2025 interior trends to try
These are some of our favourite sources for latest interior design trends for 2025, drawing from top sources including Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, AP News, and more.
2025: A Year of Contrasts and Comfort
Interior design in 2025 is all about bold individuality and sensory comfort. Designers are balancing dramatic maximalism with serene, nature-inspired minimalism, offering homeowners more opportunities than ever to express their personal style.
1. Dual Aesthetics: “City Glow” vs “Cottage Flow”
Two contrasting visual trends are leading the charge: City Glow and Cottage Flow. City Glow embraces bold, neon hues, surreal art, graffiti motifs, and Brutalist forms—ideal for creative self-expression and youthful energy (AP News).
Meanwhile, Cottage Flow prioritises tranquility: think mossy greens, rustic wood, vintage textiles, and floral or animal motifs—rooted in nature and simplicity (AP News).
Layering elements of each can yield a personal, dynamic space that feels thoughtfully curated.
2. Nature-Inspired Colour Palette
Earthy hues continue to dominate: deep burgundy, terracotta, navy, moss green, alongside soft greens and muted blues evoke calm and wellness (AP News, ELLE Decor).
Brown furniture is staging a comeback—think chocolate tones in upholstery and wall finishes—creating warmth and depth in place of grey neutrals (goodhousekeeping.com).
3. Material and Colour Drenching
Two immersive techniques are trending:
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Colour drenching coats walls, ceilings, woodwork, and trim in a single hue for dramatic continuity (thelivinghouse.co.uk).
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Material drenching, a broader evolution, involves wrapping a space in one material—wood paneling, Venetian plaster, stone, or even reflective surfaces—for an enveloping sensory effect (artsy.net).
Applications might include full-wood interiors or bathrooms clad entirely in concrete or plaster for tactile cohesion.
4. Wood Drenching
Envelop a room in wood—from paneling to ceilings and furniture—for a cocooning, inviting atmosphere. The wood drenching trend uses plank walls, wood ceilings, and complementary furnishings for a rich, cozy aesthetic. If renovation costs are prohibitive, peel-and-stick wood-look treatments or mixed-tone installations offer approachable alternatives (bhg.com).
5. Curves, Comfort & Cozy Corners
Organic, sinuous forms are now preferred over sharp angles. Think curved sofas, arched openings, and sculptural seating that promotes a sense of flow (idealhome.co.uk, artsy.net). Comfort is a cornerstone: oversized cushions, plush seating, layered textiles, and cozy reading nooks allow intuitive relaxation and intimate retreat zones (decorilla.com, goodhousekeeping.com, idealhome.co.uk).
6. Crafted Furniture & Textural Layers
Antique and handcrafted furnishings are back in vogue. The appreciation for craftsmanship is rising, with many opting for handmade pieces—from hand-blown glass to bespoke upholstery—that tell a story and withstand frequent change (artsy.net, architecturaldigest.com).
Maximalism also returns: layering patterns, wainscoting, original trim, and gallery walls with curated vintage finds gives rooms personality without looking dated (thespruce.com).
7. Wallpaper (Everywhere)
The wallpaper box trend—wallpaper that extends to ceilings and sometimes trim—is making waves for its dramatic, immersive effect. While some designers caution it can overwhelm, advocates view it as a jewel-box technique to add texture and hide imperfections (housebeautiful.com).
8. Biophilic & Sustainable Design
Biophilic design reinforces the human-nature connection through natural light, indoor plants, organic materials, and sensory engagement. This trend supports wellness, stress reduction, and harmony (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
Sustainability is equally central: reclaimed materials, non-toxic finishes, performance fabrics, energy-efficient fixtures, and long-lasting craftsmanship help shape eco-conscious homes (decorilla.com, architecturaldigest.com, couriermail.com.au).
9. Nostalgia Decor & Personal Storytelling
Homes are no longer sterile canvases. Nostalgia decor encourages incorporating sentimental elements—family heirlooms, retro wallpapers, vintage textiles, or childhood motifs—to evoke emotional resonance. Such pieces are often small but significant, mixed with modern elements to create balance and authenticity (goodhousekeeping.com).
10. Smart Living & Sensory Enhancements
While style matters, comfort and technology also feature heavily in 2025 interiors. Expect homes with smart lighting, circadian systems, clean-air filtration, blackout drapery automation, and TVs that double as digital art (architecturaldigest.com).
Also escalating is the carpeted ceiling trend—textured wool or lightweight carpets on ceilings for acoustic control, warmth, and unconventional visual interest, ideally in media rooms or offices (bhg.com).
Bringing It All Together
2025 is about expressing personal stories through material, color, and memory. Whether you’re drawn to City Glow or Cottage Flow, your home should be a space that supports well-being, sensory comfort, and self-expression. Here’s a practical approach:
| Step | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Identify your core mood | Are you after calm and earthy, or expressive and bold? |
| Choose immersive strategy | Drench colour or material; scale gradually to avoid overwhelm. |
| Layer comfort | Plush seating, reading nooks, warm wood or textiles. |
| Embrace craftsmanship | Add one handmade or vintage piece at a time for uniqueness. |
| Add nature | Plants, nature-based textures, and sustainable finishes ground the space. |
| Personal touches | Include items with emotional resonance to make the space truly yours. |
| Smart elements | Integrate lighting, climate, and tech for future-ready living. |
Why These Trends Matter
2025 marks a shift from minimalistic neutrality toward environments that feel curated, meaningful, and layered in texture—evoking a deeper sense of place and belonging. At its heart, it encourages thoughtful, slow curation rather than instant gratification decor. Homes are again becoming reflections of lived stories.
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Whether you're redecorating a room or planning a full home makeover, these trends offer a rich palette—from colour drenching and craft furniture to nostalgia decor and earth-toned serenity—to help shape interiors that feel modern yet timeless, bold yet rooted.
Let me know if you’d like tailored ideas for your space, mood board inspiration, or sourcing tips for bespoke and antique interior pieces.