Trends for 2025 – the Good and the Bad
Every year, you ask what the new design trends will be. This year – it’s kind of all over the place. Basically, do whatever you want and everyone will love it! Here is what the professionals are saying with my comments sprinkled so you won’t get bored.
2. Dedicated Spaces for Entertaining. These are spaces without a TV, a place for conversation. Nice idea I think. Experts recommend that you pull chairs and other seats closer together and get the conversation started. Use lamps and soft lighting, not like you’re in a bar. Everyone looks “pretend-good”, but just in a nice mood. Art pieces, even driftwood, are great conversation starters. I like these ideas, but let’s see how long this lasts.
3. Architectural layers. Now you may think this is a term for homes built on top of each other, but you would be wrong, it means to add wainscotting or crown moldings. Experts are saying that simple or minimalist types of homes can add something special to the ceiling, walls or base trim. Ceiling treatments are the big thing this year, with heavy beams that are wood stained and painted. I have seen it, it can look really nice and draw your eye up.
4. Revival of Nostalgia. Okay, they are talking about art deco and I am not sure I am ready for that. Curvy furniture, flowered wall papers and dramatic wall colors, stepping away from the white and greys. Carved furniture, lots of textiles (that’s fabric for us design dummies) and other handcrafted elements, like the “stick-snake” I mentioned above!
7. Moody Color Palettes. I am not keen on anything moody, although I did like the Moody Blues at one time in life. What they are really saying is go big and bold with one thing like marble, tile or granite, so it really makes a statement. They are saying that dining rooms, bathrooms or even bedrooms can have these moody palettes, but in my opinion, these can be over done very quickly. Make sure that you have something to contrast all that color, like wood trim, and heavy furniture pieces or the room will be eaten alive by the MOOD!
8. Handmade Signature Pieces. We mentioned this before. Ikea makes some great furnishings that are inexpensive, lightweight and incredibly difficult to assemble. These are wonderful to have in your home. But experts are saying add some handcrafted pieces that draw the focus away from the mass-produced furnishings. You don’t have to get rid of it, just one or two interesting antiques, or other quality made accessories. It can be as simple as a pottery vase, a quilt, or a cutting board. Start small.
1. Deeply personal homes. People are putting their own very personal touches into their homes with history and heritage. This is about curating those layers of meaning, through travels, or passed down from a grandmother. I understand this concept, I have many things in my home that would mean nothing to someone else, but they remind me of a family vacation. I actually still have a stick, in my house, that my son “carved” let’s say into a, let’s say a “snake”. He was about 9 at the time, and yes, I still have it – displayed in my home – like it was some valuable piece of art. Some people showcase hobbies like painting, books or music. Others like to use cultural connections. I have a lot of Alaskana type things, a mini wooden sled for running dogs, and some Athabaskan works of art. So take inventory of your life’s treasures, don’t store them away…..get it out there! I had a friend who had her kids’ art professionally framed. Now, not all of it, just special pieces, that were colorful and she displayed them in her home – they were really nice! I loved them. I am sure she still has them even though her kids are like doctors now! But I digress. Make your space personal!
5. Earthy Tones. Terracotta, mossy greens, deep rich colors are making a comeback. Some people love them, some hate them. But if you decide to do it, remember, it’s not always easy to paint over it when you are done with it or go to sell the house. These colors can be a bear to cover up. Sometimes, it’s easier to use accessories to add these colors rather than paint the whole room. A throw pillow is easier to get rid of than the deep, rich paint color.
6. Texture Layers. This just means fabrics and stone, tile etc. Like upholstery, drapes and rugs, stone accents and tiles all layered up – soft and hard together making a comfortable space. They are saying that adding these textures makes your home feel more comfortable and to use natural textures as much as possible. My cat, Linda, loves comfortable textures. Guess how I know?
9. Avant-Garde Design Moments….(what?) Okay, this is all about adding something weird! Something that you would not expect. One of the articles I read had a giant hand coming out of the bathroom vanity! Okay, sure, but it’s just one more thing I have to clean! They are talking about a sculptural piece of furniture (circa 1960) or an oversized abstract painting that dominates the room and makes your guest uncomfortable. Okay, let’s get real, Avant-Garde is difficult to pull off in everyday life. Unless you are a secret rockstar, or aspiring criminal, these are hard to pull off in a typical 1600 square foot home. Yes, fun to look at, but difficult to live with.
10. Materials that Breathe Age. So, I think this means naturally aged items, unlike Hollywood stars, but more like brass, copper and stone that are allowed to age naturally. There is a natural beauty in these things, like the grain in the logs of a log home, the inconsistency of wood cabinets, and wood flooring. Naturally patina on metals can be interesting. Some people think it just looks old, others think it’s beautiful. Same with reclaimed woods, they have a history. All the knots, and imperfections are what make this beautiful.
There you have it – design trends for 2025 – now get out there and carve a snake!