2025 interior design trends vs 2015 – what’s changed?

As time goes by, inevitably things change, trends come and go, and when it comes to interior design, a decade can see a real shift in approach – you only have to look back to the patterned carpets of the 1980s to realise how much can change! In this blog, we’ll take a look at interior design trends over the past decade and what has changed from 2015 to 2025, as well as what is on trend for the coming year.

Interior design in 2015

Let’s start with design in 2015. Scandi design was starting to become a real player in the world of interiors, with a yearning for a simpler lifestyle starting to make its way into people’s homes. This saw the decluttering of spaces and the creation of warm, cosy rooms. Earthy tones became popular, with shades such as sienna, baked clay and ochre providing a stylish neutral backdrop. The Pantone Colour of the Year for 2015 was Marsala, a warm, rich, and earthy wine red.

Modular sofas have been around for a long time but in 2015, they moved to the forefront when it came to design trends – with families focusing on a creating a more relaxed environment. Modular units provide a real level of flexibility, giving people the chance to create a sofa perfectly suited to their home.

Ten years ago, interior design also saw a real mixing of old or vintage and new furniture to create a more eclectic style. For example, pairing a rustic dining table with more modern chairs, or a traditional armchair and contemporary sofa.

Books have been around for centuries but a decade ago, people started to see them as a stylish accessory. Cosy reading nooks, tall bookshelves and even mini libraries became a popular design choice for a lounge, office or spare room.

There’s something restorative about being by the sea, as demonstrated by the increase in popularity of coastal chic interiors. Combining shades of blue with white or cream, and introducing wood, particularly driftwood, set the backdrop for coastal-inspired décor, with accessories the key to completing the look.

Interior design in 2025

Fast forward 10 years to 2025 and interior design is very much about personality, comfort, sustainability and a splash of fun.

Vintage furniture has always been popular and that is still very much the case this year. There’s a real focus on sustainability and quality – choosing pieces of furniture that will stand the test of time as opposed to being produced en-masse. Mixing vintage furniture with more contemporary pieces can help to create real character in your space.

After the world came out of the pandemic, there was a shift in how people used their homes. Having spent so much time at home, comfort became an absolutely priority and as a result, larger sofas and corner, L-shaped and even U-shaped sofas have become the sofas of choice. Not only that, but deeper seat cushions have also moved to the forefront, enabling absolute relaxation after a busy day.

Continuing on the subject of comfort, colour continues to be used to evoke a sense of warmth and comfort. Baked earth tones such as soft and pigmented ochre, pink and sunbaked reds, alongside the likes of neutral shades such as caramels and biscuits, will create a warm ambience in any space. These colours also provide you with the perfect backdrop to introduce bold and bright accent colours, such as yellow or green.

The popularity of big lights has been waning for the past decade and 2025 may finally be the year that we say goodbye to them altogether. Softer more subtle lighting, through wall lights, floor lamps and table lights have instead become the preferred option, with warm bulbs favoured over colder, brighter lights.

Colour drenching may well see its rise to the top in 2025. A term referring to the use of a single colour on your floors, walls, ceilings, furniture and accessories, essentially ‘drenching’ your space, creates a cohesion unlike any other style of décor. However, if you like the idea of colour drenching, make sure to do your research before committing – some colours would overwhelm the space! At present, the most popular shade for this interior trend is a buttery yellow, which brings a warmth into your interior like nothing else.

The desire for sustainable furniture has increased significantly over the past 10 years. Eco-friendly was a phrase that started to become familiar in 2015, but it most certainly wasn’t commonplace in an everyday household. In 2025, sustainability has become non-negotiable and businesses have become a lot more educated when it comes to incorporating sustainable practices into their manufacturing processes. From using reclaimed or sustainably sourced wood and upcycled furniture to the use of recycled fabrics, today’s interiors prioritize the environment. Natural materials like bamboo, cork, and stone are celebrated for their beauty and eco-credentials, seamlessly blending style with responsibility.

Inevitably, in 10 years’ time, we’ll look back at 2025 and realise how trends have changed once again. But for the time being, comfort, personality, sustainability and a sense of fun is the order of the day and that sounds good to us!