Credit: Barbara Bachmann Interior Design
2025 Design Trends
For those who love timeless spaces, I have good news for you. The trends for 2025 draw mostly from the past and inspire rooms full of personality and allure. I’ve even heard people refer to it as the year of the ‘anti trend’! But when it really comes down to it, the easiest way to decorate with longevity is to do it with the things you love. Or just keep renovating like me and avoid it entirely, HA!
Primitive Materials
In an effort to cleanse from a world polluted by plastics, primitive materials like wood, stone, metal and brick continue to be popular choices with a focus on artisanal craftsmanship and finishes. Combined to create layered spaces with dimension, these materials are meant to age over time like oxidized metals and knotty grained wood - beauty in it’s imperfections. A desire for warmth has us craving more off-whites, beiges, tans, creams and who can deny some of that sexy ‘Mocha Mousse’. Some of the best ways to include them in your space could be through architectural wood elements like trim, mill work, and cabinetry or the use of stone and brick beyond countertops and fireplaces. So go ahead and celebrate sustainable design by collecting objects from far, wide, and perhaps from your travels, that hold memories and help you live a more mindful and ritualistic life.
Light Fixtures But Make It Art
Gone are the days where art is thought of only as paintings hung on the wall and sculptures mounted atop some pedestal. As we enter 2025, lighting has become way more sculptural and interesting as many more lighting designers emerge on the scene. Although not a completely new concept, it is one that I find illuminating… Who said art cant be a functional piece of furniture anyways? Just remember - ambient, task, and accent lighting work best together to achieve both functionality and style.
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The Fifth Wall
In 2025, designers are expanding their canvases and making the ‘fifth wall’ (a.k.a the ceiling) more of a focal point. By adding mouldings, wallpapers, murals or more simply a secondary complimentary paint colour, they can draw your eyes up to create ‘look up’ moments. Neoclassical architecture is a big predecessor of this technique which continues to influence interior design and inspire its return.
Colour Drenching
Fortune favours the bold when it comes to colour drenching your space in rich, earthy, jewel colours like forest green, chocolate browns, ruby red or oxblood and the more I see designers do it, the braver I become to try it myself. ‘Colour Drenching’, to be more specific, is the act of painting a whole room the same colour (that includes the ceiling, mouldings, trim and cabinetry), while its off-shoot ‘Double Drenching’, is the act of using two colours! Contrary to what you may think, colour drenching a room will in fact make it feel larger. Especially since it gives it a sense of continuity. Blending the wall and ceiling creates a monochromatic space for your decor to pop. The question is, are you brave enough to try it yourself?
Credit: The Little Greene Paint Company
Pattern-Drenching
The little sister to colour drenching - pattern drenching - is the same concept with (you guessed it) the use of patterns. An even easier way to describe this ‘non trend’ is to think wallpaper patterns. They have been around forever but now we’re employing them more to add layers of bold colour, pattern and texture. Take things one ‘Maximalist’ step forward by doubling down on the use of patterns in furniture, drapery, rugs, textiles and pillows. Not for the faint of heart but fun for those design clients, and homeowners alike, with big personalities!
Credit: Studio McGee
Levelling Up Outdoor Living Spaces
Craving for comforts doesn’t stop at the four outer walls of your home. Entertainment and self care have made outdoor kitchens, pergolas, showers, above ground plunge pools and bathtubs see a rise in popularity. Some people are even taking it one step further and adding freestanding home offices or hobby sheds to their outdoor spaces. Or maybe the goal is to find ways to utilize the space all year long with fire pits and covered decks or outdoor lighting and waterproof speakers.
It’s Vintage!
Mid century modern furniture has always been a hot commodity. People love its clean lines, functional design, and natural wood grain presentation. But as the desire to source more interesting, unique furniture pieces begins to arise, more and more people are looking beyond big box stores for their living room couch or dining room table. Blame it on nostalgia if you will but vintage furniture will continue to find appeal especially when mixed in with styles from different decades. Further, blending old with new is a great way to create a space with depth and character that reflects your own personal style and taste.
Credit: Hommes Studio
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Credit: Behance
Glass Blocks and Stained Glass
Privacy and light control are two major design factors that have glass blocks and stained glass seeing mass appeal once again. More interior designers are utilizing them when creating walls or designing spaces in need of more light. When done well glass blocks can be sleek and timeless, giving a touch of pattern to a contemporary space. Stained glass on the other hand can provide the same amount of privacy and light control while also affording you more creative licence.
Wet Rooms
Okay I lied. Perhaps there is one new trend for 2025… although some could argue its more of an ‘evolution’… but bathrooms are becoming ever more spa like with glass shower enclosures capturing even more space making way for ‘wet rooms’ to encapsulate the tub. Features like aromatherapy, steam shower or sauna units are also becoming more popular while stronger ventilation fans are helping keep moisture more contained. A genius way to save on space if you have a small bathroom, fabricating a ‘wet room’ grants you the space to have both a shower and a bathtub which otherwise would have yielded a much tighter layout.
Functional Spaces
Emphasis on maximizing the functionality of your space continues to be top of mind for interior designers and home owners alike. From furniture to cabinetry that can perform double duty as a desk or Murphy bed, being able to transform a space as needed continues to find mass appeal. Further, being able to transform your TV room into a living room by hiding the TV creates room for conversation, a break from technology, and provides a space with an alternative vibe.
Credit: Michael K. Chen Architecture
So there you have it! Ten 2025 ‘anti’ interior design trends that are on the rise!
If you are curious to see how my home renovations are turning out and what interior design trends I am incorporating into my Toronto Victorian home, you can subscribe to my Instagram and YouTube channel! If you think this list is missing any big 2025 design trends or you are obsessed with anything I shared above, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
Until next time!
- Soheila