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How to decorate in 2025: Skip these tired trends, interior designers say
We asked the pros for the do's and don'ts of home design for 2025 and found fun, affordable buys to get you started.
Trends: Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, they're hard to ignore, especially when everyone starts buzzing about what's going to be "in" or "out" for the year. As a longtime home editor, I'll tell you right now that you can have a beautifully decorated house without following a single fad. But if you're in the market for new furniture or decor, looking at home design trends can be a helpful (and fun!) place to start.
"Trends are a great way to create a design conversation and have our eye travel," says interior designer and Queer Eye star Jeremiah Brent. "But you don't want to feel beholden to them." Designer Arianne Bellizaire adds, "Design choices should feel timeless and personal to you. If everyone loves brass but you don't, don't use it — it won't feel right."
With that in mind, I asked top pros to share the trends they're most excited about — and the ones they're happy to leave in the past. (Hint: You may not want to add that shiplap accent wall.) I've also rounded up some great buys for updating your house without spending a fortune. Ready, set, refresh!
Home trends to leave behind in 2025
Once darlings of the design world, these trends have overstayed their welcome, pros say.
Accent walls
"They often feel a bit incomplete, like the room is undecided," says designer Nina Takesh, whose new collection with Ruggable launched last month. "Instead, I'm all for going all out, color-drenching for a dramatic, cohesive look." (Color-drenching is painting a room, from floor to ceiling, all in one color — read more about it below.)
Fussy furniture
"One trend I hope we can leave in 2024 is sacrificing function for beauty," says designer and HGTV star Galey Alix, who has a new rug collection with Livabliss. "For example, glass and/or mirror coffee tables. Nobody can set their drink on them or let their kids close enough to breathe near them." Similarly, Brent would love to say farewell to acrylic furniture. "I don't like to use the word 'hate,' but I hate acrylic furniture. It scratches and it always looks dusty!"
Farmhouse style
"A circa-2010 trend that just won't seem to go away," says designer Christine Vroom. "The mix of wood and white and black with shiplap and brass is a combination that is hitting repeat way too many times. Interior design is so much more imagined than this, and I am honestly tired of the request."
Neutral everything
Spaces done entirely in gray, white, brown and/or black may start fading from view. "In the past, the industry's response to wellness-minded design largely yielded neutral spaces. Now, we're seeing a welcome return to color," says holistic design expert Gala Magriñá.
For her part, Sara Malek Barney of BANDD/DESIGN is over the resurgence of chocolate brown. "Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it in small doses and I appreciate the warmth it adds to a space. But I suspect we are going to overdo this one, and I am not convinced a true chocolate brown has staying power," she says.
Open-concept floor plans
Several designers are done with knocking down walls. "I'm not saying I hate open concept in general (I have it in my house!), but there’s a time and a place," says designer and HGTV star Jasmine Roth. "I think that people should be more intentional with their floor plans and realize that it doesn't always make sense to have everything out in the open."
Alix agrees: "There's nothing to account for the perpetual acoustical issue this layout creates. The moment someone turns on the family-room TV, everyone in the home will be sharing in the experience, as the sound will travel up into the rafters and reverberate throughout the entire house!"
Home trends to try in 2025
What feels fresh this year? The luxe looks below, including the return of a classic aesthetic just in time for its 100th anniversary.
Art Deco design
This style from the 1920s and '30s has come roaring back in a big way. Defined by geometric shapes, symmetrical patterns and jewel tones, it makes for a very dramatic space. "I've always been inspired by Deco, but it's having a big moment," says Brent. "What's most exciting for me is that people are realizing that their whole room doesn't have to look Deco — you could focus on just an armchair with strong, clean lines. Deco lighting is really interesting too. Or you could use Deco materials like burlwood."
Shop the trend
Dedicated relaxation spaces
"It's been a whirlwind year for many, and we are seeing a growing response of people rethinking their homes as true sanctuaries," says Magriñá. "This shift to holistic design is giving rise to 'pockets of sanctuary' within the home — personal retreats that may be as simple as a cozy armchair by a window or as intentional as a dedicated meditation room."
To create a peaceful environment, she recommends adding real or faux plants and even artwork that depicts nature. "All of these things have been proven to lower blood pressure and stress and improve mood and concentration." Then, home in on what else makes you feel relaxed. Is it a fuzzy blanket? A soft, sink-your-toes-in rug? "Make a list and see which ones can be easily incorporated into the existing design of your home."
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Earth-toned maximalism
Bellizaire predicts that we're going to see lots of people embracing the more-is-more look, mixing materials, patterns and colors, with a focus on earth tones. These are shades that are inspired by natural elements: Think terracotta, moss and sage green, sandy browns and muted mustard. She says they'll be "paired with global influences such as Moroccan tiles, artisanal textiles and handcrafted decor" for a look that's "warm, welcoming, and deeply personal." It doesn't get cozier than that!
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Color drenching
Get ready to pick a color you love and put it everywhere. "The idea of painting the walls, the built-ins, the ceiling, the doors, everything one color is very appealing to me right now," says Roth. "The nice thing about this trend is all you need is a bucket of paint and a little bit of patience." Takesh especially loves the idea of doing this with saturated, moody tones. "They bring a sense of richness and depth that feels so intentional."
Vroom also loves the idea of incorporating rich colors in unexpected places: "I am fully leaning into and excited to start hearing from my clients once they see these colors in kitchens and bathrooms."
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Patterned wallpaper — on more than just walls
Thanks to the DIY movement, homeowners are becoming more confident in their design skills — and they're willing to take more risks, says Alix. That includes playing around with bold wallpaper: "We are seeing patterned wallpaper make a comeback in every room, even bathrooms and kitchens, as people are emboldened to just go for it," she says. Takesh is a fan, too — she suggests wallpapering a room's ceiling to help draw the eye upward. Pro tip: If you're not sure if you can commit, try peel-and-stick wallpaper, which is easy to remove.
