Among the predictions in the annual decor trend report: Sprawling sectional sofas will yield to tidier seating, pastel hues to rich earthy shades. Oh, and…make way for murals. There will be a greater sense of playfulness and a push towards individualism. Limited budgets and a desire to move away from homogeneous high-street collections will mean we will seek to create things other people don’t have. This will mean a renewed enthusiasm for vintage and second-hand pieces and not making it too serious.
2025 will be a year of paradoxes, where advanced technology meets digital disconnection, where the prolonged challenges of the “cost-of-living” collide with political turbulence and climate breakdown, and we seek to find that delicate balance between resonance with restraint in the places we live.
In addition, it’s time to prepare for new realities—by our own imaginations and by technology that conjures next-level imagined worlds for us to live in. As people are faced with unsettling issues, they are proactively creating a reality that makes sense to them—one that is imaginative and optimistic.
This is a time when anything we imagine can be realized. 2025 is the year of possibilities.
We desire spaces that don’t take themselves too seriously, that make more of an effort to “wow”, and aim to engage all of the senses. Photo: Armadillo
Last year, seeking respite from a fast-paced world, people strived to find space to think more purposefully about their lives.
That desire has evolved into a yearning for tactile activities and for finding connection through peaceful solitude. There is a renewed focus on the intuitive self, previously muffled by digital noise. We are rethinking our homes, balancing resonance with restraint. In financially challenging times, the places we live must be humble, while paradoxically offering indulgence. Get ready for affordable affluence. Amid political turbulence and climate breakdown, people are seeking comfort, growth and fulfilment at home, with interiors that are honest and down to earth but also manage to put on a show, and keep them entertained. We desire spaces that don’t take themselves too seriously, that make more of an effort to “wow”, and aim to engage all of the senses. In uncertain times, people are turning to their homes for both reassurance and meaning. With increasing workloads and rising costs, homes are an opportunity to integrate self-care.
In financially challenging times, the places we live must be humble, while paradoxically offering indulgence. Photo: Eye Swoon
Against a backdrop of chaos and change, people are keen to connect to their intuitive selves. They want to spend time with the people they care about. Most of us are less present these days because of increased technology. We are actively looking to buy or own less stuff as a lifestyle choice. We are prioritising sleep, wanting to spend more time in nature, make time for mindfulness, as well as friends while reduce our screen time.
The very boundaries of what it means to be human are shifting. We like the idea of a really long and healthy life. That means more than 100 years. Experts believe we have a shot at experiencing better things.
Homes that can offer simplicity and much-needed respite will resonate with people who wish life could be simpler. Photo: Jeremiah Brent
Sean Pillot de Chenecey, author of The Post-Truth Business, sees this as “an entirely reasonable and coherent choice” based on the world right now. Most Gen Z think that “the way things are going, the real world feels increasingly surreal.”
Despite the precariousness of their future, Gen Z is one of the most optimistic generations, based on VML data, both now and for the future. Reyes embodies this characteristic optimism too. “I think we have a shot at experiencing better things. I feel like it’s a matter of when, not if.”
Homes can’t afford the cost of dull—it’s time to put on a show. Expect more rooms with personality, that tell stories about the people who live in the spaces. Photo: Armadillo
Elemental Elegance
A warm, rich, and grounding sentiment drives the year ahead. We’re returning to the natural dyes found in old tapestries, the hues born from gemstones,” said Robin Standefer, of New York’s Roman and Williams in WSJ’s 2025 trend report. Think terracotta, oxidized reds, warm ochres, velvety browns. Particularly popular among the cognoscenti: aubergine, plum and merlot, as on Maiden Home’s sofa, above right. A wave of new neutrals makes headlines as colour specialists rally understated hues that evoke comfort, harmony, and nature.
There will be a big shift of warm, homely palettes onto walls—as we farewell brat green shades. Mocha Mousse, a rich, chocolatey brown, was announced as the colour of 2025 by Pantone in December 2024.
“Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic,” announced Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe.” Perhaps in a nod to shades of quiet luxury and indulgent desserts, Eiseman says the color is “underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures.” Fashion lines including Loro Piana and Max Mara have opted for an elegant array of neutrals for their spring/summer 2025 collections, which span beiges and tans to greys and browns. It’s a departure from the usual bold and bright colors associated with those seasons and a nod to an unpretentious, yet grounding year ahead. Sherwin-Williams took a different approach this year. Rather than heralding a sole colour to capture the mood of 2025, the US-based paint company created its first Color Capsule of the Year, with nine shades. Ranging from Grounded, an earthy brown, to Sunbleached, a warm off-white, the capsule is rooted in elemental neutrals that are modern and balanced. Other paint companies also agreed on restorative and warm tones to capture the year ahead.
Among the predictions in the annual decor trend report: Sprawling sectional sofas will yield to tidier seating, pastel hues to rich earthy shades. Oh, and…make way for murals. There will be a greater sense of playfulness and a push towards individualism. Photo: Jerimiah Brent and Nate Berkus Fifth Avenue apartment for Arch Digest
California-based Dunn-Edwards selected Caramelized, an earthy light brown. C2 Paint picked Raku, a deep and sophisticated burgundy that is “an expression of balance, comfort, and timeless elegance,” says Philippa Radon, C2 Paint color director. And paint company Benjamin Moore chose Cinnamon Slate, a slick and modern plum-brown, to represent 2025. Why it’s interesting The mood for 2025 is set around enriching comforts (think indulgent coffees or desserts) as well as sophistication and confidence (that’s the understated luxury speaking up).
Be prepared for a grounding experience that shifts away from maximalist glitz and bright, brash bolds to homey and humbling elegance.
The Analog Movement
In a backlash to the ever-more frantic pace of the digital world, analog pursuits are booming. Many of us are reaching burnout with our constant exposure to screens.” Stefan Walters, a psychological therapist at London’s Harley Therapy, tells VML Intelligence. “We’re fed up of Zoom meetings, emails, and WhatsApp messages, and are craving in-person connection and nature.” He notes that the draw of in-person interaction has a physiological basis: “This is good for our brain and nervous system, as it engages a more mindful flow state where the focus is simply on ‘being,’ rather than a constant state of sympathetic arousal and ‘doing’. Our subcortical processing brain is able to be present and calm, while our neocortical thinking and acting brain can take a much-needed break.” Walters’ observations align with a global sentiment: 84% agree that people are less present these days because of increased technology, and 88% wish that life could be simpler sometimes. Analog activities create a primal sense of comfort and nostalgia. This is influencing the way people design their dwellings with more areas that invite you to digitally unplug, promote relaxation and meaningful connection with others.
To swap screen time for real time, with beautifully curated rooms, ambient music, for enriched self fulfilment, that encourage being drawn to physical formats and pursuits.
https://armadillo-co.com/
Digital Simplicity
People are overwhelmed by information. Our homes and lives are responding with simplicity. Information overload isn’t new. Shortly after the printing press was invented in 1440, scholars complained about the sudden deluge of material. So it is with digital. People are still feeling the strain of taking too much (but never enough) in. As an antidote, we seek surroundings that are about stripping back, simplifying, and allowing us some much-needed serenity in our living spaces. Otherwise, it’s too easy for every moment of every day to turn into the same kind of semi-distracted time. At its best, however, a home that offers simplicity promises vital forms of agency and freedom with inviting spaces, and autonomy for people to have ownership of their lives.
Homes that can offer simplicity and much-needed respite will resonate with people who wish life could be simpler.
Get ready for affordable affluence. Photo: Eye Swoon
Robot Redux
Make room for humanoid robots—they could soon be a staple in all homes. With a focus on safety, 1X, a robotics company backed by OpenAI, released a video teasing its new humanoid, Neo. Safety is the cornerstone that allows us to confidently introduce Neo Beta into homes, where it will gather essential feedback and demonstrate its capabilities in real-world settings. Humanoid helpers were en masse at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, showing off their advanced capabilities, with brands such as Nvidia providing physical AI systems to power humanoid robots. Its “next-generation ultra-realistic humanoid robot” first stepped out at CES. Investment is pouring into humanoid robots as their potential is recognized for. In the future, every house will have a robot.
The Connected Hearth
The home is becoming ever more intuitive, connected, and helpful to people of all ages. A household that could organize itself is a dream that might be nearing reality. Panasonic Well announced Umi at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025—a digital assistant that the company calls a “family wellness platform and coach.” Umi aims to build stronger families by creating healthy habits, bettering communication, and simplifying organization. Umi will be available in the United States in 2025. Ohai.ai’s AI virtual assistant, O, debuted in 2024, aiming to “revolutionize home and personal organization, alleviating the mental load of Chief Household Officers.” UniWhale showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025, dubs itself “the world-first Smart home tech is being designed for every generation, affording people greater independence and free time.
We are prioritising sleep, wanting to spend more time in nature, make time for mindfulness, as well as friends while reducing our screen time. The very boundaries of what it means to be human are shifting. Photo: Cultiver.com
Dumb tech
Designers report clients are increasingly rejecting smart home technology. Even things like classic light switches are being favoured over complex systems — people want knobs, not panels. One major reason for this shift is the fear of systems failing or becoming too complex to manage. Recently a client’s doors and windows suddenly opened and stayed ajar for 10 hours until an engineer could fix the issue.
Reframing Dupes
People are embracing dupe culture phenomenon —and having some fun along the way, giving it a modern, positive, and fun twist. Those willing to embrace the idea of design imitations are also finding opportunities to democratize their products and offerings, giving them positive status among younger generations. Proud Gen Zers seeking a bargain are celebrating brand imitations and fakes, with 61% saying they often seek out cheaper dupes of designs or products they like. For years, counterfeits have been a thorn in the side of brands, but now some are embracing dupe culture and fueling a new wave of comedic campaigns.
Interior spaces are captivating inhabitants by reducing the noise around them and allowing simplicity to shine. Photo: Jerimah Brent
Homes Showmanship
Homes can’t afford the cost of dull—it’s time to put on a show. Perhaps it’s a rebellion against the infinite reach of algorithmic marketing, or a certain righteous fed-up-ness, but uniqueness itself appears to be having a moment as one of the interior design trends for 2025. Expect more rooms with personality, that tell stories about the people who live in the spaces.
Sensory Storytelling
Sound, scent, and tactility create exhilarating experiences for consumers. Sensory design has been permeating the digital space for some time, but brands, products, and designers are increasingly enriching storytelling by leveraging sound, smell, and touch in physical spaces and products. They’re tapping into the 73% of global consumers who agree that brands should aim to engage all their senses. Why it’s interesting Sensory design offers brands a route to immersive, memorable experiences that uplevel storytelling, deepen emotional connection and engagement, and differentiate them from comp.
Playful, humorous, and mood-enhancing fantasy for interiors for food are a form of accessible escapism and talking points that can be shared with family and friends. Photo: House & Garden UK
Humble Interiors
In place of grandiose claims, some homes are embracing the everyday while still packing an emotional—and humorous—punch. Why it’s interesting? The trend of elevating life’s more humble daily moments continues to play out, offering a movement toward emotionally relatable, humorous, and humble moments at home that engages with our senses.
Made by Humans
The competition between AI and humans heats up in the battle for creative output. Innovations rarely change the world in the way that we imagine. So it is for AI.
Designers should remember that an AI tool is a way to improve and augment creative design work, rather than carry it out for us.
Undercomsumption
Amid the endless social media hype cycle, the #underconsumptioncore trend is flourishing. This movement espouses—and seeks to normalize— owning just a few pairs of shoes and an everyday wardrobe instead of a continual array of new things; toting the same water bottle rather than showing off a shiny new one; and using up the last drops of a tube of foundation as opposed to displaying your latest cosmetics haul. In remorse and overextended credit card balances, “ he added. “The rate of inflation may have dropped, but food and housing prices are still substantially higher than they were before the pandemic.” Gen Z’s frugality may be capturing attention thanks to its visibility on social media, but VML data suggests a shift to more considered consumption is extending across all cohorts: 69% globally say they are now actively looking to buy or own less “stuff” as a lifestyle choice, a figure that is fairly constant across all age groups.
A growing movement is promoting the virtues of consuming less.
In a September 2024 post that achieved over 521,000 likes as of January 2025, Danish sustainability influencer Gittemarie Johansen discussed how “fast-fashion, overconsumption, and influencer culture has helped normalize some pretty messed-up behavior.” She ends by stating “buy less and stop following the influencers [who] romanticize overconsumption.” Brands with skin in the secondhand game are also tapping into overconsumption, such as Vinted’s tongue-in-cheek “Too Many?” campaign that encourages people to sell their excess fashion via the secondhand marketplace. The campaign points out the futility of owning multiple versions of an item of clothing, from a man with numerous ties around his neck to a woman dragging a long line of handbags. Whether motivated by finances, sustainability, or sheer overwhelm at consumer culture, a powerful voice on social media is emerging to push back against overconsumption while consumers of all ages are trying to make do with less.
Millennials are all grown up and expect their homes to reflect their new life stages and spending habits, with design that is equal parts functional, convenient, empowering, and fun. Photo: Jerimiah Brent
Imagined Worlds
Abstract, fantastical ideas are reinvigorating design with a sense of transportive wonder. Playful, humorous, and mood-enhancing fantasy for interiors for food are a form of accessible escapism, and talking points that can be shared with family and friends.
Agrihoods
People are embracing the lifestyle advantages of rural farm-based living weaving hospitality into homelife will continue to amplify time for respite and connection, turning downtime at home into a destination that fosters well-being on myriad and deeper levels.
Wellness Should be About Curation and Personalisation
Stepping into otherworldliness (and shifting between space and time) is what people desire. Homeowners are emphasizing “awesperiences”—immersive experiences that inspire a sense of wonder. Textured layering, with handcrafted, warm, emotional touches are appearing more. It’s a lot less clinical, with wood and layered textures. A bespoke hand-painted wallcovering or a sculptural staircase conveys a human touch. There is more beauty in interiors that are authentic, and in a world of AI, it is nice for home to feel warm and personal. We hope to see more of that authenticity in 2025—real photos of real people, authentic styling, and a unique, personal perspective.
People are craving sensory and tactile stimulation.
Bedrooms are making dreams worth remembering with next-level sleep experiences. Photo: Armadillo
Prudent Pricing
As purse strings tighten, home owners are diversifying how and where they shop, and designers are responding with creative offers. As shoppers trade down and opt for cheaper product lines in the tough economic climate, brands cannot rely on price as their main differentiator—they will have to work harder to communicate their added value to savvy shoppers.
Ethereal Interiors
Designers are transporting interiors with mesmerizing minimalist offerings that transcend the ordinary. Interior spaces are captivating inhabitants by reducing the noise around them and allowing simplicity to shine. It’s about stripping away the extraneous and focusing on the silhouette.
“Lean luxury,” or smart luxury that chops out all the frills, is impacting the global luxury industry, as economic challenges compress even affluent budgets. Photo: House & Garden UK
Dream Bedrooms
Bedrooms are making dreams worth remembering with next-level sleep experiences. As recent research underscores the link between ample sleep quality and longevity, bedroom design rightfully takes on a wellness bent. A good night’s sleep goes beyond the bed. Crafting a room that encourages sleep goes beyond the bed, veering toward minimalism, soothing tones that naturally invite relaxation and a more anti-tech or analog approach to the space to encourage better sleep. No televisions and furniture with built-in outlets to streamline cord clutter and integrate technology are on the rise, to help avoid scrolling our screens before bedtime, a sure path to poor sleep. Adding smart lighting is another popular request, that supports circadian rhythms with warmer tones for waking up and winding down.
Adding smart lighting is another popular request, that supports circadian rhythms with warmer tones for waking up and winding down. Photo: Banda Property
Automatic blackout draperies are increasingly popular as well as multi-tiered, multi-layered window treatments such as blinds, Roman shades, and curtains that allow people to control the amount of daylight unlike using one layer of blackout curtains.
A good night’s sleep goes beyond the bed. Photo: Vogue Living Tamsin Johnson new renovation of Rae’s Wategos
Mid-life Consumerism
Maturing millennials have more spending power than ever before and their exacting tastes are impacting their dwellings. Millennials are all grown up and expect their homes to reflect their new life stages and spending habits, with design that is equal parts functional, convenient, empowering, and fun.
Lean Luxury
“Lean luxury,” or smart luxury that chops out all the frills, is impacting the global luxury industry, as economic challenges compress even affluent budgets. More than a third of consumers are cutting back on spending on themselves (38%), even among those on higher incomes (34%). The concept, pioneered by Europe-based Ruby Hotels and Workspaces, has evolved from a hospitality trend into a wider movement, with the shift particularly noticeable in China. As Jing Daily reports, the country’s gen Z consumers are increasingly embracing a more relaxed, practical style, moving away from the opulence preferred by previous generations. Wenzhuo Wu, managing editor of Jing Daily, tells VML Intelligence that this generation are focused on self-expression and personal satisfaction. Their purchasing decisions are more thoughtful and centred around cost-effectiveness, emphasizing everyday usability, the experience behind consumption, and the community aspects of their choices—eschewing the display of social status through prominent luxury brand symbols, a hallmark of their parents’.
High-end purchases for our abodes signal a thoughtful, understated, and relaxed approach to luxury.
eyeswoon.com.au
Elevated Parking
Luxury garages take centre stage as proud car owners elevate them to showroom standarTraditional garages and parking spaces are no longer sufficient for the super-rich. Just as they demand elevated experiences in other areas of their lives, they now seek bespoke, luxury parking solutions. GToday’s garages are evolving to accommodate not only expanding car collections but also additional spaces. Harris showcased a recent design for a 16-car garage, which can be viewed through a large window that frosts at the touch of a button. The garage features a resin floor, central turntable, and high-gloss black ceiling designed to reflect the cars below. Adjacent to the garage is the client’s study, slightly elevated for a prime view of the collection. Apparently they are called “gallery spaces rather than garages” and there’s a noted shift in material choices for garages. Today, it’s all about creating dramatic backdrops.” One popular feature is Samsung’s The Wall LED display, customizable in size and starting at $385,000, which creates an immersive, visually stunning backdrop in the garage. Traditional concrete floors have also been replaced by hand-poured resin, available in any colour. This material protects car tires and resists dirt and oil. Recessed lighting integrated into the floors makes the cars look as though they are floating.For high-net-worth individuals, the pursuit is not just high-end luxury, but also personalization and privacy.”
These trends in garage design reflect the growing desire for unique, private, and personalized living spaces.
Affordable Affluence
Undeterred by tight budgets, cost-conscious consumers are splurging on everyday products. VML Intelligence data shows that the cost of living remains the top concern for global consumers. This ongoing reality is confirmed by McKinsey’s “The State of Grocery Retail Europe 2024” report, which finds that cost is the top consideration for shoppers pre-purchase, as 74% of Europeans and 76% of Americans are trading down to own-brand products. The hollowing out of the middle market continues at pace. In the face of the save-and-splurge mentality of consumers, brands have an opportunity to provide premium products for those willing to splash out on functional and affordable treats for themselves.
A movement toward truly idiosyncratic, human-centred architecture with a personality of its own aims to elicit a positive and uplifting response. House & Garden UK
Joyful Architecture
The idea of architecture that uplifts is taking hold. Ditching “boring” buildings for emotionally engaging and meaningful ones is a new idea being championed by architectural practices. The chief proponent of this concept is Thomas Heatherwick, creator of the Humanise campaign, which the architect says is about making cities “more joyful and engaging through the design of buildings.” The Humanise campaign has partnered with the United Kingdom’s Loughborough University to design content for a new MA program in Architecture & Design, which will launch in fall 2025. Abigail Scott Paul, global head of the Humanise movement, tells VML Intelligence that the campaign collaborated with the university to “develop an approach that could boost understanding of human needs when it comes to building design and the role of visual complexity, as well as train up a new generation of architects who can bring Humanise principles to life.” Scott Paul adds that the campaign “is about sensitizing people, including those responsible for designing and commissioning buildings, to the negative impacts of boring buildings on our health and wellbeing,” noting that “studies are beginning to show that being surrounded by boring buildings that lack visual complexity increases cortisol levels, causing higher levels of stress.”
Also exemplifying this joyful mood are several of the pavilions created by participating countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, set to be exhibited at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Rather than being overtly grandiose, these pavilions are described as conjuring a more personal and profound experience. Why it’s interesting? A movement toward truly idiosyncratic, human-centred architecture with a personality of its own aims to elicit a positive and uplifting response. People are on a mission to engage their senses and want buildings they visit that spark positive emotions and get their neurotransmitters pumping.
