2025 Design Trends
There is no denying that designing a home that is both current and timeless is a big challenge. One comment that I hear from clients all too often is that they don’t want to go too bold or trendy on their design because they want their home to be appealing to prospective buyers 10 years from now. On the other hand, if you are designing a space that you don’t think will be your forever home, of course you might lean toward a more crowd pleasing look. While I generally like to advise my clients to design a home for themselves and no one else, I do see the flip side of this dilemma. There are so many design trends to take into account, not to mention the wonderful, out of the box ideas that make a home truly unique. In this article I would like to discuss the current design trends in the Pacific Northwest and which ones I think are here to stay.
Sustainable and eco-friendly materials - Unfortunately the building industry can be incredibly wasteful. Excess materials get thrown away at the end of a project, old furniture gets tossed out instead of re-homed. Luckily, with an increasing awareness of human’s impact on the environment, sustainability has been a growing trend. Using sustainable materials, such as bamboo, recycled metals and reclaimed wood, cut down on the need for harvesting new timber and mining for new metals. If you hire a LEED certified contractor, you know that they will be utilizing green practices. Because of our ever-increasing understanding of our planet and our fight against climate change, I am confident that this is a trend that is here to stay.
Biophilic design - This design concept is based in the belief that nature should be incorporated into our homes to foster a positive relationship with the environment and boost our mental health. I am a huge fan of this idea, and living in the PNW, I don’t think this trend is going anywhere. PNW homes have been decorated with exposed wooden beams, natural materials and nature-inspired art for as long as I can remember, and that trend holds strong today.
Minimalism - In a world where we can order anything we want and have it show up on our doorstep in less than 24 hours, minimalism is hot right now. We can so easily have more, more, more, and I think this concept has actually rebounded to make people want less. I see this trend present in design as well, with Scandinavian and Japandi styles being so popular. A simple, calming environment can be a salve for the hustle and bustle we experience in modern, capitalist America. However I have seen this trend ebb and flow. Maximalism, on the other hand, is a bold and boisterous, not to mention exciting, method of telling the world who we are. I see minimalism fading in popularity at some point, but I see if making its way back as well.
Earthy tones - I love me some earthy tones, and so do many others in the PNW. This is very trendy, yes, but living in an area so influenced by nature, earthy tones are everywhere we look. Your preferred color palette is obviously a very specific and personal choice, but I see even the most colorful clients lean toward neutral tones to create a calming atmosphere in their homes.
Modern rustic/farm house vibes - The combination of modern and old world styles is particularly popular right now. There is an obvious allure to clean, sleek designs that lend an ultra-modern vibe to a home. At the same time, as discussed previously, there is a tendency to reach toward the past for a slower, simpler life. Think floor to ceiling windows combined with hand woven baskets or handmade pottery. Metal architectural details and a framed photograph of your great grandfather’s plow. While this specific trend may fade at some point, I see the desire for the new and improved combined with life’s simple pleasures sticking around in some capacity.
If you like this article and want to discuss design trends in other areas, let me know and I would be happy to oblige!
