Living Room Trends 2025: What Interior Designers Are Actually Doing

The moves worth making and the ones worth skipping — from someone who sees the results years after the designer leaves.

I see a lot of living rooms. Not just during renovation projects — I see them years later when something else needs work. That gives me a different perspective on trends than a designer who moves on to the next project. I see what holds up and what people quietly regret.

Here's my honest take on what's trending in 2025 and which of those moves I'd make in my own home.

Contractor Tips

• Limewash paint (textural, mottled, not flat) has real staying power because it references ancient finishes rather than a contemporary trend. This one is worth doing.
• Curved furniture (round sofas, arched bookshelves) is at peak trend and will feel very dated by 2028. Buy classic silhouettes in furniture and be bold with textiles and accessories instead.
• Natural materials — linen, jute, rattan, stone — have been trending for 5+ years because they're grounded in timelessness, not fashion. Always a safe investment.