As we step further into 2025, the world of interiors continues to evolve, shaped by the enduring influence of the post-pandemic lifestyle. Our homes have become more than just shelters—they are sanctuaries, offices, wellness hubs, and creative corners. This transformation has sparked a wave of design trends rooted in comfort, sustainability, personal expression, and mindful living. Here’s a look at the top interior trends redefining spaces in 2025, inspired by a world that has learned to live differently—and design smarter.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
One lifestyle philosophy that has taken root since before the pandemic and still dominates is minimalism. People are becoming increasingly conscious of their consumption patterns and are very mindful of what they own and how much they own and waste. This is driving the push for upcycled furniture and high-quality, natural materials and fabrics that are low maintenance and long-lasting. There is also this pandemic-induced Marie Kondo-style tendency, which is to declutter spaces. As a result, it affects both mental and physical well-being positively. This is perhaps why a simplicity-focused interior design trend like Japandi—which fuses Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality—is catching on across the globe. Of course, the execution of these minimalist interior designs will depend on clients’ preferences, but the overarching idea is to stick to bare essentials.
A monochromatic colour palette, functional but comfortable furniture, rich textiles, etc., are key elements. Also, every detail of the design should be easy to clean and maintain since most people now consider cleaning as a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ activity. Functionality over ornamentation is the basis of this idea. There’s nothing more ‘outdoors’ than fresh, bright sunlight and crisp natural air—it helps indoor plants grow well too, which can be added generously around the interior space. For the kitchen, a functional design hack is introducing a dedicated spot for a herb garden. Natural materials like stone and wood are considered outdoors; why not bring them indoors to recreate the rustic, outdoorsy vibe? They are hard-wearing materials that age well and are surprisingly low-maintenance. Besides, you can also add design elements like shades of green or leaf-inspired patterns on walls. You could go a step further and add a green wall, where plants grow on a vertical surface. They are super fun and unbelievably customizable; clients can change the look and feel of the interiors just by adding new foliage or seasonal flowering plants!
BRING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE
Though people love indoor life, they are increasingly desirous of being with nature. This explains why caring for houseplants became an unexpected trend during the initial months of the pandemic! Recreating a tropical forest indoors is probably not feasible (you could if you tried!), but you can take cues from mother nature for your interior design inspiration. And this is not limited to throwing in a bunch of succulents at strategic locations around the house. While this might be a task geared more towards architects, expanding windowsand introducing skylights wherever possible is a great way to fill interior spaces with natural light and ventilation. After all, nothing feels
A crucial part of life in the pandemic era is work from home. Organizations worldwide shifted to a remote-first model of working, and employees love the freedom and flexibility this format offers. As a result, the requirement for a fully functional yet compact workspace has skyrocketed. People are becoming increasingly aware of ergonomics and workspace design principles and how these seemingly vain concepts can impact productivity and motivation.
Keeping in mind your clients’ requirements, pick a spot that offers the least distractions. No one wants the TV blaring in the background or a pressure cooker blowing the whistle up when they’re on a Zoom call! In a house with children, consider setting up the workspace in a room that can be locked so that disruptions are minimized. For any WFH space, lighting is vital. It helps to keep one alert and attentive while reducing strain on the eyes from computer screens. Then, focus on the ergonomics. The table and chair will be where your clients would probably spend 8+ hours of their day. You might want to make sure they are comfortable in that space. Also, ensure that the WFH spot has excellent internet connectivity.
What is a WFH without good WiFi anyway! Don’t forget to spruce up the wall behind the workspace, as it will be prominently featured in every Zoom meeting! While one doesn’t need decorations to be productive, it makes the space feel more personal. This, however, is best done taking your clients’ inputs into account. Again, the WFH space needs to be as functional as possible while not compromising on aesthetics. For smaller homes, a fold-away workspace with the same design principles could be a great idea to use the available space optimally.
MAKE IT GRAMMABLE
Given how pervasive social media has become, dismissing its importance while designing interiors would be a big mistake. Your design must be photogenic, to say the least! The easiest way to create Instagram-ready interiors is to stick to a minimalist design that
does not look cluttered in pictures. It is also easy for the clients to clean! That’s half the battle won. Include spots around the house that are artistic enough to be subjects of pictures but also look great as backgrounds. Use a colour scheme that is bright and
cheerful but doesn’t dominate when used as image background. Natural light, again, is your best bet to achieve perfect pictures. You can experiment based on your client’s tastes and choose from a vast range of crazy, quirky, and classic options.
MULTIFUNCTIONALITY IS KEY
Clients today want the most out of their interior design, so using elements that fulfil more than one purpose is a great way to improve return on investment! Furniture is usually the focus area for this trend, but you could very well apply it to spaces. For instance, instead of a couch, choose a sofa-cum-bed that fulfils a dual purpose or design the terrace as an urban jungle, a greenhouse, or a deck for your clients’ al fresco parties! The key is to select modular elements that one can configure as per the space available. The options are endless: folding beds, tables that act as ping pong tables or impromptu workspaces, shoe racks with seats, shelves that offer storage, or bookshelves that become decorative elements are just a few examples.
SPACES FOR ME-TIME
Considerable free time and access to new hobby options and the need to keep themselves occupied and active has made people around the world dabble into new recreational and leisure activities. This could mean anything from Yoga, dance workouts, learning musical instruments, pottery, pickling, macrame, fine arts to collecting books and curios, the list is
endless. Your clients would appreciate having a well-designed space to nurture their interests and learn new skills.
The trick is to keep the space open-ended so your clients can make it their own, based on their preferred activities. Now it is up to you, interior designers, to use this basic list of ideas creatively to express your design prowess and create a unique space that your clients can cherish for a long time!
