2025 Interior Design Forecast: AD PRO’s Predictions for the Whole Home

Presented by Kohler

As we reflect on the design trends of the past year, it’s clear that our homes have come to not only represent ourselves, but a projection of what we need to feel comforted. Enveloping color, textured materials, and as much or as little technology as desired—each element contributes to spaces that can soothe or excite, depending on the gathering type.

In this member-exclusive AD PRO trend report, we explore what next year’s homes will say about how we want to live—and the designs that will do the talking. From material-drenched finishes to a healthy obsession with nostalgia to the home-tech upgrades that have true staying power, our predictions for 2025’s interior design trends are supported by significant market analysis, top-notch reportage, and expert opinions from our comprehensive network of design talents, including AD100 honorees and architect, designer, and builder members of the AD PRO Directory. For the larger societal shifts that these revelations represent, we hope you find them as significant as we do.

The accomplished architects and designers of the AD100 might differ in aesthetics, locations, and project typology, but there is one thing they all have in common: a distinctive point of view developed by instinct, training, and trial and error. The best designers establish a signature through the repetition of choices—perhaps a statement-making ceiling, an omnipresent leather club chair, or a nostalgic chintz. When used correctly, such objects and gestures become faithful problem solvers at the ready, familiar but reliably fresh.

“There’s a light fixture which to me is so timeless and chic,” says New York–based designer Sara Story. “It’s the Le Tre Streghe by Günther Leuchtmann.” In 1981, the German talent conceived fixtures for a restaurant in Hamburg called the Three Witches, and gave them its name. “The pendants sheath the bulbs in perforated metal cylinders that attach to Murano glass or crystal spheres, which reflect the light,” Story says. “To me, they are akin to layering in an accessory when getting dressed. They are so striking, whether used solo or in a composition.” Or, in fact, when illuminating rooms in a residence in Beverly Hills, a ranch in Texas, or a town house in Manhattan—all places she has installed Le Tre Streghe. “They always look perfectly at home, no matter the setting,” she assures.

When designers find the right light, they tend to stick with it. “A picture light is one of the best ways to add a subtle layer of lighting,” says San Francisco’s Ken Fulk. “It offers old-world charm in any finish—though I’m partial to a classic brass.” Over the years, Fulk has found the brass picture light to be a crucial part of a wide range of his interior designs, from a luxurious home in Marin County, California, to the Coterie Brasserie at the Four Seasons Boston. “Everyone needs the ability to highlight a favorite piece of art or object,” he says. And for Fulk, that need even inspired a new product: “We actually loved the light so much that we designed our very own for Urban Electric."

It’s not just products, though. Designers also rely on design moves and movements to craft their own forte. “I don’t think I’ve ever followed a style,” says Rafael de Cárdenas. Instead, the New York–based architect looks to time. “The 1980s were when I became aware of everything, and I loved it,” he says. “The ’80s version of glamour always rings nostalgic for me.” In residential projects, this finds its way into a preference for what he calls “large surfaces, whether minimal or exuberant in form, with luster that looks primarily machined. It suggests a present that’s always looking toward the future and defies materiality.”

Designer Neal Beckstedt calls on hue for that kind of timelessness that works again and again. “I use color in large gestures, say on a sofa and daybed and door, and then make sure the color is evenly balanced in the room so it feels natural and not clumped in one area,” explains the New York talent. “When you strike balance correctly, your room will stand the test of time.”

Patterns are also an inherent source of design reliability. “A favorite go-to-fabric is Lee Jofa’s Hollyhock,” says New York designer Young Huh, who installed the leafy floral in her 2014 Kips Bay Decorator Show House room, paired with patent leather wainscoting. It’s since become a staple. “It is a traditional block print, and the brown and green colorway is my absolute favorite,” she says. “It goes well in a traditional room and adds color and interest to a modern one.”

That versatility, and the kind of philosophical intentionality Fulk and de Cárdenas explore, also inform designer Adam Charlap Hyman’s beloved white slipcover. “Again and again, and in every context, it adds a refined casualness to a room,” says the Charlap Hyman & Herrero cofounder. “It takes work to keep them up, fresh-looking, and laundered, so they also imply a level of commitment to cleanliness and care, while not appearing fussy. In the grandest of old-world houses to the most elemental lofts, a white slipcover always works, and the detailing of a pleat or ruffle or a certain design of the ties can transform this ‘simple’ gesture into something artful." Like the best design work, it’s always different, and always the same. —Jesse Dorris

During AD PRO’s Luxury Bath Trend Report workshop in October 2024, one theme came up again and again: material drenching. Consider this the sequel to color drenching. According to AD100 designer Jake Arnold, who coined the term, applying a single material—whether tile, stone, plaster, or something else—across a bathroom is a great way to achieve a polished, chic look. For 2025, it feels like a natural evolution of the other “allover” aesthetic trends dominating the fashion world and other parts of the home.

And as it turns out, the bathroom is an ideal location for this kind of aesthetic experimentation. “Many of the powder rooms we build are intimate, immersive spaces that offer designers the perfect opportunity to tell a story through their material selections,” shares Ryder Reynolds, principal at Seattle’s Dowbuilt, a high-end residential builder on the newly expanded AD PRO Directory.

While narratives can also be conveyed through bold color or exciting patterns, enveloping a space in a single material is “an easy way to create a high-impact space,” declares New York City–based designer Darren Jett of Jett Projects. “Besides making a space feel larger, it can create a sense of sculpture.” This trend emerged from restaurants and hotels, he explains, and is now finding its way into residences.

According to designer Ahmad AbouZanat, who’s also based in New York City, nostalgia for the 1980s is contributing to the popularity of material drenching too. “Homeowners who grew up during that time are now our clients,” he says, noting that for contemporary tastes, drenching is less about saturated tones and more about the characteristics of the materials themselves. Think textured zellige tiles, dappled plasterwork, or even strips of Garapa wood, which AD PRO Directory design-build firm Z Builders used to “dissolve the boundaries” between ceiling, walls, and floor in a pool bathroom in Bridgehampton, New York. “The result is more than just aesthetic unity—it’s an experiential journey where every surface works in harmony to craft moments of tranquility,” describes founder and principal Tommy Zung.

Other favored materials for this trend include tadelakt for a “calming minimalism” vibe, notes Jett, or wallpaper that can add an all-out maximalist flavor. A big challenge in pulling off the look “is achieving the proper lighting to allow such designs to shine,” AbouZanat explains. So how does one get it right? “Be intentional about all the details,” he recommends. Zung elaborates: “Think of it as choreography—each element should flow into the next without calling attention to itself. We achieve this through precise planning: concealing joints, using continuous materials, and selecting larger formats that minimize visible breaks.”

For this reason, as well as their relatively low cost, many designers opt for tiles when drenching bathrooms. “I personally love smaller tiles because they still give a sense of human scale when applied to all surfaces, which can otherwise feel overwhelming,” says Jett, who has previously used light blue penny rounds to cover floors and walls in the bathroom of a Park Slope town house. AbouZanat similarly opted for glazed-brick tiles to create a sanctuary-like feel in his bathroom design at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York in 2023, though he proffers: “I’m a big fan of marble, and won’t shy away from using an exotic or graphic variety, but the format is what makes or breaks a space. It really comes down to the proper scale.”

For anyone looking to hop on the material-drenching bandwagon, Jett has some advice: Push your boundaries while sticking to what you love. “If you love a specific color, why not drench that whole bathroom in that same color marble with beautiful veining, or handmade tiles with incredible details?” he encourages. For added inspiration, and a reference he’s also using for an upcoming project, turn to the classics. “I love that Miles Redd mirrored bathroom by David Adler,” Jett says. “It’s a master class in material drenching splendor!” —Dan Howarth

“Design, like fashion, tries to encapsulate the zeitgeist,” says San Francisco–based designer and Banner Day Interiors founder Clara Jung. “I would say 2024 was a win for the bold. Everything was bursting at the seams with maximalism, over-exaggeration, punch-in-your-face color.”

This expressive streak was largely a result of the pandemic, during which luxury homeowners dedicated a considerable amount of time and resources to improving their surroundings. During the recovery period, a sense of joy and relief has permeated residential interiors, but there is still a strain of calming minimalism some just can’t quit.

Might 2025 be the year these dueling desires reach détente? The finishes, fabrics, and colors these design pros are sourcing give us an idea of what’s in store.

Wood goes dark

“For years we were doing homogenized, white finishes on white oak,” observes Jack Decker of Vernacular Design, a custom millwork and furniture fabricator in Kingston, New York. Recently, though, he’s seen a welcome pendulum shift. “We’re doing a ton of darker stain so it has a more Craftsman, [William] Morris, or even a Stickley feel,” using woods like oak, walnut, cherry, and mahogany. The AD PRO Directory member is also struck by efforts that “bring richness into Brutalism.”

For Decker’s clients, lower raw material costs might not be a primary consideration, but they conveniently overlap with present tastes. “If you’re going to go darker, we can get much better graining” for the price, he states. It helps that his collaborators are open to a more diverse palette too. “Quarter, rift sawn—they’re mixing it all up.” Jung points to the consistent interest in incorporating vintage pieces as another welcome—and sustainable—opportunity to play with wood species and textures.

Rob Reinis of Los Angeles–based Valle Reinis Builders, whose client roster includes AD100 talents like Kelly Wearstler, Studio Shamshiri, and Stephen Shadley, is ordering an increasing amount of a nostalgic wood profile. “Instead of wide-plank flooring, the thinner two-and-a-quarter board is now becoming very popular,” he says. Reminiscent of older homes, this particular scale reflects the waning reign of the open floor plan, as some designers are reinventing residential layouts with more intimate spaces.

Performance fabrics of all colors and stripes

Taylor Abess of Parlor Interiors sees a post-minimalist, moody movement, even in her sun-soaked Miami market. “We were so vanilla, like 50 shades of beige,” she says. Now, those accustomed to sleek, monochromatic environments “want to bring in color and fabrics,” like traditionalist neighbors who “still want to see solid, stripes, and florals.” To achieve this, Abess is using more outdoor upholstery indoors. Durability in every material context is a strong sell and manufacturers offer “fabrics that feel delicious at this point,” she explains. “There’s no reason not to [use them] unless you’re going for something like a jacquard.”

Tactile finishes and paints

Chalky clay, Venetian plaster, Moroccan tadelakt, and limewash paints have seen a profound resurgence in 2024. In 2025, “I do not see that going away,” Reinis says of his discerning clients’ predilection for warm tactility. These materials’ adaptability helps explain why they endure. Jamie Davis, cofounder of Portola Paints—whose Roman Clay and Lime Wash series are designer go-tos—predicts that while neutral shades have staying power, saturated hues in textured finishes will allow subtler experimentation.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles–based designer and AD PRO Directory member Martha Mulholland notices a pivot toward texture. “I am upholstering far more walls than I’m applying wallpaper or plaster to these days,” she reflects, adding that glossy lacquer is a big yes for 2025.

Nature-inspired colorways

Even if plant parenting hashtags have faded since 2020, biophilia remains in the conversation. Price Latimer, cofounder and CCO of non-toxic maker Alkemis Paint, thinks 2025 “will lean into earthy tones and mineral-based hues,” she says. “While eye-catching and saturated shades won’t disappear, they will likely evolve into deep or muted versions of themselves.” In Bay Area projects, Jung is already registering “a studied, or more nuanced use of color and color story” where openness to purple-lavender and the yellow-green family of ochre, chartreuse, and mustard allow for “moodier and more romantic” interiors.

Sumptuous details

Some creatives are eager for opportunities to make big statements in small ways. Mulholland has been noticing “a slow return to passementerie. A slipper chair with a luxurious fringe is nothing new, but I’m talking cords, tassels, tapes—trimmings beloved by grande dame decorators of the past and rendered obsolete with the emergence of minimalism in all its forms.” Such bespoke embellishments are naturally simpatico with judiciously effusive gestures. “We are using piping, fringe, and color,” Abess adds. Mulholland’s observations lead her to wonder if there will be “more moiré, damask, and needlepoint in our future.”

Metals that breathe, age, and don’t always match

Parallel with nature-informed hues, Abess is “leaning into living, breathing materials” like unlacquered brass, as well as mixing metals. Reinis’s current projects incorporate a range of metal finish combinations too. Until relatively recently, “you would have a room with all brass plumbing fixtures, and everything had to be brass. That’s not the case anymore,” he says. Decker routinely works his way with and around zinc and blackened steel detailing in New York while in the Bay Area, Jung is excited about sourcing new metal finishes, like Rocky Mountain Hardware’s white bronze alloy. “It has a patina to it,” she shares. “It provides that reflection in a moodier room but doesn’t feel new. It feels like it belongs.” —Jessica Ritz

For designers and homeowners looking to future-proof their spaces, smart-home technology is worth the investment. According to the Consumer Technology Association’s 2025 forecast, the market for these products is expected to grow by 1.9% in the next year, thanks to user-friendly innovations that enhance efficiency.

Builders and designers agree that smart-home tech is becoming an essential, even to clients slower to embrace it, for its appealing ability to offer automated and personalized control over residential spaces and systems. But the products these experts source must offer whole-home, and homeowner, benefits: improving security, health, and comfort while being a discreet addition to a home’s design. Even better if they can all be managed with one user-friendly voice- or app-controlled platform to cut down on the number of required updates. In 2025 and beyond, the home tech that designers recommend is all about ease.

All about well-being

Since the onset of the pandemic, designers have increasingly prioritized wellness. At home, health-centered technologies are also here to stay—whether they take the form of a sauna, cold plunge pool, or something more elemental, like an air filtration system. “There is a huge focus on wellness tech right now,” shares Artem Kropovinsky of New York City–based design studio Arsight. “We’re installing air purification systems, circadian lighting, and water filtration as standard features that have real, long-lasting benefits.”

Increasingly popular, touch-less faucets offer similar cleanliness and environmental advantages, and the “options in residential applications have expanded significantly,” say Andrea DeRosa and Ashley Justman, cofounders of Avenue Interior Design in Los Angeles. Knee or foot-activated models are an even lower-maintenance alternative. “We love the Tapmaster,” says Isaac Resnikoff of LA’s Project Room. “It’s a simple foot control for the kitchen sink that’s more useful and water-efficient than sensor faucets, while still maintaining sanitary benefits.”

In addition to physical well-being, mental health has become a greater design priority. To extend a feeling of comfort throughout the home, designers suggest smart lighting systems that follow the body’s natural rhythms. Adjusting artificial light throughout the day can enhance productivity, reduce stress, and promote better sleep. “I always recommend Lutron lighting systems,” shares Sedona, Arizona–based AD PRO Directory designer Stephanie Larsen. “They follow a human-centric model that synchronizes with our daily routines, offering a more personalized lighting experience.”

Smart lighting also integrates seamlessly with decor. “You benefit from the comfort of connectivity without sacrificing aesthetic,” notes Leigh Kirby, founder of New York AD PRO Directory firm Weatherleigh Interiors. “They come in a variety of materials and finishes, creating the perfect blend of classic design and modern technology.” Alternatively, installing smart bulbs in any light fixtures offers the ultimate flexibility.

Finally, designers are sticking by upgrades that can help homeowners find peace of mind—whether they’re at home or on the road. “Features like video doorbells and remote security systems provide peace of mind—something you just can’t put a price tag on!” says Illinois-based AD100 designer Tiffany Brooks.

Entertainment gadgets worth the spend

Across the board, today’s tech doesn’t have to sacrifice style. Televisions, once a design challenge, are now available in models that double as digital art when idle. “These options are the easiest ways to incorporate a TV into a room without it being a huge black rectangle,” shares San Francisco–based AD PRO Directory designer Noz Nozawa, who often specifies Samsung’s Frame.

AV accessories like speakers and mounts have also become decorative objects. Larsen is keen on Leon’s devices for the home. “Their Mera Sound Sconces offer high-performance audio and dimmable lighting in a modern, understated design,” she says. They can also be paired with smart-home automation systems.

Upgrades to help with upkeep

In the coming years, designers expect artificial intelligence-driven technology to become more prominent—embracing it can make home upkeep easier. “These technologies, like predictive maintenance systems for HVAC and smart inventory tracking in refrigerators, help clients avoid costly repairs and reduce food waste,” explains AD PRO Directory designer Dominique Michelle Vidal.

But with new tech constantly emerging, discerning which gadgets are worth investing in requires sticking by the mantra that technology should solve problems, not create new ones. “People prefer tech that seamlessly integrates into their lives rather than demanding constant updates,” says Los Angeles–based designer and AD PRO Directory member Ryan Saghian.

“Today’s luxury is defined by effortless elegance,” says AD PRO Directory builder and designer Tommy Zung, founder of New York–based Z Builders and Studio Zung. “The future belongs to intelligent systems that fade into the background while delivering exceptional performance.” If the tech doesn’t improve your client’s life, it’s best to opt out. —Nabi Williams

A few years ago, the phrase “sleep hygiene”—or daily habits that promote better slumber—might have thrown clients for a loop, but with recent research underscoring the link between ample quality sleep and longevity, bedroom design has rightfully taken on a wellness bent. While the classic components of a well-made bedroom—mattresses, headboards, bed frames, and linens—are important, a good night’s sleep goes beyond the bed.

For many designers, crafting a room that encourages sleep veers toward minimalism. “In bedrooms, we often work with soothing tones that naturally invite relaxation,” says Neesha Reddivari, lead designer at AD PRO Directory member House of Hunt. “Think warm neutrals and earthy shades [that] calm the mind and prepare you for rest.” These spaces are not devoid of color and pattern, but rather use them with intention. “I lean into tonal color palettes with only sporadic moments of contrast,” says designer Jennifer Salvemini, whose eponymous studio is based in upstate New York’s Catskills region. “I use pillows and art as a way to introduce visual interest.”

Technology is also a major player in contemporary bedroom design, but its benefits differ. For some clients, it is to be avoided, but for others, it is a tool for a good night’s rest. “With our world being more frenetic, connected, and at times feeling more chaotic, the majority of our clients are actually asking us to take a more anti-tech or analog approach to their bedroom to encourage better sleep,” shares James Fung, principal interior designer at Seattle’s NB Design Group. “This includes installing chargers inside their nightstand drawers so that their phones are not tempting them in view. We are also seeing an increase in clients being very specific in asking for no televisions in any bedrooms.”

Even if Naika Andre’s clients aren’t bypassing tech altogether, the CEO and principal designer at NJA Interiors still relies on furniture with built-in outlets to streamline cord clutter. It’s one of the ways that integrating design and technology can actually help us avoid scrolling our screens before bedtime, a sure path to poor sleep. Salvemini finds that tech also plays a large role in bedroom lighting, a design element almost all the designers we spoke to consider crucial to sleep hygiene. “I like to use smart bulbs in the bedroom, which allow for the control of luminosity and temperature, as well as the ability to program settings for each time of day and activity,” she says. “This technology transforms every light fixture into a customizable piece without having to update the wiring of the home’s electrical system.” House of Hunt uses smart lighting as well, specifically to support clients’ circadian rhythms with “warmer tones for waking up and winding down.”

The “top client request” Fung’s firm receives is for automatic blackout draperies. House of Hunt echoes the sentiment, adding that they allow clients to control the draperies from the bedside: “It’s a small luxury that makes a big difference.”

Managing natural light in the bedroom isn’t entirely reliant on technology. Andre has found that clients are gravitating toward organic ways to block out the morning sun. “Another request has been multi-tiered, multi-layered window treatments such as blinds, Roman shades, and curtains,” she shares. “This allows the client to control the amount of daylight unlike using one layer of blackout curtains.”

It also offers the opportunity to design the bedroom with a more layered, romantic look, creating space to escape the typical minimalist palette in the coming year. Looking into his design crystal ball, Rayman Boozer of AD100-listed studio Apartment 48 shares: “One trend I’m loving for 2025 is the immersive wrapping of the bedroom—using wallpaper or upholstered walls alongside a matching drapery fabric. Think Babe Paley’s St. Regis apartment in Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.”

But just as taste is personal and varied, so are the elements that help support a soft slumber—and more and more, clients are coming with their own ideas. For Salvemini, one of the greatest trends she’s witnessed is a move toward homeowners knowing exactly what they want. “I find my clients are emboldened to ask for help expressing their unique aesthetic preferences,” she says. —Nora Taylor