The very nature of a trend is that it's short-lived, or relatively short-lived anyways. But what's been different about the majority of 'trends' from the last year is that they haven't really been trends at all.
2024 has been the year of the 'anti-trend'. The most 'trendy' spaces have been timeless, drawing on the past to create spaces filled with character and personality. Transitional has been the buzzword of the year, bookshelf wealth was another huge trend that reflected everyone's desire to in fact avoid trends all altogether and just decorate with things you love. There were a few 'core' and family tree-based (eg. coastal Grandma) trends that we saw hundreds of back in 2023 but they didn't gain the same traction they've had in the past.
So it's been a bit of a weird year for trends, but what does 2025 hold? We asked top designers what they are predicted will be huge next year, and if the same attitude to ditching trends will continue.
The top interior design trends for 2025
We cover everything from styling to color trends and the latest celebrated materials in our round-up of the biggest interior design trends for 2025 and beyond...
1. Indoor swings
Gwyneth Paltrow has one. The iconic interior designer Brigette Romanek has one (having installed the one in Gwyneth’s). Beyonce sat in a Lee Broom one for a music video. Designers have been adding indoor swings into projects with increasing regularity, and they’ve been spotted hanging out in some of the most beautiful new homes of the year.
Why? Quite simply, because they’re fun, a joyous addition that can lift your spirits as they lift you off the floor. ‘They help you to relax,’ says Brigette Romanek, her own living room pictured above. ‘They put a smile on your face. To me, they’re another form of wellness, able to put you into a trance. Close those eyes and sway. Gwyneth Paltrow has had one for years and always loved them – you can’t beat swinging in front of that view.’
2. Pairing curves with waved edges
Designers have been making a beeline for curved edges for the last few years, while scalloped shapes have also been a trend. But pairing the two together, as seen here in this living room by the Malibu-based studio LALA Reimagined, amplifies the effect. The curved arches guide the eye towards the wavy lamps, softening all the hard corners.
'We’re motivated by what doesn’t fit into a box, and waves just simply don’t,' says Lia McNairy, one of LALA Reimagined's co-founders. 'They create a fluidity of movement, they take a space out of the rigid mode of everything being on an angle.'
3. Decorating with brown
‘I like to use brown where most people might expect to see black,’ says Molly Kidd, principal designer at Light and Dwell. ‘But it’s all about mixing the textures to keep it earthy rather than sludgy. There will be rich browns in the wood tones and flooring, layered with different shades of brown and cream in the upholstery.’
The result is a soothing palette, an interesting new take on being inspired by nature that doesn't rely on green. ‘If you drive through the mountains or along the coastlines up here in Oregon, everything is moody in its tone,’ Molly says. ‘Even the sand is brown. And it all feels more grounded than you’ll get in on the southwest coast – more relaxing in a way. Those colors tend to translate into the homes and the projects we do.’
4. Textured neutral bedrooms
The trend for bedrooms being calming sanctuaries is going nowhere, but designers are finding new ways to add texture to even the most neutral of color schemes. In this gray bedroom, designed by Judy Dunne of the New York-based studio Butter and Eggs, for her own Manhattan apartment, every surface is given a tactile quality, even the ceiling.
‘I am all about creating serene bedroom spaces – a restrained palette, but with so much texture,' Judy says. 'I want them to feel like an oasis.’
5. Confidence in color
When designers are using bold colors, they're throwing caution to the wind, blending saturated shades and managing to stop them from looking overpowering.
'I am always drawn to dramatic spaces with saturated colors,' says the LA-based designer Jessie Lane McLaughlin. 'For my living room design above, I started with the sofa fabric. While I normally tell clients to begin with the rug as the foundation of the room, anything that you're drawn to or sparks interest can be where you begin.
'The luxe teal blue velvet was the perfect complement to the curves of the Kagan-inspired sofa. The raspberry antique Balouchi rug held up against the saturation of the sofa. As I played around with different curtain colors, I realized that I had to go bold and mustard fit the bill. The result was a surprising version of the primary color palette which I'm very rarely drawn to. However, by tweaking each color the result is a dramatic and fresh combo.'
6. Mixed metals
'Mixed metals will be a hit in bathrooms and beyond in 2025,' says interior designer, Joshua Smith.
'There are lots of opportunities to use a mixed metal light fixture to harmoniously combine brass and black or bronze, or even brass and nickel. There are so many accessible options to choose from, making it easier to find the perfect balance of finishes you need by mixing and matching certain parts. We’ll also see powder-coated metals in brighter colors become mainstream.'
Mixing metals is often a key feature of industrial decor, but it can be done more subtly too, as shown by the contrasting mixed metals used across the fixtures and fittings in this elegant, neutral bathroom.
Interior designer, Peak Petersen, also adds, 'Aluminum in lighting and furniture is reemerging from the ’80s for 2025 interior design trends, which I love; used sparingly and elegantly, this metal can make a space feel wonderfully chic and elevated.'
For further expert advice, we explore how to mix metals to perfection in our dedicated feature.
7. Strong colors used for relaxing rooms
Interestingly, serenity is starting to come as much from bold hues as neutrals, but they need to be handled very skillfully. This pink bedroom by the designer Nina Magon could easily have been too much, too enlivening, the wrong shade to go to sleep to. But her approach helped dial it down.
'This effect is achieved through a combination of factors, such as selecting softer shades of bold colors, incorporating muted tones, and ensuring they harmonize with each other and the overall aesthetic of the space,' Nina says.
'Additionally, strategic use of texture, lighting, and accent pieces further enhances the calming effect while adding depth and interest to the design. By skillfully balancing bold hues with muted tones and incorporating other design elements thoughtfully, we create a serene scheme that captivates the senses and invites relaxation.'
8. Copper details
It's almost impossible to believe that copper is back – after 15 years of being out of favor and brass being used instead. But doesn't its warm hue and sunny tone feel exactly right for now? 'I’m very into copper verdigris, and the way it patinas,' says the designer Tom Morris of Morrisstudio. 'I’m currently doing a kitchen and using a copper worktop, whereas two years ago I was erring more towards stainless steel. We’ve come full circle and are using warm metals again, as well as warm colors. Even brass can feel a bit too brash.'
Meanwhile, in this bathroom above by Johnston Park Interiors, designer Fiona Parke has introduced a copper towel rail, which simply feels richer than a brass one would have been.
9. Room dividers as art
'Room dividers have been on my mind a lot recently,' says the interior designer Linda Boronkay. She helped shape the influential Soho House while Design Director of the brand, and now with her own studio she still setting the trends.
'We’re working on a project where I’m using one less to zone a space, more as a piece of art – it’ll be the backdrop to the sofa in the living room. I’m thinking of it as a 3D piece of art, that adds an extra layer to the look and feel of the space. They’re so elegant and versatile, coming in rich patterns and tapestries, and are a wonderful way to add some detail to, say, a smaller room that might not have any period charm to it. It can transform your decor, in the same way as getting just the right pillow can.'
Of course, they also have a the function of privacy. 'When I was designing Osborn House [a hotel Linda completed in Australia, above], I used screens in some the bathrooms in the suites, to create a bit of privacy.'
10. Moodier colors
Darker colors have always been considered very elegant and chic, but there's been an inaccessibility too them too. You need to have the right style, the right space, the right lighting to pull off moodier shades. And for that reason, a lot of use have shied away from using shades like black, brown, dark blues, purples, and greens. But 2025 looks to be the year we realize how easy to incorporate darker colors can be, especially warmer tones.
'We’ve been moving even moodier in the colors we're going for,' says the Washington, D.C.-based designer Zoe Feldman. 'Since Covid, there has been a shift into warmer spaces, and now as we look to 2025 we’re all feeling very moody with everything going on in the world. I love deep greens, curry tones, lots of terracottas. There's a richness that you get from these tones that we're all craving so much right now.'
11. Biophilic design
'Biophilic design will continue thrive for in trends of 2025. This trend centers around bringing the outdoors inside, creating spaces that foster a stronger connection with nature. Expect to see more indoor plants, living green walls, natural materials like stone and wood, and large windows to maximize natural light, reducing the barrier between the interior and exterior,' says Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs.
It's fair to say, that one of the biggest inspirations for many when it comes to interior design is the beauty of the natural world. From color palettes rooted in nature to the warmth of wood and the durability of natural stone, establishing an indoor-outdoor feel in the home can be both calming and relaxed and uplifting and energizing simultaneously.
Chris Pask, director at Charlton Brown also adds, 'Clients are increasingly looking for a greater connection to the outdoors in their homes, whether that is a literal connection via roof terraces, balconies and beautifully landscaped gardens, or more subtle nods to greenery and nature throughout the home. This can take the form of colors, materials and shapes that mimic those found in nature and are known to invoke a sense of calm.'
12. Layered lighting
Piero de Marchis, director at Detail Lighting says, 'Homeowners are paying far more attention to the way spaces in the home make us feel, as well as their function. Our homes are having to work harder for us than ever before, with an increase in spaces having multiple functions. From open-plan living areas to kitchen-dining zones, the trend for installing multifunctional lighting that can be adapted to suit the room as it’s being used is set to continue to rise.'
Gone are the days of simply turning on the 'big light', 2025 lighting trends prioritize a combination of various light sources in a space. From welcoming pools of light created through cozy table lamps and floor lamps to practical task lighting in a kitchen or study, the right use of layered lighting can transform the mood and atmosphere in a room, and ultimately, help us use our spaces better.
In terms of styles and lighting looks, Ed O'Donnell, co-founder of Angel O'Donnell says, 'arresting silhouettes and unusual materials will conspire to create increasingly imaginative lighting and statement pieces that’ll create strong focal points in the home.'
13. Statement stoneware
The beauty of natural materials such as travertine and decorating with marble is undeniably timeless. Most commonly used for bathroom ideas and kitchen ideas, 2025 will see statement stoneware used across the home, from sculptural stone side tables in a bedroom to a stand-out marble fireplace in a living room.
Interior designer, Devon Wegman, founder of Devon Grace Interiors says, 'While I never thought I would put granite on a project, we've been slowly using it more and more as we see slabs that have incredible movement and veining and look almost like quartzite. In fact, the conference table in our design studio is made up of two bookmatched slabs of granite with bold white veins running through it.'
14. A focus on handmade, artisan designs
Thoughtful, sustainable design is always on trend, but the overgrown trend for decorating more antiques and more unique pieces will not only lead to us shopping more responsibly, but it will also see a rise in 'shopping small', and celebrating handmade, artisan designs and craftsmanship from all over the world.
The shopping experts at the ethical home retailer, The Citizenry, support this and say, 'In dissent from the uber-minimalist trend popular in recent years, consumers are shifting to a more eclectic collector’s approach to designing their spaces. Looking forward, this year, we predict consumers moving towards a more decadent, collected home. From Parisian opulence to Mediterranean layering, we expect to see an overlap with maximalism in terms of influence from other cultures this year.'
Through rough forms and rustic, handcrafted objects connected to ceremony, history and travels far and wide, 2025 interior design trends will see many embrace a more slow, mindful and ritualistic life.
We do predict that 2025 trends will see more of what we have seen in 2024, less quick seasonal or pop culture lead trends and more looking back for inspiration. The 'trends' we all love are become more and more timeless as the years go on as people move away from the constant need to change interiors to keep them 'trendy' and rather decorate with longevity in mind.
