Interior Designers Reveal 7 Trends That Will Become Outdated in 2025

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As we step into 2025, several interior design trends that once dominated our living spaces are expected to fade into the background.

Shifting trends highlight a move towards more timeless and sustainable interior design choices. Whether it's opting for warmer tones, high-quality furniture, or more classic aesthetics, the focus is on creating spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

Annual spending for home renovation and maintenance is projected to hit $477 billion through the third quarter of 2025, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released in October.

Newsweek spoke to interior designers who weighed in on trends predicted to go out of style in the coming year.

Monochrome White

Joyce Huston, lead interior designer and co-founder at Decorilla Online Interior Design, believes that all-white schemes are waning in popularity.

"All white is on its way out as I'm seeing a lot more people embrace more diverse color palettes, especially as styles like mid-century modern are on the rise," Huston told Newsweek. "For those who favor minimalist design, I'm seeing a lot more warm, natural tones like soft creams and rustic beiges in lieu of white, which can be quite stark. I think we'll particularly see this in kitchen trends next year."

Sarah Pickard, CEO of the Pickard Design Studio, echoed this sentiment. "Everyone is tired of cool gray. Warm trends are cycling back in popularity. Whites are still popular, but a white that is more warm than cool," she said.

All white kitchen and living room interior.

Brass and Light Wood

Interior designer Meghann Van Dorn, associate and director of interior design at The Architectural Team, predicts a decline in most brass fixtures.

"Except for natural brass–a classic look that will always be in style–most brass fixtures/hardware are on their way out," Van Dorn told Newsweek.

Noting that brass and black tones have been in the spotlight for the past five years, Van Dorn said that people still want to make "classic" choices, which is what initially drove the brass movement, but "they also want things to feel fresh," she said.

"Alternative classic metals, like nickel and chrome, are an effective approach and can be mixed with the warmer brass to connect the two finishes," Van Dorn said.

She noted a shift in wood finishes, stating that "light wood finishes on furniture and floors are on the way out with darker, neutral brown tones back in style, like walnut over cherry."

1980s Modern Looks

"Modern looks are on the way out, particularly the stark 1980s modern," Van Dorn said.

"There's a movement back to classic silhouettes and an overall 'antique aesthetic' is in. This is the natural progression of the 'granny chic' and 'Nancy Meyers' [the writer of the Father of the Bride movies and other romantic comedies] moments."

Industrial Style, Open Kitchens

Bree Steele, an interior designer and trade accounts manager at RJ Living in Australia, sees a decline in the industrial kitchen style.

"The industrial kitchen look has been popular all year—with the exposed pipes and concrete floors, everyone loved the chic look. However, the feeling of an industrial kitchen is more 'for show' than it is for utility...this kitchen style is too impersonal to see it carry through to next year," Steele told Newsweek.

Pickard said that the trend of open kitchens will diminish. "The current trend of open kitchens with everything in plain sight will start to go away in 2025, with secondary kitchens as the new big trend. These smaller spaces can be used for prep or a place to store dirty dishes," she mentioned.

Fast Furniture

The shift towards high-quality and sustainable furniture is predicted to continue gaining traction. Huston emphasizes the rise of eclectic styles and sustainability.

"The rise of more eclectic styles like mid-century modern are also spurring the trend of collecting high-quality, upcycled pieces, rather than opting for cheap, fast furniture," she said, noting that "sustainability is a big force propelling this trend, as people are more concerned about where they're sourcing their furniture from."

Thrifting has gained a lot of attention in recent years, which Huston thinks will continue into 2025.

Steele concurs, highlighting environmental consciousness. "In the past, there was definitely a moment for fast furniture...however, as we all know, people are more environmentally conscious and want to make better choices for the planet," Steele said. "Next year, customers will want quality pieces that are made of quality materials."

Open Shelving

Open shelving is also on its way out. "Open shelving was a hot topic in 2024, but I think the rage is starting to slow down with people finding it less practical for the day-to-day," Steele said.

"There is a place for open shelving for decor, but in spaces like kitchens, it's a tough act to stay on top of. I think that we will see the classic closed cabinet come back into fashion."

Boucle

The popularity of boucle, a type of textured fabric, is expected to decline.

"I think we'll be seeing less of boucle in people's homes, and that's because this material isn't as breathable or versatile as other textiles. Boucle tends only to be used for whites or beiges," Huston said. "It can also feel quite synthetic, and with quiet luxury expected to dominate interior design trends, I anticipate this material will be less popular in 2025."