When it comes to interior design, everyone has their own style.
Some people are eager to keep up with new trends of the moment, while others prefer to stick to classic themes they hope will stand the test of time.
There are upsides and downsides to both.
Those excited by new styles must be careful to tread that fine line between tasteful and faddishly tacky. Whereas those who stick to tried and tested themes can find their homes at risk of looking boring and dated.
To help navigate this delicate balance, we asked four top interior designers for their home décor dos and don’ts for 2025.
From wall colors and art to window accessories and furniture, they explain the common mistakes that can make your home look cheap, popular trends that are now on the out and how to adopt new styles without being left filled with regret.
DailyMail.com spoke to four top interior designers about their home décor dos and don’ts for 2025. (Pictured: Stock image of living room)
GOODBYE TO GRAY
Known as a very popular neutral color, gray has long been used in almost all aspects of a living space. But according to some designers, its time may soon be up.
Despite this, she acknowledges that given its widespread popularity, it will be hard to kick the gray habit completely.
‘People keep saying it’s out or on its way out, and I’ve yet to see it. So I think gray is still hanging on. People say beige is coming in – again, I’ll believe it when I see it,’ she said.
Wendy Glaister, who runs Wendy Glaister Interiors in Modesto California, is also conflicted about the color gray.
She acknowledged that, like blue, it can ‘contribute to that feeling of calm in a home.’ But she warned it can also bring the mood down.
‘There’s a lot of color research out there and it talks about how they are terribly depressing,’ she explained.
Known as a very popular neutral color, gray has long been used in almost all aspects of a living space. But according to some designers, its time may soon be up. (Pictured: Stock image of a living room with gray accents)
Annie Elliott (pictured), who runs Annie Elliott Design in Washington DC, said: ‘I cannot look at another millennial gray room or I’m going to die!’
WHITE IS WASHED OUT
The color white is in homes everywhere, be it walls or furniture. But according to the experts, it’s utterly boring.
Lindsie Davis, the principal designer of Blueberry Jones Design in Austin, Texas, told DailyMail.com she would be thrilled to see white walls kicked to the curb in 2025.
‘White walls are finally not the end all be all,’ she said.
Instead, she said, wallpaper is being used more than ever to really bring pop and character to a plain wall.
She added that she’s been seeing a lot of people opting to paint over their white ceilings or cover them in textured materials as ‘a way to add bold colors without feeling overwhelmed’.
‘Most people want to paint the ceiling white, but if you paint it the same as your walls, you actually are softening the room instead of creating this high contrast,’ she explained.
Elliott said: ‘If people are doing neutrals, then white, you know farmhouse white is kind of out.’
She also noted that while all-white kitchens are also supposedly on the way out, adding that she had recently completed two kitchens with light blue cabinets.
The color white is in homes everywhere, be it walls or furniture. But according to the experts, it’s utterly boring. (Pictured: File photo of an all-white kitchen)
Lindsie Davis (pictured), the principal designer of Blueberry Jones Design in Austin, Texas , told DailyMail.com she would be thrilled to see white walls kicked to the curb in 2025
‘If white kitchens are out I’m going to rejoice and celebrate,’ she said, adding that it’s an ‘unattainable ideal.’
‘Some people are saying that they are still in for 2025, but then, on the other hand, they’re saying color on kitchen cabinets,’ she said.
BEWARE BRIGHT COLORS
With white and gray dismissed as boring for 2025, many experts are pointing to using bold and bright colors instead. But owners must be careful.
‘Those deep moody tones that offer that sense of richness and sophistication – colors like jewel tones, deep greens, moody blues, plums, and yellow – are having a comeback,’ Davis said.
However, she warned that while yellow is ‘a great color’, it ‘has a time and a place.’
‘If not handled correctly, it could go south real quick – so that’s when I would urge caution for people,’ she said.
Elliott also described herself as a ‘yellow champion’ but acknowledged its difficulties.
‘Yellow as its own color is in, which is shocking to me because yellow is so hard to decorate. I’ve been a yellow champion for years and it’s a hard sell,’ she said.
Bold and bright colors are trending for 2025, but experts have warned home owners to be careful when opting for the unique shades. (Pictured: File photo of a bright yellow room)
Wendy Glaister (pictured), who runs Wendy Glaister Interiors in Modesto California, suggested homeowners may be keen to use bright colors ‘because they know that their home is their safe place’
Glaister said she has also seen bright colors really come into play this year, and suggested homeowners may be keen to use them ‘because they know that their home is their safe place’.
‘I think they’re a little more daring about expressing their personality, and color is probably the best way to do that,’ she said.
Contradictorily, Phoenix Grey, the principal designer for Orion Studios, noted that neutral colors tend to make interiors look more expensive.
Saturated colors tend to make homes look cheap and feel ‘more primary,’ he said.
He added that he is also not a huge fan of the new pattern drenching trend – the use of multiple patterns or colors in one space – as it can look disconnected, and warned that it must be executed by someone with a ‘super keen eye’ so it doesn’t look too busy.
DITCH WORD ART
When it comes to what goes on the wall, ‘inspirational’ word art that is often found at popular home retail stores such as HomeGoods is a ‘cardinal sin’ these days, according to Grey.
‘The ‘live, laugh, love’ sign, the ‘hope’ sign. Like, if you need to have a sign to give you hope, you need to go to a therapist,’ he said.
Grey, who frequently works on design projects across the US, added that word art in general is just an ‘absolute no for him’.
Word art, which is often found at popular home retail stores such as HomeGoods, is said to be old news in 2025. (Pictured: File photo of a ‘Live, Love, Laugh’ sign)
Phoenix Grey (pictured), the principal designer for Orion Studios, expressed his strong views about word art in homes, stating it’s ‘absolute no for him’
‘It has never looked good, it will never look good, and most of the time, the individuals that have the word art, they have multitudes of them all over the space,’ he continued.
‘People are buying them. They love the kitchen sign or a pantry sign, in case you didn’t know which room you are in. It gives the same energy as someone who has a tattoo that says ‘breathe’ on it,’ he joked.
Davis was quick to agree, adding: ‘I definitely don’t like word art. Do not like it at all.’
Grey also said he despises designer logos that people add to random objects in their homes.
‘They’re like ‘Oh we have a soap pump from Chanel’. No, Chanel doesn’t make soap pumps, your vinyl sticker that’s peeling off is not doing anything for you. It actually makes it look way cheaper than you think it does,’ he warned.
CUT OUT CURVES
In recent years, curved furniture, including couches, chairs and bed frames, have been considered very much ‘on trend’.
But the experts now claim the style is old news.
In recent years, curved furniture, including couches, chairs and bed frames, have been considered very much ‘on trend,’ but now, experts claim the style is old news. (Pictured: File photo of curved furniture)
Elliot said she is delighted that curved furniture is ‘definitively out’ for 2025.
‘It’s curves in general,’ she said when explaining the demise of the style. ‘Curved upholstered furniture, except for like the traditional barrel back lounge chair, but curved sofas, serpentine sofas.’
BEWARE BROWN FURNITURE
Davis claimed that the color brown, specifically in furniture, is ‘having its moment’.
But she fears it might go too far.
‘I think the part for me that gets a little worrisome is I don’t want to see the big, bulky brown [furniture] sets coming back,’ she said.
‘If people are not having a designer, and they’re like ‘Oh, brown for all the furniture’, and then they go back to the full room suite and it’s like brown’s back all over your room and every corner and wall – no, no, no, no, no!’
When it comes to brown walls, she noted that while the paint tones can be rich and beautiful, she can’t really get on board.
Davis claimed that the color brown, specifically in furniture, is ‘having its moment,’ but she fears it could be taken too far. (Pictured: Stock image of brown furniture set)
‘While I appreciate it and think it can be very pretty, I just don’t know that I would go wrap my walls in brown,’ Davis said.
If she were to use the color in a space, it would need to have a plum or purple undertone or something a little more red for it to work, Davis added.
DOING DRAPES RIGHT
Many designers pointed out that drapes are making a comeback this year – but urged homeowners to be careful not to go overboard.
Elliot said: ‘Drapes! People are very specifically talking about drapes. Not Roman shades, not café curtains, but actual drapes. Drapes are near and dear to my heart, I have to say.’
She even has a book coming out later this year called My Neighbor Saw Me Naked and Other Reasons You Need Drapes: The Essential Decorating Handbook.
Elliot explained that putting color or pattern on windows can help make a room feel cozy and much warmer.
But she warned: ‘The pundits, or whomever, the taste makers, are trying to push very elaborate drapes on us. I do not think that is going to take at all. Too reminiscent of the 80s. Too much!’
Many designers pointed out that drapes are making a comeback this year – but urged homeowners to be careful not to go overboard. (Pictured: Stock image of a home with drapes on its windows)
Davis added that while drapes have ‘come a long way’, they can easily look off if you don’t understand how they should be installed.
‘I’ve seen some crazy options now, like Amazon has their custom ready-made drapes and stuff,’ she said. ‘It looks great if done right, but do your research!’
She added that pillows bought at a store are also a big no no.
‘I feel like if you buy great foundation furniture pieces that are going to last and then you just go and throw some chintzy, ready made pillows – I can’t do it! It ruins the whole look,’ she explained.
‘You have to go the extra and create a unique set of pillows. That’s like jewelry for the room and when they don’t have the proper stuffing, that’s another issue.’
LIGHTING THE WAY
Sculptural lighting – or lighting designed around an ornate fixture – has taken over this year, according to many designers.
Glaister described it as ‘a new area of play’.
‘A light fixture is more about sculptural interest than it is about light. And so, you can just do so many amazing things now with lighting,’ she said.
Davis agreed, stating that there is ‘nothing greater’ than sculptural lighting.
‘I love that manufacturers are really finding a way to make it interesting. It’s creating more of an art form versus just a light.’
However, not everyone is on board.
Sculptural lighting – or lighting designed around an ornate fixture – has taken over this year, according to many designers. Some are for it, while others are not a huge fan. (Pictured: File photo of an abstract lighting fixture)
Elliot said she is not a fan of the lighting trend.
‘Lights should give light. They should be adjustable. You should be able to make them bright if you need them to be bright. You should be able to make them dim,’ she explained.
‘I’m looking at these light fixtures and my first thought is that doesn’t give any light. And my second thought is can we please rescue this sculpture hanging from the ceiling, the poor thing.’
Grey added that while unique lighting can be like a ‘piece of jewelry in a room,’ he said he detests ‘statement chandeliers’ and warned that going overboard could easily bring on ‘design fatigue.’
‘That’s why people get tired of trends and colors quickly because it’s just like a constant bombardment of your visual stimulation,’ he added.
