material melds earthy beauty with practical benefits—no wonder it’s in the decorating spotlight.

February 1, 2026

Though it’s been around (literally) forever, cork is being appreciated anew for its myriad fine qualities—rapidly renewable (it’s made from the bark of the cork oak), durable, insulating, sound-dampening—not to mention its honeyed warmth and textural richness. It’s been in the spotlight at recent design shows, but even Proust was onto its benefits with his cork-lined bedroom over a century ago. Here’s how designers are artfully employing it in new ways.

In Tatyana Miron Ahlers’s foyer in Manhattan, a deep tobacco cork wallcovering mutes sound while amping up tactility. “I love the texture, depth, and color—almost like burled wood,” says Ahlers. “It’s casual and elegant at the same time.”

Stephen Kent Johnson

Cork’s resilience and water-resistance make it ideal for high-traffic, hard-working spaces like this Oliver Furth–designed kitchen.
Roger Davies
Adam Charlap Hyman transformed this Miami bedroom into a modern-day homage to Proust’s famous cork-lined room, swathing the walls, bed, and even nightstand in a Phillipe Romano wallcovering.
Chris Mottalini
An avid cook, Thomas O’Brien chose a white cork floor in his own kitchen for its softness underfoot as much as for its light-as-air look.
Laura Resen
Miles Redd wrapped this Connecticut playroom’s walls and ceiling in dappled cork, imbuing the vaulted space with warmth and creating cohesion among its varied planes.
Miguel Flores-Vianna
A niche draws the eye when lined in cork, forming a textured backdrop for pottery in a modern sitting room designed by Veere Grenney.
Cristopher Horwood
In a powder room with limited wall space, David Netto turned the doors into a focal point with faux- tortoiseshell paint and cork panels framed in high-gloss cream molding.
Roger Davies