New year, new apartment!
Every year, midnight on January 1 signals new beginnings. For some, that means setting goals for a healthier lifestyle or saving more money. For interior decorating, the start of a new year means a year of new trends that give renters and homeowners new ideas for making their place feel like home.
Based on the trends over the last few years, 2025 will redefine minimalism with rich colors, cozy fabrics, and natural shapes. Recent emphasis on nostalgia—as seen in movie releases like “Barbie” (2023), “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023), “Wicked” (2024), and “Gladiator II” (2024)—suggests a shift back to the good old days full of warmth and simplicity. Shifts in style and color trends over the last few years suggest that a cozier strain of minimalism will define 2025.
Design Philosophies: Japandi and Biophilia
Two philosophies will guide interior design in 2025: Japandi and biophilia.
Japandi is a mixture of Japanese and Scandinavian styles centered around simplicity, comfort, and natural elements. Japandi, like minimalism, encourages a “less is more” mindset that cuts out clutter. However, Japandi differs from the cool-toned minimalism of recent years in that it prioritizes warm-toned neutrals that mimic the natural world.
Biophilia, translating to “love of life” in Greek, approaches interior decorating with the intent to connect people with nature. Biophilic design focuses on earthy colors, natural lighting, natural shapes and patterns, and plants.
Japandi and biophilic design go together in many aspects, and their similarities will redefine minimalism.
Colors
Warm neutrals
Cool neutrals have taken over in modern design with the rise of minimalism, but minimalism seems to be warming up. Subtle shifts from cool tones like grays and blues to warm tones like browns and reds suggest minimalism may take on a more earthy personality in 2025.
Color experts predict this shift amping up in the new year. Pantone’s Color of the Year 2025 is Mocha Mousse, a rosy brown reminiscent of brushed bronze and warm lattes. Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2025 Palette features their 2025 Color of the Year, Cinnamon Slate, and warm, muted earth tones like olive green and eggshell. Sherwin-Williams’s 2025 Color Capsule of the Year also consists of bold, versatile earth tones.
These color experts choose each color of the year based on previous trends and recent changes in culture, and the chosen colors influence fashion and interior design trends. For example, Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year was Peach Fuzz, a pale, peachy pink. Later in the year, coquette and hyperfeminine aesthetics like bows and light pinks became incredibly popular. In fact, “coquette” made it into Google Trends’ 2024 Year in Search.
Jewel tones
Warm neutrals pair perfectly with jewel tones like sapphire, plum, and emerald, and color experts agree. Several popular paint brands have unveiled jewel tones as their 2025 colors of the year. Valspar Encore is a royal blue that evokes ocean imagery, Glidden Purple Basil is a deep amethyst, and Behr Rumors is a warm ruby red.
While pairing jewel tones and earth tones may seem conflicting, they create an inviting atmosphere that plays into the rising popularity of cozy minimalism and functional home décor.
Shades of green
2024 was a big year for green, with Charli XCX’s album “Brat” popularizing lime green and the “Wicked” movie release creating a surge in pink and green pairings.
But the green craze is nothing new. According to Google Trends, the search volume for “sage green” tripled between January 2020 and January 2021. Emerald green couches and dark green walls have also spiked in popularity in the last few years. With the ongoing evolution of minimalism to include earth tones and plants as décor, green may be here to stay.
Furniture
Natural wood
Wood furniture is a must for design philosophies that focus on the natural world. Natural wood coffee tables, cabinets, and dressers will bring an element of luxury to your home without looking overly polished.
Soft, functional fabrics
People are moving away from delicate fabrics in favor of functional fabrics that will withstand daily life. Cotton, corduroy, and velvet are comfortable and versatile and pair well with retro designs. The last few years have seen a surge in velvet jewel-tone couches, particularly emerald green and sapphire blue, which perfectly mesh funky style, trending colors, and functional fabrics.
Retro and vintage style
Midcentury modern and vintage furniture has been rising in popularity and may continue to soar throughout 2025. Retro and vintage furniture blends the mindful consumption aspects of minimalism and Japandi with nostalgic coziness. Older furniture is also often made with solid wood, meaning the pieces you find at secondhand stores will likely last a long time and pair well with Japandi and biophilic designs.
Décor and Accents
Natural patterns
Patterns inspired by nature will dominate 2025. Florals, botanicals, and fluid forms bring the outside in and add dimension without overpowering a room. This fits in perfectly with minimalist and Japandi philosophies that value simplicity. Nature patterns also go hand-in-hand with the earth tones and warm neutrals that will be popular in the coming years.
Organic shapes
Warm neutrals and earth tones pair nicely with organic shapes that contribute to a cozier home. While cool-toned minimalism encouraged harsh edges, 2025’s brand of minimalism will bring rounded shapes.
To incorporate organic shapes into your home, opt for round throw pillows or freeform coffee tables in your living room. Rounded or curved sofas can also bring a unique element to your home, and a textured fabric like boucle or chenille can add even more dimension.
Archways
Arched doorways and nooks are already popular, so 2025 may see a boom in arched architecture.
However, adding arches to your doorways is a permanent change that will violate your lease agreement, so incorporate arches into your rental with arched cabinets and bookcases instead. These types of furniture will add dimension and Old-World luxury to your home while keeping you compliant with your lease agreement.
Statement lighting
2020 had the LED strip lights. 2022 had the leafy string lights. Based on emerging trends, 2025 will have statement lighting with organic shapes.
While 2025 will emphasize natural lighting over electricity, light fixtures are still an important design feature. For 2025, think round glass pendant lights and squiggly floor lamps, and use warm bulbs for your statement lighting to create a cozy atmosphere in the evening. Statement light fixtures in organic shapes will mesh well with Japandi design while still being functional.
While minimalism will only continue to gain traction in 2025, it will evolve and transform. Minimalism doesn’t mean your home has to be boring—choosing furniture, fabrics, and colors with intention will ensure simplicity doesn’t erase your personal style. Incorporating warm, earthy colors into your décor will make your home feel cozy, and picking timeless furniture and decor will set you up for a sustainable lifestyle.
