Friday, February 21, 2025
HomeApartmentExperts Tell All: 2025 Interior Design Trends

Experts Tell All: 2025 Interior Design Trends


We surveyed almost 50 designers to learn the ins and outs of 2025 interior design trends across the U.S. Experts weighed in on decor details from metallic finishes to colors to furniture angles to find which long-held trends are leaving and which will be taking their place this year.

This dataset captures insights gathered from multiple-choice and open-ended questions, covering key design preferences and anticipated shifts in home interiors. Take a look to see what you can expect from 2025 interior design: You might be surprised at some of our experts’ answers!

 

 

 

 

Earth tones or jewel-inspired shades

Of the designers we surveyed, more than half favored the earth tones over gem-inspired shades, which corresponds with the pervasive cultural need for grounding and harmony this year. More concretely, earth tones play nice with a wealth of accent colors, textures, and materials. And with Mocha Mousse leading colorways this year, earth tones have snatched attention from the maximalist royal colors we saw in 2024.

 

 

Maximalism vs. minimalism: The great interior design debate

It’s the age-old question in fashion and interior design: Is less more? Two new home-buying generations influence what’s popular in 2025, and aesthetically, they’re often at odds.  With “Millennial gray” slowly leaving the scene, and Gen-Z’s beloved maximalism gaining ground, it’s no surprise that these two categories secured a tie. 

 

Dark vs. light wood furniture and accents

Pale and dark woods have both had their day in interior design, whether on furniture or accents around the home. 2025 shows that light woods take a slight lead, while some designers are opting to buck outdated rules and use both in one room. 

Curvy or clean lines? 

2024 gave interior designers some fun, angular looks to play around with, from soft brutalism to postmodernism. In 2025, curves and clean lines mingle, with the slight edge going to more rounded furniture. It makes sense, considering the prevalence of maximalist, elegant looks in this year’s decor. 

 

Brass vs. chrome finishes

Brass finishes give an Old World elegance evocative of old period pieces, lofty libraries and traditional decor. Chrome, however, conjures a space-age flair that keeps homes looking cool, sharp, and modern. Brass clearly won out for 2025 trends, tilting interests in favor of a warmer, more heritage look for furnishings, signaling a possible return to more traditional decor mixed into home spaces. 

 

Word art generated from short responses from participants

If you could describe 2024 design in three words, what would you choose?

One of our designers surveyed, Misty from CoCreative Interiors up 2024 in three words: bold, personal and grounded.

 

      “Bold, Personal, Grounded.

  • Bold: 2024 design embraces daring colors, striking patterns, and statement-making elements that reflect individuality and confidence. Jewel tones, maximalist layers, and unique textures define the year. 
  • Personal: Interiors prioritize storytelling and self-expression, incorporating bespoke details, cultural influences, and meaningful pieces that make each space truly unique. 
  • Grounded: A strong connection to nature and sustainability is evident, with earthy tones, organic materials, and eco-conscious choices bringing warmth, balance, and a sense of responsibility to designs.”

 

“Natural, sustainable, practical. In 2024, design has been all about reconnecting with the earth — natural materials like reclaimed wood, breathable fabrics, and greenery have taken center stage. It’s a back-to-basics approach, with sustainability and practicality leading the charge, ensuring that what’s beautiful is also mindful. Every room tells a story, not just of style but of care for the world we live in.”

 

If you could describe 2025 interior design trends in three words, what would you choose?

We also turned to Misty, who provided the quote about 2024 above, for some keywords for this year’s decor trends. We learned some exciting changes coming in 2025, with a more intense, intentional approach to design.

“Vibrant, Intentional, Fluid:

Vibrant: 2025 marks a full embrace of color, taking the boldness of 2024 to the next level. While 2024 was a baby step into experimenting with richer tones and statement elements, 2025 steps boldly into vibrancy with confidence and joy. We’re not being timid anymore — think fearless combinations of bright, saturated hues, playful patterns, and unexpected contrasts that exude energy and optimism. This shift reflects a cultural push toward celebrating individuality and the pure delight of color in our homes.

 

Intentional: Building on 2024’s focus on personal storytelling, 2025 takes it further with designs that are meticulously curated and purposeful. Every piece in a space carries weight—whether functional, aesthetic, or sentimental. Instead of layering for the sake of layering, interiors are thoughtful and precise, ensuring that every detail serves a role. This focus on intention moves away from excess and toward meaningful, value-driven choices. 

 

Fluid: While 2024’s grounded approach is rooted in design in nature and stability, 2025 embraces adaptability and flexibility. As lifestyles become more dynamic, so do our spaces. Multi-functional layouts, modular furniture, and designs that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living cater to how we truly live, work, and play. Fluidity isn’t just physical but conceptual — spaces are designed to evolve with us, reflecting our ever-changing needs and desires.”

 

What one top design trend you see leaving in the upcoming year? 

Some patterns emerged when designers weighed in on what’s getting the boot in 2025. Gray came up in many responses, as did pastoral looks like modern farmhouse. Some of the shorter responses not represented below include everything from cottagecore and country-chic, to all-white kitchens and gray-washed furnishings. 

 

 

  • Less grout! More clients are opting for large format tiles, and rectified grout lines. Also in kitchens, continuing their solid stone countertops up the backsplash to make cleaning extremely easy. Inlay marble mosaic tile with small grout lines also looks great right now! —  Kaitlyn Loos 

 

  •  I think the fast furniture trend will be out in 2025. People are embracing sustainability and intention in their homes more and more. It is not just about following the latest trend anymore. People are wanting quality furniture that is more of a reflection of who they are. — Jennifer DuBois, Home with Jen D

 

  • Accent walls leaving, especially black, trend towards painting the entire room. I am an artist who follows color trends and adapts my palette accordingly. I paint soothing landscapes and water shoreline scenes. Kate Moynahan

 

  • Bye-bye to the goal being cookie-cutter perfection! People are starting to embrace the warmth and character that can be found in mixing colors, textures, patterns, and styles. They are more open to combining old with new, storied secondhand treasures with big box stores. We are now embracing more playfulness and less rigidity as we reach the tail end of neutral minimalism and explore how our homes can be FUN. — Kristin Dwyer, Oblique New York

 

  •  The No. 1 design trend I see leaving in the upcoming year is the dominance of gray and cold whites, particularly in the form of all-white kitchens and monochromatic neutral spaces. These once-popular designs, hailed for their minimalism, have become synonymous with sterile and uninspired interiors. Homeowners and designers alike are moving away from these “safe” choices because they lack warmth, personality, and the ability to truly stand the test of time. — Misty, CoCreative Interiors

 

  • The year 2024 had so many clinging tightly to the gray color palate, desperate to make it stay alive. Many equate a modern style with the use of gray paints and upholstery when it’s just not the case. Modern style can be achieved by different items cohabitating with synergy, not any one statement item: Straight lines, fewer accessories, negative space on the walls vs too much artwork dotting the walls – making it look cluttered. Modern can have several types of textures to a room that can bring warmth versus a stark institutional look vibe of the gray yesteryear. — Faye Smith Interior Design

 

  • We’re leaving gray and beige behind in 2024! The stale, pale, austere, angular motifs of the past are going to age poorly, and people will be craving earthy, curvy, textured spaces. There will be more of an emphasis on textural contrast, soft edges, and fabric walls and surfaces. Deep and earth-toned patterns are going to have a big moment. Cold minimalism. While the curvier and warmer, more organic “millennial modern” elements are not entirely new, we continue to leave behind sterile, frigid minimalism in favor of warmer, more human-centered spaces. — Design Baddie

 

  • “I see people leaning more into what I’d call warm minimalism — cozy earth tones, natural textures, and spaces that feel inviting rather than too perfect. It’s all about creating a vibe that’s simple, but still has personality — like a room that feels lived-in and tells a story, instead of looking like a showroom, more authentic and comfortable.” – NLS Design, LLC

 

  • I foresee leaving dark, somber and moody colors behind for more uplifting, lighthearted and welcoming spaces. This can be achieved with pops of color in accent pieces, like pillows as opposed to going over-the-top, gangbusters with bright furniture or boldy-painted entire rooms. People are being practical with their purchases and want to choose quality, affordable, long-term items that outlive trends.

    However, they still want to express their individual style and personality with doing something different and maybe unexpected. Using reusable wallpaper as large-scale, artistic backdrops is another way to express personal style without being permanent. Being able to DIY easily apply, remove and reuse wallpaper onto different walls or even cabinets, furniture, bookcase backings, doors and stair risers brings a lot of flexibility in expressing personality just by changing it around. There is a lot of bang for one’s buck in multiple uses of quality, mobile wallpaper. – Ashley, Casart Coverings

 

  • Within my specific niche of ceiling fan trends, acute minimalism is well on its way out. For many years designs have trended very sleek and slim, and while that’s still a common form factor that we’ll continue to see, there are all kinds of varied materials and detailing coming strongly into play specifically with ceiling fans. Tropical styling, for example, was a waning category in recent years after enjoying much popularity throughout the 2000s. Over the past few introduction cycles we’ve seen some of those looks coming back around, and tropical is set to make a continued resurgence in new and innovative formats thanks to the persistent popularity of natural materials in design. — VF&M

 

  • It is so refreshing to see the exit of the all-white/gray look. As a color lover, this is so refreshing. Color brings in personality! Our homes bring us joy and support our emotions and mental health. Finally, it is becoming “cool” to be you in your own space! No “keeping up with the Joneses” and personality-void interiors! — Kim, Kim Macumber Interiors

 

  • The all-white, hyper-minimal look will likely recede. Interiors that felt overly spare and gallery-like may be replaced by those that incorporate thoughtful patterns, rich surfaces, and one-of-a-kind objects. People seem ready for spaces that feel more personal and meaningful, rather than strictly pared-back. — FancyHouse Design

 

  • High contrast like black and white. It was super popular to be really bold and to have something different than just a beige home, but it doesn’t have a lot of staying power and people tire of it a lot faster. — Leah, LJ Interiors

 

Popular wall and paint colors to emerge in 2025

Designers this year are saying “gray, gray, go away,” and welcoming the moodier, earthier colors at play in 2025’s homes. One of them even went as far as to dub themselves, “the anti-gray design firm.” Wallpapers, red tones, and creamy, warm-toned whites will refresh walls too.

 

  • As the anti-gray design firm, we’re thrilled to see jewel tones staging a vibrant comeback, bringing bold personality to daring interiors. The rise of warm whites over cold grays creates the perfect canvas for beautifully expressive homes with a maximalist flair. This evolving design style celebrates individuality and what people truly love, transforming interiors into timeless works of art that stand apart from the ordinary. — Misty at CoCreative Design Firm

 

 

  • I think warm earth-tone paint colors will be a popular choice in 2025, with shades like Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore leading the way. These colors help make a space feel grounded and secure, creating a calm and comforting sanctuary. — Jennifer Dubois, Home with Jen D

 

  • Uplifting and grounding tones that aren’t dark or moody. Ex: greens, blues, yellows, and other vibrant tones found in nature. With the state of the world, we are craving small moments of delight and comfort in our homes and that comes from using color to create a particular feeling within our spaces. — Kristin Dwyer, Oblique New York

 

  • I don’t see colors veering too far from a neutral palate, more of leaning away, really.  My reasoning is that none of these colors jump out at you, but they lean. They’re soft. Right now, I’m saying no to anything that sends a strong vibe and avoiding the “flinch factor,” as I call it. — Faye Smith, Faye Smith Interior Design

 

  • Green! From earthy olives to bright kelly greens and I think more purples and terracottas. — Katie, Zimmerman Interiors

 

  • Clay, mushroom brown, moss green, soft coral. Driven by fashion, beauty and interior trends as predicted by Pinterest. — Design Baddie

 

  • I think we’ll see a lot more rich earthy tones like terracotta, olive green, and warm ochres in 2025. These colors have a grounding, calming effect, and I think people are really craving that sense of connection to nature. Plus, they pair so well with the natural materials that are trending, like stone, wood, and clay. On the other side of the spectrum, I expect bold, playful colors like cobalt blue and deep magenta to pop up more, especially in accent pieces or smaller spaces. These colors add personality and energy to a room, and I think people are ready to have a little more fun with their spaces after years of neutrals dominating everything. — NLS Design, LLC

 

  • I can see the use of more garnet red types of color, really rich and bold. I can also see more moody darker greens and even the use of black. I think people are going for drama in their spaces, making them more moody and sophisticated. — Brooke Cribbs, Cribbs Style

 

  • Bright blues, for their joyful but calming effect! — Jackie Tahara, Unblink Studio

 

  • I see orange and warm-hue colors on trend for 2025 — in keeping with a bright palette. One possible reason for this could be change in political climate and people wanting to feel more comfortable, cozy and relaxed in their personal spaces, as well as looking for expressive design changes. They might want to entertain and celebrate engaged gatherings with family and friends more than in 2024. This could be a hopeful sign that America might be more cohesive in 2025. — Ashley Spencer, Casart Coverings

 

  • Greens are still ever-popular, again with the trend toward natural elements in design. As an offshoot from that philosophy, warm off-neutrals with subdued yellow, beige, brown, and taupe tones are serving the same purpose for those wanting a softer palette. — VF&M

 

  • I think we’ll continue to see moodier colors come back into play. I think people want to feel comforted and cozy. — Lindsay, Lindsay Letters

 

  • Green has always been my favorite color, and I’m thrilled to see more people embracing this tone in their spaces. It’s being used in so many creative and impactful ways — on millwork, furnishings, and as a paint color. There’s something deeply grounding about green; it connects us to the earth and brings a sense of balance and calm to a room. It’s one of those rare colors that feels both rich and invigorating, satisfying yet leaving you wanting more. Whether it’s a deep forest green, a muted sage, or a vibrant emerald, green has an incredible ability to adapt and add depth to any design. —  Becky Shea, BS/D

 

  • Jewel tones with an earthy grounded base. (e.g., Muddier pinks, dusty reds, eggplant purples, truffle browns) In the ever-evolving, fast-paced era that we live in, we are more drawn to creating personal spaces that feel welcoming, stylish, and most importantly grounded. —Willow and East

 

  • Warm neutrals like taupe and soft greige. Think of a soft greige wall, paired with lush cream furniture and the occasional pop of olive green in the accents. These warm neutrals wrap you in a sense of calm and sophistication. They’re versatile, working beautifully in modern, traditional, and transitional spaces. As more people seek soothing environments, these colors are becoming the go-to choice for creating elegant, tranquil havens. — Caleb, Dansie Design Build

 

  • I absolutely love bright, bold colors, but I feel like the current trend has taken it too far — everything seems overly colorful. While color is important, I prefer it to be used with a more understated approach, where it adds a sense of drama and depth without overwhelming the room. — Becky Shea, BS/D

 

  • Texture! Think lime-washed walls, micro cement floors, and showers, textured fabrics and rugs (over pattern). Gray is so over but we already knew that. Brown (darker brown specifically) is the new black to usher in a more organic form of it. Curves everywhere! From furniture to walls and lighting. — Nicole, Nicolette Atelier

 

  • Overly bold statement walls. Remember the days when a single wall would scream at you in chevron stripes or blinding neon? Well, those days are fading. Instead, picture rooms with more cohesive color stories — soft gradients, textured plaster finishes, or subtle wallpapers that add intrigue without dominating the conversation. It’s time for statement walls to take a breather while harmony takes the stage. — Caleb, Dansie Design Build

 

How 2025 interior design trends are influenced by culture and political shifts

 

  • Political divides often highlight the dangers of conformity. In design, this manifests as a rejection of “safe” all-white interiors or overly neutral spaces, with a pivot toward bolder, more personalized styles. People want their homes to tell their stories, embracing individuality over trends. –  Misty at CoCreative Design

 

  • Absolutely. When the world feels too much, we look for ways to improve our well being and how we live impacts every aspect of our lives. Healing, comfort, and community building start at home. We are recognizing the power of interior design as a holistic tool towards wellness and peace. – Kristen Dwyer

 

  • We may see some shifts in the economy causing some people to need to pull back initially. But the heart wants what the heart wants, so if people can afford to make changes, they will. – Faye at Faye Smith Interior Design

 

  • Among young people, the trend is toward sustainability regardless of political association. We also see nostalgia-driven styles (like Rococo Revival and “Castlecore”) gaining traction during times of economic uncertainty. – Design Baddie

 

  • Somewhat – I see a shift in people wanting to make their homes their sanctuaries and filling them with more things they love vs just what they think they should love because of a trend. – Christina, C. Lehman Home

 

  • I definitely think design trends shift with what’s going on politically and culturally, even if it’s not super obvious at first. When things feel uncertain or there’s a lot of change happening, people seem to want their homes to feel like a safe haven — cozy, warm, and calming. You see more natural tones, layered textures, and spaces that feel grounding.On the flip side, when there’s a lot of energy for change — like during election years or big cultural movements — you see bolder, more creative design choices. People want to make a statement, whether that’s through bright colors, unexpected shapes, or even focusing on sustainability to align with their values. – NLS Design, LLC

 

  • Absolutely! I think what things will cost as well as the availability of items depending on where they are coming from, will greatly impact how people spend their money. This could also be a chance for consumers to support local companies, which in turn can have a positive impact on communities. Especially when thinking of small business interior designers and makers. — Brooke Cribbs, Cribbs Style

 

  • Yes, as new knowledge becomes available about our degraded natural environment I foresee more interest in discovering the least harmful choice, for the planet and human health. when making purchases for the home interior. As part of this trend, veganism, which has already impacted the food and cosmetics industries, will spread to furnishings and materials. Living Being Design

 

  • I have found in working with many clients that the political world can definitely affect their emotions. There is definitely a need to feel safe, secure, and happy in their own home. When the news is bleak or politics gets heavy, it is even more important, design for each client to bring their vision to the space ensures that they will have a home that comforts them, as well as a place to bring family, friends, and celebration. I am designing more spaces for entertaining, “speakeasy” vibed rooms, places to welcome you home at the end of each day. Kim Macumber Interiors

 

  • We do not expect significant change, but there can be a subtle ripple effect. Shifting cultural conditions, changes in leadership, or evolving social attitudes can influence what we consider appealing in our personal spaces. When times feel uncertain, people often gravitate toward interiors that provide reassurance — cozy textures, enveloping colors, and comforting furnishings. In periods of optimism, they might lean into bolder expressions, experimental artwork, and statement pieces. While not the sole factor, larger societal moments can shape the mood and atmosphere we embrace at home. FancyHouse Design.com

 

  • I do think that that it won’t be about the trends, but whether people want to spend money on home updates at all. There is a lot of uncertainty right now and people need to feel comfortable spending their money before they can even explore making changes to their home. VF&M

 

  • I hope that the changes in the political and cultural climate just further enforces the idea that people’s spaces should be a reflection of themselves – the things they love, and what matters to them. There’s so much in this world we don’t have control over, but creating meaningful touches in your space is something you can always do, regardless of budget or circumstance. — Lindsay, Lindsay Letters

 

  • Absolutely. As energy policy and conservation take center stage, homeowners are prioritizing sustainable and efficient designs. Imagine spaces with high-efficiency appliances, smart systems optimizing energy use, and materials that are both beautiful and eco-friendly. Basements are becoming energy-efficient hubs with superior insulation, LED lighting, and smart climate controls. These shifts reflect a growing awareness that our homes can contribute to a better planet while saving on costs — proof that great design can be both responsible and rewarding. – Caleb, Dansie Design Build

 

2025 interiors, wrapped

Here’s hoping you enjoyed this roundup of design trends to look for in homes throughout the year. Maybe you want to paint over your gray walls to stay on trend, add some curvy furniture to break up the minimalist design in your living room, or switch up your chrome accents for brass.

We’d also like to remind you that your home and your style belong to you, so you never need to follow any trend that doesn’t resonate with your vision for your spaces. Happy decorating!

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