The New Interior Language for 2025

At the helm of one of Australia's foremost design publications, est magazine and estliving.com editor Sophie Lewis shares her global perspective on the themes shaping high-end residential interiors in 2025.

In 2025, residential interiors are embracing vibrant accents and nostalgic hues. Orange, red, and brown—often paired together—have emerged as recurring themes in furniture and rug design, alongside a spectrum of purples, from deep eggplant to lilac, plum, and rhubarb. Leather furniture brand Baxter has leaned into these tones for their latest collection, as seen in their bed and armchair designs launched at Milan Design Week 2024. Meanwhile, outdoor furniture is evolving to mirror the quality and sophistication of interiors, with terracotta and olive green anchoring modular sofa designs and plush sun loungers.

Silver, aluminium, mirror, and stainless steel continue to gain momentum as key materials and finishes. We see this on different scales in the home, from sculptural stainless steel kitchens to accent aluminium table lamps. Travertine remains a popular choice, though the trend has shifted from warmer tones to cooler silver-hued variations, particularly in bathrooms and other functional spaces. 

Coloured glass has made a striking comeback, with smoky glass lighting and pastel blue and yellow glass furniture, such as shelving. Lacquer and gloss finishes are also re-emerging, enhancing cur ved forms in coffee table and cabinet design. Distinctive timber grains, including burl and zebra-like Ettore Sottsass veneers, are being employed to create evocative joinery, while gesso, plaster, and limewash continue to frame interiors with textural warmth and atmospheric calm.

The pursuit of comfort at home has inspired new sofa shapes, from the pillowy, low daybed designs by UK designer Faye Toogood for Italian brand Tacchini to the resurgence of backless sofas positioned as sculptural centrepieces in living rooms. Bespoke storage solutions are equally pivotal, particularly in smaller-scale homes and apartments, allowing kitchens, at-home bars, and other high-clutter spaces to disappear behind wall-flush doors. 

Custom furniture and hand-crafted details are also taking the spotlight, fostering a dialogue between contemporary interiors and a home’s original features, such as those from the Arts and Crafts movement. Built-in elements like sunken lounges and dining banquettes are becoming entertaining staples, while local artisans' custom lighting, including Melbourne’s Volker Haug, is being used to further personalise interiors. 

Post-pandemic, the well-being of homeowners is at the forefront of residential architecture and design. Access to natural light, ventilation, and garden spaces has never been more important, alongside the integration of private wellness spaces. Saunas, steam rooms, indoor cold plunge pools, and home gyms underscore how our homes are increasingly being designed to serve as sanctuaries for the body and mind in 2025 and beyond.