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Well-lit bedroom with bold paint color and neutral tones mixed in for bedding and decor

Timeless Home Design Tips for 2025 and Beyond

byStacy G
March 3, 2025
6 minute read

Will your home decor age like fine wine or 1970s shag carpet?

Image on left shows a dated 70s kitchen with orange and green floral wallpaper, shaggy carpet, orange countertops, and avocado green counters. The kitchen on the right shows a small island, marble countertops, white cabinets, and champagne colored hardware.
My grandma had a kitchen like this in the 1990s, although it was much darker then. The kitchen on the right shows a farm sink which some stylists think is going out, along with high-quality, multi-ton marble countertops, champagne hardware and fixtures, and a smaller island as homes today are now shifting away from massive ones.

Days are getting longer. Winter’s end is within sight. And home design is in the air. Spring is the perennial season to change up paint colors and incorporate the year’s newest trends. 

2025 is my year: I love bold, playful, and colorful. I was a maximalist before I even knew what that term meant. But I also don’t want to decorate my home in a way that screams cheugy a decade from now. 

The person who spends a fortune on the next avocado-green appliances or orange Formica countertops?

I am not the one.

Panatone's color of they ear for 2025 is Mocha Mousse 17-1230, an earthy shade that looks a bit like mushroom mixed with drops of champagne.

Just like owning a home, the design within is an investment. I want to make choices that will last well beyond next year’s Pantone Color of the Year, which I reckon, could become tomorrow’s avocado green. 

So, I talked to Dawn Costello, a seasoned real estate agent with  Douglas Elliman and HGTV alum, to get her take on what’s trending, what’s fading, and how to make design choices that will stand the test of time. 

Tips to keep your home timeless 

1. Start with neutral basics

Neutral, basic living room. Light tan L-sectional with 6 tan and brown colored throw tables, wood floor, glass and wood coffee table. Plants, wood shelves, copper colored and earth-toned accents.
Neutral, basic living room. Image source: Canva Premium.

Dawn recommends using soft, neutral colors for walls and primary furniture pieces. “This aligns well with Pantone’s 2025 color of the year — Mocha Mousse,” she notes. Neutrals create a calming, flexible base, and you can always add personality with easy-to-swap accents like throw pillows, blankets, or statement vases. 

Want to go bold? Try it in a smaller space like a powder room or on an accent wall that can easily be primed and repainted later. 

2. Splurge where it counts

High end marble or quartz slab island. Multiple colors showing black, cream, beige, brown, tan. Three rattan bar stools there along with kitchen sink and dark faucet.
High-end island made from eye-catching stone. Image source: Canva Premium.

Not every part of your home needs a luxury makeover, but Dawn advises investing where it matters. “Quality kitchen cabinets and countertops are always a good idea,” says Dawn. “They look great, last for years, and add real value to your home.”

3. Add a sprinkling of character 

Dining room table set for 8 in open sunny room. Large windows with molding around and molding over large entry way or room opening from dining room to living room.
Molding adds character to the dining room. Image source: Canva Premium.

Small architectural updates can make a big impact, says Dawn. “Upgrading moldings, baseboards, and doors with nice millwork instantly elevates a space,” Dawn says.

It’s a subtle, small splash of character, but home buyers love these extra details. These little extras can increase your home’s value if you sell down the road. 

4. Less is more

Well-decorated but not over-decorated niche. Nook about size of a walk in closet in front of floor to ceiling windows with area rug, two soft velvet chairs, small side table, few plants, and three wall hangings.
Photo by Rachel Claire.

Dawn believes in a less-is-more approach, as a clutter-free space always feels more refined. “Editing out excess knick-knacks gives your favorite pieces a chance to shine,” Dawn explains. 

Design choices are more intentional which creates a more inviting, curated atmosphere. 

5. Match your home’s vibe

Midcentury house with hardwood floors and clean walls (no molding) is decorated with mid-century furnishings including a small sofa with clean lines, record albums, and wood credenza.
Photo by Charlotte May.

Your home’s architecture should be your design guidepost. “Stick to a consistent theme or style throughout the house so each room flows into the next effortlessly,” Dawn suggests. A little uniformity in finishes and colors, like carrying the same tile or paint colors from room to room, can create a polished finish. 

Want to change it up and incorporate a little of 2025 into your own? Dawn’s got some advice on how to do it smart for a timeless home design approach that you’ll love for years to come.  

Natural textures everywhere

Living room with wood floor, painted white brick, rattan chair, plants, and lots of lights. Has an airy outdoor feel.
Photo by Charlotte May.

Remember when exposed red brick and poured concrete floors were everywhere? Nature’s taking over in a big way. 

“Wicker, rattan, and natural wood aren’t just for patios anymore — they’re becoming key elements in living rooms and bedrooms,” Dawn shares. 

Stone is also taking center stage in flooring, furniture, and dramatic fireplace surrounds, adding an organic, grounded feel.

Lighting that makes a statement

Dining room or kitchen eating area with different shades of green, mix of textures including velvet and faux fur, plants, mirror, and two lighting fixtures that are a gold-bronze color that look like decorative art objects objets d'art.
Image source: Canva Premium.

Forget basic overhead track lights. In 2025, it’s all about lighting as art. Bold pendants, oversized chandeliers, and sculptural lamps are bringing the spotlight. And it’s not just indoors; homeowners can uplight patios, fences, pathways, and other outdoor elements to illuminate entertaining spaces. 

String of outdoor lighting - large bulbs on string - hung across an outdoor deck in the woods to illuminate space with two wood reclining suntan chairs and picnic table.
Photo by Ron Lach.

Additionally, with affordable solar options, exterior lighting is becoming more accessible.

For example, this 48-foot string of outdoor lights at Lowe’s is on sale for $39.99. It comes with flexible options for USB or outdoor solar charging and is waterproof, heat-resistant, and frost-resistant. 

Wallpaper’s continued comeback 

Image courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.: Citrus Grove Peel & Stick Wallpaper – Black.

Wallpaper is “in” again. People are fearlessly papering their walls with sleek designs, bold floral, or whimsical patterns. 

And it’s not hard to hang. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is making it easy to embrace this trend. When you’re tired of the design, says Dawn, “Just peel it off off and try something new.” 

Dawn’s favorite wallpaper brands for a range of stylish options include Tempaper & Co., Rifle Paper Co., and Serna & Lily. 

Murals that wow

Screen grab from https://tempaper.com/collections/removable-wall-murals/products/grand-palm-wall-mural. Shows dark grey and cream palm trees wall mural that is peeled and applied in bedroom by indigo blue velvet headboard and rust and mustard colored throw pillows.
Tempaper & Co.: Grand Palm Peel and Stick Wall Mural

While you may have heard that murals are going out, as an active realtor, Dawn sees otherwise. She notices big bold, murals are showing up everywhere, showcasing everything from jungle scenes to metallic abstracts. 

Homeowners can go all-out and hire an artist to paint a custom design or keep things simpler with peel-and-stick options. “It’s an easy way to turn a blank wall into a showstopper,” says Dawn.  

Reading nooks 

Under the stairs reading nook. Wall is wallpapered with peel and stick floral. Four large storage boxes on floor and daybed mattress atop, mirrors, pillows, throw blanket.
The “After” image of a space makeover. Area under the stairs converted to a cozy reading nook for $400. Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy.

Built-in bookshelves, dedicated reading corners, and other book nooks are making a big comeback. “Books are becoming focal points in home offices and living spaces—not just for function, but for aesthetic appeal,” Dawn points out.

What’s finally fading

Open concept everything

Open space floor plan in a home but floor-to-wall wood book shelf is used to define different spaces.
With open-space floor plans, people are opting for defined living spaces with shelving features and other dividers. Image source: Canva Premium.

​​For years, open floor plans have been the ultimate real estate must-have. It seemed like having “sightlines” to the kids while prepping dinner was as critical as working smoke detectors and egress windows for basement bedrooms. 

But according to Dawn, that’s shifting. “Back in my HGTV days, it felt like every homebuyer demanded an open concept. But personally? I’m glad to see it go.” 

The pandemic, says Dawn, made people realize they want separate, defined spaces. “After spending so much time at home, people are craving privacy again.”

Farmhouse overload

White wall with shiplap. Black hardware to mount two huge sliding barnyard doors that open / conceal a matching barnyard-feel living room.
Sliding barn door is a quintessential element of farmhouse chic. Image source: screen grab from Magnolia Homes blog.

Shiplap, sliding barn doors, and rustic farmhouse everything? It had a good run, but it’s time to move on. 

“The full-on farmhouse look is feeling tired,” Dawn says. Instead, design is moving toward a more refined, eclectic mix of styles. 

This means everything doesn’t have to be so matchy-matchy, like getting 3-piece coordinated bedroom sets (or 4-piece ones like the set my husband and I have). 

It also means that inspirational word art on reclaimed wood is also past its prime. Those signs are looking dated — not to mention tacky and contrived. 

Even without the hanging notice, visitors will still know that “Love lives here.” 

So, will your home age gracefully?

Trends come and go, but a well-designed home should always feel comfortable, stylish, and like you. 

Thanks to Dawn Costello’s expert advice, we have a solid blueprint for keeping our spaces fresh without getting stuck in design déjà ew.

Whether you’re updating your home for resale or just want to make your space feel more inviting, these suggestions can help your home design strike the right balance between contemporary and timeless. 

What design trends are you excited about — or happy to see fade away?

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