Designers Say All Trendy Living Rooms Will Have These Things in 2025
Some designers encourage a cautious approach toward trends and suggest going for timeless elements instead of fleeting fads. When chosen with purpose, though, trendy furnishings can not only foster aesthetic exploration and playfulness in design, but they can also have a longer shelf life than you might think.
And what better space to try new styles than the living room? With surfaces like coffee tables and bookshelves, which are great spots to make easy decor swaps, the living room presents a creative backdrop for experimentation. As the end of the year quickly approaches, I checked in on what living room trends designers are expecting to see pop off in the year ahead.
From embracing color-drenched rooms to incorporating natural elements, designers are hedging their biggest bets on these trends for 2025. Whether you dive into one or try a mix of a few, let these ideas inspire your next living room revamp. After all, the best spaces are those that feel personal, so just have fun with it!
Color Drenching
With neutral tones and whitewashed spaces dominating living room design the last few years, color is coming back into the picture and not just as an accent — color is now swathing everything in deep tones and rich hues. This is something Noelle Harvey, owner, lead designer, and creative director of Sunday House, says is referred to as “color drenching.”
“When painting a room in a deeper tone, drenching the room — painting everything in the room the same color — creates a rich, intentional, and finished look,” she shares. “Color drenching reduces the visual noise to create a more serene space, and because of that, you don’t need as much decor or art.”
Designer Alicia Cheung of San Francisco-based Studio Heimat agrees. “Color — deep color — has been more integrated into design,” she says. “There is something about the right rich color that just feels great to be surrounded by.” Designer Leah Harmatz of Field Theory thinks color is about to come on strong in the living room, too. She predicts moody hues, such as browns, oxblood red, and olive green, might be paired with brighter accents like powder blue and lilac.
Natural Elements
The blurring of indoor and outdoor furnishings in a living room isn’t new, but incorporating organic elements in surprising new ways is only expected to grow, according to Cheung. “We are continually amazed at the outdoor fabrics on the market today,” says Cheung, referring specifically to textiles as a category where this trend is going to spike. “Increasingly, you aren’t able to call out that a fabric was made for the outdoors.”
Designer Alexis Woodbury Earman of The Woodbury Home echoes this sentiment. “Nature is playing a large role in living rooms this upcoming year,” she says. “People are craving a connection to the outdoors within their spaces. Living rooms are now incorporating more organic materials, plants, and natural light, all in order to mimic the feeling one gets from nature.”
Harvey adds that you can also introduce these elements to your surfaces. “One of my personal favorites is old-world natural elements woven throughout living rooms,” she says. “For example, [think] natural stone tiles for flooring, marble on window frames, and wooden pucks behind sconces.”
Comfy Seating
“Living rooms have had an emphasis on comfort mixed with beauty this past year,” shares Woodbury Earman. “People are gravitating towards inviting spaces that feature plush couches and chairs without having to sacrifice the aesthetics of the space. You will see more deep-seated cushioned couches and soft luxurious materials within living rooms this next year.”
Harmatz agrees and even goes one step further to suggest the return of the ‘70s conversation pit. “We love the grounded, comfortable, ‘70s Sea Ranch vibe of a conversation pit or a built-in sofa,” says Harmatz. “We’re hoping to manifest a project that’ll let us create one in 2025, so I’m putting it out there as a trend.”
Maximalism
According to designers, more is more for 2025. “The idea of collecting, living with layers of beautiful things, and the experience that creates is truly a way of life,” Cheung says.
Harmatz agrees. “Lately we’ve been gravitating towards pattern, and I think we’ll see even more of it next year,” she says. “Florals, checks, plaids, and stripes are showing up in a lot of our design concepts for current projects, and we’re mixing and matching them all together for a cozy, layered, playful feel.”
Secondhand Scores
Vintage and antique furniture are always going to be in style, but according to designers, more and more secondhand-sourced pieces will dominate living room design. “We’ve always been strong proponents of incorporating vintage and antiques in our projects,” shares Harmatz.
“It makes for a much more interesting and unique space. Lately, we’ve been seeing a rise in the trend of buying old, as people are becoming even more aware of how much better it is for the environment, how much character these pieces add to a room, and it’s often more affordable than buying new. In 2025, we’ll see a rise in the popularity of antiques from earlier eras, with traditionally dark woods and unusual carvings and details.” You can see some of these elements at work in Field Theory’s Hotel Lilien project, featured above.
Woodbury Earman seconds the secondhand craze. “Vintage pieces are coming back into design in a beautiful way,” she says. “No longer are the days where everything is shiny and brand-new. Retro velvet chairs are now being mixed with modern coffee tables, and we are excited to see what this ongoing trend will bring!”
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
