In 2025, living room design is expected to take a turn towards intimacy and coziness, with a renewed focus on comfort and functionality. As the primary hub of home life, living rooms are evolving into spaces that prioritize personal comfort and connection. Designers are looking forward to creating snug environments with cozy seating arrangements that encourage closeness. Innovative designs, such as a New Jersey project featuring a game table with pull-out cup holders, are gaining popularity. These trends emphasize the balance between functionality, comfort, and aesthetics, reflecting a broader shift in design priorities.
The living room has always been a central part of the home, where people gather and spend most of their time. With this in mind, 2025 will see designers focusing on making these spaces not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. The trend is moving towards spaces that are both practical and inviting. According to Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors, as build costs rise, clients are opting for more modest use of space. This shift allows designers to invest in impactful and appropriately scaled architectural details rather than expansive ceilings and wide spaces.
“There will always be a place for a modern home with 12-foot ceilings and wide, expansive use of space, but as build costs have increased dramatically, we are seeing our clients embrace a very modest use of space, which includes keeping ceiling heights and room sizes much more moderate in favor of impactful and appropriately scaled architectural details,” – Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors
This shift in focus allows for design budgets to be allocated in ways that enhance both functionality and beauty. Custom cabinetry with bespoke detailing and beautiful furnishings no longer need to be oversized to make an impact.
“As designers, this allows us to dedicate design dollars in a way that can be both functional and beautiful, like custom cabinetry with bespoke detailing or beautiful furnishings that don't have to be overly scaled to fit a large, expansive space," – Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors
The blending of vintage and modern elements is another trend gaining traction in 2025. Mixing upholstery profiles with vintage-inspired fabrics is creating fresh yet enduring looks. Christine Markatos highlights how simple upholstery shapes combined with one-of-a-kind vintage finishes add character and patina.
“In 2025, we’re all about mixing upholstery profiles with vintage-inspired fabrics to create a fresh yet enduring look,” – Christine Markatos
“I love to keep the upholstery shapes simple and add a one-of-a-kind vintage finish with lots of character and patina," – Christine Markatos
Light fixtures take center stage as the "jewelry" of the room. In 2025, mixing pieces from different eras will be key to achieving harmony between old and new. Heather Peterson of Heather Peterson Design describes how a vintage Murano glass lamp or plug-in sconce paired with a minimalist pendant can create drama and timelessness.
“A vintage Murano glass lamp or plug-in sconce paired with a minimalist pendant creates drama and timelessness," – Heather Peterson of Heather Peterson Design
“Using complementary finishes, shapes, and colors is the key to achieving harmony between old and new; they enhance one another without competing, resulting in layered, bespoke lighting schemes that feel effortlessly curated.” – Heather Peterson of Heather Peterson Design
Durability and practicality are also high on the list for 2025 trends. Sydney Levy of Anthony Wilder Design/Build notes an increase in demand for clean palettes with family-friendly furniture that forgives wear and tear. Younger clients are particularly interested in furniture that does not require coasters or shows rings easily.
“Our team is seeing a lot of clients who are requesting clean palettes with durable family-friendly furniture that is forgiving,” – Sydney Levy of Anthony Wilder Design/Build
“Our younger clients don’t use coasters, so they frequently ask for coffee tables that won’t show rings or vintage items that can embrace the wear and tear of their family.” – Sydney Levy of Anthony Wilder Design/Build
Color plays a significant role in living room design for 2025. Designers are embracing bold colors, with saturated pigments making a comeback. This approach allows for spaces to feel both grounding and expressive.
“Saturated tones can feel both grounding and expressive,” – Swabb
Sara Swabb of Storie Collective points out the compelling trend of drenching spaces in singular colors or tones of the same color to evoke different moods. This design approach emphasizes color as the main character, creating memorable atmospheres.
“One of the most compelling trends we see for the coming year is drenching a space in a single color or tones of the same color," – Sara Swabb of Storie Collective
“Using a singular color has the power to evoke different moods depending on the chosen shade. This design approach emphasizes color as the main character, creating a memorable atmosphere that feels intentional, luxurious, and cozy.” – Sara Swabb of Storie Collective
Leave a Reply