Ep 223 | Etsy Trends You Won't Want to Miss: Spring 2026

Podcast: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Date: March 5, 2026

Episode Overview

Lizzie Smiley brings her signature warmth and expertise to a trend-packed episode, dissecting the biggest Spring 2026 trends for Etsy sellers. Drawing from Pinterest’s newly-released trend report and her own cutting-edge Etsy research, Lizzie delivers actionable inspiration to help Etsy creators ride the next wave of bestsellers. In this episode, she explores how the freedom to embrace unique aesthetics is at the heart of 2026's trends and gives listeners a toolkit to incorporate these styles in both physical and digital products.

Main Themes

• Radical Self-Expression: 2026 is about being uniquely yourself on Etsy — more aesthetics than ever are thriving, opening doors for diverse audiences and products.
• Trends as Tools: Even handmade sellers should consider adjacent trending products for cash infusions while maintaining core shop values.
• Proactive Creation: Many new trends haven’t hit Etsy yet—be an early adopter to maximize success as these Pinterest-predicted styles take off.

Notable Quotes

• “2026 is the year of everyone being themselves. There are so many aesthetics and concepts and vibes that are doing well…we’re on the precipice of some of the greatest success we’ve seen on Etsy because we all get to be ourselves.” — Lizzie (03:10)
• “What they [trends] do is they give you a quick cash flux…You can really ride it for a while. Like the coquette trend has been selling now for like three years.” — Lizzie (12:30)
• "I am literally giving you the ultimate insider scoop. Trends are really important. I have never seen students do so well as when they started incorporating them." — Lizzie (13:45)
• "Even if you're kind of in a handmade space...you create products that are adjacent and that go in there that you can incorporate the trends because what they do is they give you a quick cash flux." — Lizzie (14:20)
• “2026 is the year of the thrift shopper…Good glory, it’s exploding.” — Lizzie (1:34:30)

Detailed Breakdown & Key Insights

Why Trends Matter for Every Seller

(03:10 – 16:30)

• Explains her journey to becoming a trends expert and relates to listeners who find trends confusing or overwhelming.
• Offers reassurance: Everything is figureoutable; even trend-averse makers can train themselves to spot opportunities.
• Advocates for a dual approach: create both currently hot and soon-to-be-hot listings.

The Power of Proactive Trend Adoption

(16:30 – 19:00)

• Pinterest’s trend report leads Etsy’s by months—jumping in ahead positions shops as first-movers.
• New trend adoption often takes a couple of months to show payoff (“...it takes about two months before I start getting sales on it and then they become bestsellers.”).

Membership Tools for Trend Tracking

(19:00 – 28:00)

• Describes her “Trendspotting” membership:
  • Weekly PDF trend reports with visuals, holiday calendars, and stable trend spotlights
  • Weekly video training
  • Six listing ideas (3 print-on-demand, 3 digital), each with done-for-you SEO
  • Monthly group coaching calls
• Also mentions her “Scaling Society” membership for deeper support and community.

Pinterest Trend Report Breakdown

(28:00 – 1:25:00) Lizzie methodically covers each trend from the Pinterest report, highlighting both physical and digital applications. Key trends include:

1. Gimme Gummy (29:20)

• *Tactile, squishy, 3D, or “gummy” designs—jewelry, nail art, and graphics with a bubble or playful look.
• Advice: “Handmade products, where possible, you're going to use gummy or squishy elements. Print on demand and digital sellers, you want to start creating designs with 3D gummies.” (30:15)
• Be an early adopter across niches (sports, teachers, moms) for best results.

2. Glamorati (33:20)

• Decadent maximalism: Gold outlines, animal prints (leopard), chunky and bold jewelry.
• “Tailored suits with sculpted shoulders… funnel necks… jewelry… get chunkier, bolder, and golder.” (34:05)
• Focus on maximalist, luxurious, but not gaudy “bling.”

3. Poetcore (36:20)

• Cottagecore + Academia + Vintage: Oversized turtlenecks, vintage blazers, romantic, literary vibes.
• “Keep bringing vintage elements…especially poetic or academic ones.” (36:45)

4. Neo Deco (38:00)

• Modern Art Deco: Geometric, chrome or brass touches, retro yet modern.
• “All things shiny, bold glam, and just a touch eccentric.” (38:30)

5. Scent Stacking (40:10)

• Layered perfumes and candles: Bundles, curated scent combinations.
• Candle makers: Lean into layered bundles, use storytelling in marketing.
• “Get them to burn two [candles] at the same time so that the scents intermingle. Then you could sell bundles.” (41:30)

6. Broached (44:30)

• Revival of vintage pins and brooches, especially for men.
• “Vintage pins, crystal clip ons, heirloom brooches… If your grandma wouldn’t wear it, is it even the vibe?” (45:10)

7. Fun House (47:20)

• Circus-inspired home decor: Bold stripes, sculptural forms, colorful yet refined.
• “This isn’t, like, clown everything… solid, clean aesthetics accentuated with a pop of color.” (47:55)

8. Laced Up (49:45)

• Doily and lace details everywhere: Collars, borders, even phone cases with crochet.
• “Scalloped edges are on so many designs… doily, borders, grammacore, everywhere.” (50:20)
• Huge opportunity for digital and print-on-demand sellers with doily/faux-lace aesthetics.

9. Better Up (52:00)

• Letter writing revival: Fancy stationery, curated stamp gift sets, personalized mail kits.
• “Letter writing gift baskets would be massive… gift boxes, fancy pens, stamps…” (52:45)

10. Vamp Romantic (55:50)

• Gothic romance: Black lace, spider motifs, glossy dark reds and blacks, romantic vampy glamour.
• “This is sounding like a big deal for the beauty industry… but in line with the trend, we’re likely to see vampy goth inspired elements.” (56:45)

11. Cool Blue (58:55)

• Icy blue pastels and glacier motifs: In fashion, cocktails/mixology, accessories.
• “I think people buy it when they see it. I think designers are not...wary for some reason, so they’re not creating it.” (59:30)

12. Afro Hemian Decor (1:01:10)

• African boho fusion: Nigerian textiles, handwoven baskets, colorful prints.
• “If you design in the wall art space, I would thoughtfully include African inspired boho aesthetics and elements.” (1:01:45)

13. Mystic Outlands (1:04:10)

• Fairy-tale & misty landscapes: Fog, enchanted forests, Scotland Highlands & Faroe Islands aesthetics.
• “Earthy green colors…landscape art with kind of a mysterious fog… enchanted forest and fairy vibes.” (1:05:30)

14. Glitchy Glam (1:08:00)

• Intentional asymmetry: Offbeat, mismatched beauty, “weirdcore,” non-matching designs.
• Theme: Don’t be afraid of mismatch or out-of-the-box design.

15. Khaki Coded (1:09:28)

• Earthy browns and fashionable utilitarianism: Khakis, vests, late ’80s outdoorsy vibes, pockets.
• “I was super excited to hear about pockets…lean into the browns.” (1:10:30)

16. Cabbage Crush (1:11:10)

• Cabbage as the new culinary star: Kitchen products, stickers, jewelry inspired by cabbage.
• “Cabbages should be strategically featured…in homestead designs, farmer's market designs…” (1:12:10)

17. Extra Celestial (1:13:25)

• Opalescent, holographic, sci-fi-inspired accents.
• “This is much…futuristic elements…opalescent and holographic aesthetics should feel kind of next generation.” (1:13:55)

18. Wilder Kind (1:15:20)

• Soft animal prints: Fawn print, butterfly motifs, bug jewelry in elegant, not rustic, ways.
• “If you have a bestseller in leopard print, try creating a new design that’s the exact same, just with fawn print.” (1:16:20)

19. Throwback Kid (1:17:15)

• Nostalgic, vintage kids’ styles and toys: Upcycled baby clothes, crochet playmats, 70s-90s vibes.
• “Vintage and nostalgia everywhere…lots of 70s, 80s, 90s nostalgia.” (1:18:30)
• Tip for crocheters: Match market-favorite weights, products, and colors—not just personal taste.

20. Darecations (1:22:15)

• Adrenaline travel: Rafting, canyoneering, trip-planning for adventure—not immediately applicable to most Etsy sellers but highlighted as part of the culture.

21. Opera Aesthetic (1:24:00)

• Theatric, opulent parties: Dramatic décor, rose motifs, vintage theater invitations and decorations.
• “Drama and theater are going to be huge this year…Occasions, parties, celebrations are massive niches on Etsy.” (1:25:10)

What’s Hot Right Now on Etsy

(1:26:00 – 1:35:30)

• Typography: Collegiate/varsity fonts with pattern fills, childlike/doodle fonts, ransom-note and scrapbook styles peaking.
• Textures: Realistic quilt, patchwork, and 3D elements.
• Nostalgia: 70s-90s color palettes, shapes, and motifs.
• Vintage elements: Ceramics (roosters, ducks), Americana/heritage vibes, thrifting niche exploding.
• Advice: “Go to Etsy, type in [your product], filter by bestseller, and see what’s doing well…don’t spend hours creating an inventory that won’t sell.” (1:20:50)

Summary Table: Trends & Etsy Product Pivots

| Trend | Physical Products (Handmade, POD) | Digital Products | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Gimme Gummy | 3D earrings, gummy jewelry | Gummy-style graphics, faux 3D elements | | Glamorati | Gold, leopard, maximialist prints | Sparkly/gold elements in templates | | Poetcore | Bookish, vintage apparel | Poetic/romantic stationery, book-inspired graphics | | Neo Deco | Geometric, brass elements | Art deco fonts, patterns | | Scent Stacking | Candle bundles, curated scent sets | Perfume label templates, graphics for bundles | | Broached | Vintage pins/brooches | Clip art, digital brooch design elements | | Fun House | Circus strip decor | Bold color printables, circus party invites | | Laced Up | Doily-trimmed apparel, crochet phone cases | Faux-lace/floral borders, digital doily overlays | | Better Up | Stationery kits with curated stamps | Editable stationery printables, stamp graphics | | Vamp Romantic | Gothic lace accessories, dark jewelry | Dark romantic invites, Canva templates | | Cool Blue | Blue-glassware, icy tone accessories | Icy pastel color palettes, cocktail recipe cards | | Afro Hemian Decor | African textile decor, baskets | Boho-African digital prints, wall art | | Mystic Outlands | Landscape art, fairy decor | Enchanted forest backgrounds, wanderlust designs | | Glitchy Glam | Mismatched earrings, split-color apparel | Asymmetric, bold digital patterns | | Khaki Coded | Pockets/utility wear, brown home goods | Outdoor, khaki-themed templates | | Cabbage Crush | Cabbage/jewelry, kitchen goods | Vegetable sticker sheets, food-themed graphics | | Extra Celestial | Holographic phone cases, opal jewelry | Holographic effect overlays, lunar/space graphics | | Wilder Kind | Fawn/animal print clothing | Animal print digital, butterfly clip art | | Throwback Kid | Upcycled vintage baby/kid clothing, toys | Crochet/retro baby shower templates | | Darecations | Adventure gear | Travel planners, itinerary templates | | Opera Aesthetic | Theater party supplies, dramatische décor | Invitation kits, vintage theater digital assets |

Action Steps & Strategic Takeaways

• Blend Trends: It’s a year of “trend combining”—don’t be afraid to combine aesthetics (e.g., vintage + poetic + animal print).
• Get Specific: To connect emotionally, tailor trending designs to your niche (e.g., teacher gummies, homesteader cabbage).
• Move Early: List trending products before Etsy’s mass adoption for maximum first-mover advantage.
• Stay Current: Monitor both Etsy bestsellers and Pinterest reports; what’s big on Pinterest now will soon be big on Etsy.
• Utilize Memberships: Leverage education and toolkits (such as Trendspotting) for shortcutting trend adoption and SEO.

Timestamps for Important Sections

• 03:10 — The Era of Self-Expression and Multiple Aesthetics
• 16:30 — Pinterest Trends Precede Etsy Trends by Months
• 19:00 — Explaining the Trendspotting Membership
• 28:00 — Beginning of Pinterest Trend Report
• 29:20 — Gimme Gummy Trend
• 33:20 — Glamorati Maximum Maximalism
• 47:20 — Fun House / Circus Home Decor
• 49:45 — Lace and Doily Explosion
• 55:50 — Vamp Romantic Gothic Style
• 70:30 — Early 90s/Khaki Coded Fashion
• 1:17:15 — Throwback Kid Nostalgia
• 1:26:00 — What’s Hot Right Now and Immediate Etsy Opportunities
• 1:34:30 — The “Year of The Thrift Shopper” and Vintage’s Continued Boom

Final Words

Lizzie leaves listeners with encouragement to embrace the 2026 trendscape boldly. Whether you specialize in physical products or digital designs, there’s a place for you—especially if you’re ready to innovate and incorporate even just a dash of what's trending. Act early, tailor trends to your niche, and use trend-tracking resources—this could be your best year yet on Etsy.

[Visit howtosellyourstuff.com for visual references, tools, and additional resources.]