Interior Design Trends to Watch for in 2025

Every year, a few design trends dominate the home-furnishings marketplace. While I don’t believe in following trends too strictly, I do believe it’s important to keep up with industry shifts and the latest product offerings. For designers, High Point Market, which takes place twice a year in North Carolina, is the best place to do on-the-ground research. I made the trek to last month’s Fall Market and came away with tons of creative inspiration. Here are two of the top industry shifts I observed as I scoured dozens of showrooms over several days.

Feminine Silhouettes

Soft curves are in! I noticed plenty of rounded shapes at High Point. But one piece in particular stopped me in my tracks! Check out this tête-à-tête from Hickory Chair.

Isn’t it the epitome of glamour? It gives Old Hollywood or speakeasy vibes in the best possible way. It would be a sexy addition to a large bedroom sitting area. Or just imagine serving after-dinner drinks in a chic setting with this feminine piece as the crown jewel. The oval design encourages intimate conversation. The main reason I attend High Point Market is to source unique finds for our clients, and I can’t wait to place this one in an upcoming project!

I love how a half-oval of the same concept looks at the foot of a bed — an of-the-moment version of the traditional bedroom bench.

What a comfortable yet elegant perch for tying shoes and removing boots. And notice how the bolster pillow complements the feminine silhouette.

Adding a circular or oval cocktail or drinks table is an easy way to add some curves to a room…which segues nicely to another emerging design trend I noticed at Fall Market.

Flexible Furnishings

Our homes have to rise to a variety of occasions, from everyday life to formal entertaining. So movable, adaptable furniture makes perfect sense. The trend is catching on.

This bunching cocktail table from Sherrill Occasional was a brand-new introduction at the October market.

Its modular, three-part design offers tons of flexibility. There’s an upholstered ottoman in the middle; dark-wood half-ovals (more curves!) flank each end. The mobile pieces can be rearranged to suit the occasion or easily moved out of the way when hosting a large group. The versatile design can be a good solution in a small space, but the idea works well in large spaces too.

Drinks tables that can be moved around a space also offer stylish flexibility. And, luckily, beautiful options were everywhere at Fall Market. I’m obsessed with this alabaster and brass table from Hickory Chair.

With its straight lines and strong materials, the table offers a perfect counterpoint to the curvy tête-à-tête, as shown here,

Nesting tables can bring flexibility and functional beauty to any space, large or small. And, again, the market was chock full of great options. My favorite? This elegant pair, another incredible Hickory Chair offering.

I’m a sucker for anything that shimmers, and these mother-of-pearl tabletops had me at Hello.

Back in 2018, I did another post on High Point Market design trends. One theme from that year was shells. It still appears to be going strong.

Cordless lighting is also having a major moment — and for good reason. The beauty of cordless lighting is that it can go anywhere, without concern for the nearest outlet. For example, it solves the problem of placing a lamp on a sofa table that’s floating in a space. And, again, there was no shortage of practical-and-pretty options at High Point Market. Take a look at these beauties from Visual Comfort (the first one debuted at this fall’s event).

Even Visual Comfort’s light-bulb charging stations feature a stylish design that’s hardly an eyesore.

The stations come in different finishes and configurations, from singles to quads. Visual Comfort has clearly embraced the cordless lighting movement.

Final Thoughts on Design Trends

The word “trend” often gets a bad rap. Images of avocado refrigerators and orange shag carpet immediately come to mind. But some industry shifts, like the two I observed at High Point Market, have staying power. There’s nothing too trendy about the concept of balancing all the geometry and hard lines in a space with some gentle curves. Or creating a flexible furniture arrangement that meets a variety of needs. Sounds good, right?

I stay on top of the latest industry developments and offerings so I can bring clients the very best in design. Next month, I will share some random musings on my favorite finds from the Fall 2024 High Point Market. Stay tuned to see the furniture, rugs and accessories that caught my eye.

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