This past year has brought a range of exciting trends and design innovations, but the most widespread has to be that instantly recognizable design style that unites color, print, and bespoke decor. Characterful interiors have defined how we've been decorating this year.
And it's a 'design trend' here to stay, centering on sparking joy and bringing vibrancy to homes. No interior is complete without some character and individuality, so this re-emergence of curated maximalism has been a much-needed dose of life.
Minimalism has barely been seen this year, with designers and homeowners alike shifting back to personal style decorating. It's all about combining personality and character through different mediums – print, color, and texture.
Designer Emma Ainscough says she's 'noticed a real hunger and a higher level of confidence from clients. I think this has resulted in braver and bolder decisions, notably with all things color and pattern.' Here's how to bring this coveted look and timeless trend into 2025...
1. Decorate with antiques
Tamsyn Mason uses heritage textiles, muted colors, and antique furniture which pair perfectly with historic architecture. She always considers character when creating a space, saying, 'It's something which is at the heart of all our designs, understanding our clients, how they live and what they love is key to creating spaces which work for their lifestyle and reflect their personality.'
Introducing personality into a space is crucial, and Tamsyn has several ways to ensure a home is both individual and personal. 'The key is to decorate with antiques and lighting, and then combine these with layers of fabrics and new furniture to ensure that every design is utterly bespoke.' The all-important step in creating a characterful home is using color effectively. When it comes to choosing the right palette, Tamsyn says, 'I initially take inspiration from the building, the direction the room faces, and the architectural detail in the room.'
This year's trending aesthetic harks back to established design principles that Tamsyn has long followed. Bringing character and joy to a home is the crucial aim of any design process, particularly in the age of social media. She explains, 'I think there’s a move away from the ‘over-designed’ space to something that is more personal and ultimately more comfortable.'
2. Create rooms that bring joy
Color can be daunting when designing a space, especially when creating a bold statement like mixing contrasting shades. But sometimes the best result comes from taking the risk if you want a space to feel vibrant and full of life. Bright shades evoke positivity and can resonate with an individual's personality, so introducing them in a room can make the process of characterful design much easier.
Mary Patton isn't one to shy away from individuality and quirkiness. She says, 'Colorful personal decor is here to stay. You want your home to feel like it has a soul, which happens when you layer pieces that have meaning to you. Picking things you like that resonate with you will always work in your home decor. Don’t overthink this!' Embracing meaningful, unique pieces is what design is all about. And although there's been a real appreciation this year towards the distinct vibrant aesthetic, it's really just a timeless tradition that encompasses all things purposeful in design.
3. Incorporate meaningful pieces
Pandora Taylor is all about fusing the old and new, from adventurously-shaped tables to colorful tiling, she's all about adding fun to tradition. Despite its evident popularity, the characterful aesthetic isn't really a trend. It's a shifted focus on incorporating personality and individuality into spaces. Pandora says, 'Being able to weave clients' existing belongings into a scheme always makes the space feel more personable and can be great inspiration for us as designers.'
If you want to nail the curated, eclectic style and avoid a harsh clash of mixed decor, ensure the room color is right as it will set the overall base tone. The design process is eased once color has been decided, allowing unique furniture, art, or textiles to be brought in. 'Colour can be a great tool to create a more unique characterful space and we often try and pull on a client's existing pieces to build the scheme around whether it's a statement artwork or favorite armchair or decorative piece.'
Emma Ainscoughsays that artwork is the most personal element of a scheme or at least an easy way to add that personal touch. 'I love to use unexpected ‘art' - framing a menu from a memorable meal, a poem, a postcard… often small-scale items like this look beautiful and hold a personal meaning.'
4. Embrace the bookshelf wealth trend
So, it seems the designers are unanimous on one thing- personality. Look to yourself (or your client) to truly inspire your design. Robin Henrysays, 'How to bring character into the home? Ask the characters who live there!'
Robin's design style is instantly recognizable, uniting print, color, and texture in one harmonious blend. When asked how she brings character into the home, Robin said she looks to her clients and what inspires them. In the case of her recent project, she says 'my client was inspired by the colors and whimsy of the Bloomsbury Group. We found ourselves melding this very specific vision and ended up laughing that the concept was ‘Vanessa Bell takes a 1960s art class” – perhaps as colorful and personal a theme as they come.'
Robin says that the above image 'marries want and need.' Incorporating aspirations with practicality is crucial. Robin has used a bookshelf to house her client's books but takes a whimsical approach through color. It's your space, so don't be afraid to experiment with bold features, colors, or patterns that bring you joy as this year's trend is all about bringing fun to the home.
5. Mix old and new
Brooke Copp-Barton'smain aim is to lift the spirits of those who live in her designs. Her style encompasses all the main elements of the trending characterful aesthetic- color, pattern, and personality.
The characterful trend is all about (unsurprisingly) bringing your character into your home. So it's important not to entirely dispose of old pieces when redesigning a space, especially if you want to create a room that has a collection of meaningful possessions.
Brooke says, 'Our starting point is always to ask the client how they want to feel in a space. What treasures do they already have and how will the space be used – which very much drives our thinking.' A useful tip from Brooke is to incorporate old with new through pre-loved pieces, like family heirlooms or vintage finds. 'They are imperfect and help to make a room feel more relaxed, and natural, and by default, they help spaces feel less interior designed.'
Brooke has long brought vibrancy and individuality to her designs. She has always been drawn to this style of interior. When asked about this year's popular style she said, 'I love a home to be personal, lived in, imperfect, not a show home - and I’ve always wanted to create interiors that are a reflection of the people and personalities who live within them. Maybe clients want a more curated approach to their interiors that needs more of a human touch.'
These designers have long been curating spaces with personality and character in mind. Encompassing fundamental design principles, it looks like this characterful 'trend' will be here to stay.
