Trends for 2025: Insights from Leading Designers - Part 1

“Interior design in 2025 is shifting away from the predictable and playing it safe.

The all-white, minimalist aesthetic is making way for more layered, personality-driven spaces that evoke memories and emotions.

Clients are seeking warmth and individuality, incorporating natural materials, or high-quality alternatives that replicate their beauty.

Colour drenching is gaining popularity, with bold, tonal applications creating immersive and cohesive spaces. Above all, there’s a growing emphasis on quality over quantity, with a focus on thoughtful, enduring design choices.” 

Tamiko Gleeson
Howard Lane Design

“One of the biggest shifts in 2025 is a stronger focus on authenticity and emotional connection in home design. Homeowners are moving away from trend driven, 'fast' interiors and instead creating spaces that reflect their personal stories and unique lifestyles. 

I expect to see a rise in ‘slow decorating’—curating pieces over time rather than rushing to furnish a room in a single shopping trip.

Biophilic design will continue to influence interiors, with an even greater emphasis on bringing nature indoors. Large scale indoor plants and even trees are becoming integral to design concepts rather than afterthoughts. Natural materials and organic textures are being used to enhance our connection to the outside world. 

The overarching theme for 2025 is about creating spaces that feel safe, grounded, and deeply connected to nature.

We’re also seeing a move away from strict minimalism and towards a more individualised approach to home styling. This shift brings a richer layering of pattern, embellishment, mixed metals, colour, and texture. Expect a strong lean towards what I like to call ‘curated maximalism’ - homes that feel expressive, and deeply personal but not cluttered rather than stripped back.”

Annie Brereton
Authentic Spaces

“Curves are almost definitely here to stay and I'm really enjoying seeing some more fluid, organic shapes appearing in furniture and lighting fixtures.

There's a beautiful sense of Wabi Sabi to an organically shaped piece that I just love, especially when combined with natural, imperfect materials like reclaimed timber and marble.

Arched architectural features like doorways and windows seem to bring with them a sense of peace and calm and I love seeing these paired with soft rounded edges in kitchen and joinery design to create an inviting and harmonious space.

There’s also a wonderful growing trend of homemakers striving for more personality in their homes. This might be through an eclectic mix of collective treasures and vintage finds to create a certain sense of nostalgia, or in the use of bolder statement pieces or finishes like wallpapers in striking colours and patterns.

I certainly feel that the broader market is becoming braver than its minimalist predecessors, and I do encourage my Northern Beaches clients along this path in a way that blends with the popular neutral coastal aesthetic that is so often favoured here. It's all about curating a story about the people who live in a home in an uncluttered and balanced way.”

Nikki Butt
Orli Interiors