This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.
Wondering what the most stylish homes of 2025 will have in common? We asked the designers who completed our annual State of Home Design survey to play a quick game of “this or that,” and below we’re sharing some of their stances on big trends like wallpaper styles, furniture shapes, and more.
Credit: Photo: Olivia Katz; Design: Ashley Fiocco Designs Credit: Photo: Olivia Katz; Design: Ashley Fiocco Designs
Colorful Kitchens
Gone are the days of all-white kitchens. Pros aren’t afraid to weave some color into cooking spaces, with 82% of designers noting that colorful kitchens will be all the rage in 2025. Even if you’re a renter and can’t change much about this area of your home, there are ways to get creative without sacrificing your security deposit. For example, you can cover your cabinets in contact paper, paint the walls in your kitchen, or hang an assortment of colorful artwork if space allows.
Credit: Photo: Cindy Yeh; Design: Regan Romero Design Credit: Photo: Cindy Yeh; Design: Regan Romero Design
Brunette Woods
Do brunettes actually have more fun? When it comes to wood tones, this may be the case. In our survey, 79% of designers stated that they prefer brunette woods to blonde ones. So don’t be shy about weaving darker wood tones into your space; they’ve been making waves in recent years and we’re all about giving more traditional, vintage pieces new life in today’s homes.
Credit: Photo: Brian Wetzel; Styling: Kristi Hunter; Design: Vestige Home Credit: Photo: Brian Wetzel; Styling: Kristi Hunter; Design: Vestige Home
Earth Tones
Warm up your space with welcoming earth tones like browns, terracottas, sages, and more. When it comes to color palettes they’re loving, designers are slightly favoring earth tones (55%) over jewel tones (45%). The great news is that you can go as big or small with earth tones as you’d like — maybe you’ll choose to ease into them by bringing in some new throw pillows, or maybe you’ll decide to go big by painting a wall a rich olive green or slate blue.
Credit: Photo: Heather Ison; Design: Indigo Pruitt Design Studio Credit: Photo: Heather Ison; Design: Indigo Pruitt Design Studio
Whimsical Wallpaper
Wallpaper has made a major resurgence as of late, and we were curious to see whether or not designers are gravitating towards whimsical or more traditional designs. As it turns out, experts are choosing whimsy, which edged out trompe-l’œil patterns (62% to 38%). Feeling shy about using a more whimsical wallpaper in your home? You can always start somewhere small, like a powder room or even a walk-in closet. No space is too tiny for a splash of pattern!
Credit: Photo: Dara Beitler; Design: Dara Beitler Interiors Credit: Photo: Dara Beitler; Design: Dara Beitler Interiors
Curvy Furniture
Bring on the curves in 2025: 65% of designers we surveyed are partial to curvy furniture versus clean-lined pieces. Have fun with a rounded-back sofa or chair, or a funky coffee table. Your furniture doesn’t have to be so serious!
Credit: Photo: Laura Sumrak; Design: Dwell by Cheryl Credit: Photo: Laura Sumrak; Design: Dwell by Cheryl
Brass Finishes
Finally, when looking at hardware finishes for your home, note that you can’t go wrong with brass for 2025; you have 81% of designers on your side. This may seem like a bit of a surprise, given that Pinterest declared 2024 the year of chrome (and aluminum), but what can we say? We’re all about a good plot twist!
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
Sign up for Apartment Therapy’s Daily email newsletter to receive our favorite posts, tours, products, and shopping guides in your inbox.
link