To identify something as being on-trend is arguably signalling its impending demise. No one wants their home to feel predictable or time-stamped, but some design details have an undeniable surge in popularity, and it’s impossible not to observe when that happens. Whether it’s a shape, a material, a decorative movement or a colour having a moment in the spotlight, it doesn’t mean its days are numbered. Beautiful, well-made objects will always be timeless. Read on for six details and micro-trends that couldn’t escape our attention this year…
Pewter
Stainless steel has been riding a wave of renewed popularity in the past few years, along with its cool-toned cousins nickel, aluminium, and chrome. They overshadowed classic brass as the industrial 1990s and early 2000s influences came back into focus, and while it goes without saying that brass remains timeless, it has taken a backseat in terms of hype. In 2025, pewter has been noticeably gathering momentum – it’s silver in tone, but pewter looks softer and more characterful than high-shine stainless steel or chrome. Buy classic cutlery and serveware from brands like Cosi Tabellini (now stocked in Liberty), or look to contemporary designs such as the winged pewter candle sconces launched this year by Tat London founder, Charlie Porter. For vintage pewter vases, seek out old Svenskt Tenn designs (translated, it literally means Swedish Pewter), as it’s what the iconic brand was first known for.
Going semi-bespoke
At one point in time, having something made especially for your home would have felt quite swish – the kind of experience reserved for the wealthy, the well-connected, or those working with interior designers. Now, with easier access to makers and brands such as Maro Home, The House Upstairs and Côte de Folk, upholstery designs can be tweaked to fit your specific size and fabric requirements, and as social media trend fatigue leaves us seeking more individual, personalised homes, we’re leaning into any opportunity to create a piece that was made just for us. Likewise with British homeware brands such as Alfred Newall, Folie Chambre and Galvin Brothers – their designs can be made to fit your home without it feeling like an excessively fancy process. Curtain brands such as Nordic Knots and Gotain will whip you up a blind or pair of curtains in the exact size you need, and rugs brands like Pelican House, Seagrass Story and A Rum Fellow will work with you to customise the colour or size so that your finished rug is a perfect fit for the space.
Oxblood red
We’ve been painting the town red this year, and while red is a highly stimulating colour that should be used with caution in postbox-adjacent hues (depending on the purpose of the room), it does tend to lift any space it appears in. For 2025, though, red has moved beyond the vibrant ‘unexpected red theory’ playbook (itself an age-old decorating trick), and it’s a much earthier, richer, and more mellow colour to live with. Oxblood red and similar wine-esque maroon tones have been hard to miss, and if you spend any time perusing Pinterest, you’ve likely noticed how frequently the colour appears. Deep reds have been used everywhere from walls to curtains to kitchen cabinets, and while oxblood makes a cosy partner to colour-of-the-moment brown, if you plan to lift it with something less moody, oxblood is also tip-top with chartreuse green. Alternatively, since shades of lilac, plum and mauve have been welcomed back into the fold in recent years, they’ll complement brown and oxblood perfectly for a berry-toned palette. On walls, this enveloping colour makes a super backdrop for artwork, but it doesn’t need to be seen on a large scale to make an impact – it’s also lovely as an accent.
Nostalgic decorating
When times feel stressful or uncertain, we seek comfort in good memories and nostalgia, and the most natural place to find that solace is at home. Even if the decision to seek familiarity is subconscious, you might glance up one day to realise you’ve created a modern-day tribute to the kitchen from your childhood home. Hallmarks from ‘80s and ‘90s interiors have been making their way back into our homes for several years – think Terence Conran, industrial metal shelving in kitchens, Tolomeo task lamps, tapered lampshades and relaxed skirted sofas. But beyond aesthetics, this is decorating for a feeling and not just a look. The yearning for days gone by has been building, and brands such as J.Crew and Ralph Lauren are capitalising on their heyday imagery. In fact, ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ has been trending on TikTok as a decorating theme this year. In non-festive terms, that has meant returning to what we know, and introducing those comforting accents in a way that feels like a nod to happy memories, rather than a time capsule.
Embellished versions of ordinary objects
This season, a surefire crowd-pleaser gift under £100 is Matilda Goad’s new brass or silver-plated matchbox sleeve, studded with lapis or tiger's eye stones. Small brands such as US-based Sophie Buhai have also been creating luxury pieces such as refillable lighters and candle votives with bezel-set stones, and jewellery brands like Alighieri have expanded into cutlery that’s so decorative you’d want to keep it on display. Designer Natalia Criado has a full collection of jewellery-inspired accessories (such as a martini vessel with decorative chains dangling from the rim), and this writer recently bought a vintage metal jewellery box inlaid with pieces of semi-precious stone that felt more ornate than its contents. Abask has a particularly superb edit of objects that elevate everyday experiences, such as a sterling silver woven bread basket, or a silver Christofle butter dish. Whether it’s new brands creating exceptional versions of ordinary items for the people who have everything, or a classic piece such as the Bodum ‘Ottoni’ kettle, we’re increasingly seeing household objects so beautiful that they feel like a treat to see and to use.
Sculptural forms
We’ve arguably moved on from the pretty and – some might say – twee florals and scalloped edges that could be bundled in with the cottagecore aesthetic of a few years ago. Similarly there was a moment circa Lockdown when we couldn’t move without bumping into a striped or speckled Murano glass, a splatterware plate or a vase in the shape of a human body. In 2025, we’re intentionally eschewing pieces that feel like they’re part of an Instagram-friendly craze, instead seeking decorative pieces that are more abstract, sculptural, and less likely to be seen in every house on the street. We’re thinking of homeware such as ornate Bollenglass glassware, L’Objet’s Dali-esque Spirale cutlery range, Sister by Studio Ashby’s new Grace table, Jess Wheeler’s bronze wall sconces and Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s toast rack and candleholder. Think forms inspired by the natural world and functional homeware that feels like a piece of art.
