Our 2025 Interior Design Ins & Outs

It’s the time of year when we get to make our “In’s” and “Outs” roundups again! If you’ve been on social media, in the grocery store, or seen fashion trends for 2025, you know that playful, retro, vintage inspired, and nostalgic are in vogue. As we step into 2025, New York City interior design will continue to take a playful turn. The sleek, cool, modern aesthetic that dominated for so long? It’s giving way to something warmer, bolder, and much more fun. This year, we’re channeling the charm of 1950s and 1960s design—the kind of spaces you’d imagine in a scene from Mad Men. Think colorful, curated, and unapologetically nostalgic.

P.S. More design inspo in our 2025 interiors Pinterest board.

Here’s a rundown of what’s out and what’s in for 2025:

OUT: Over-the-Top Home Offices

IN: Integrated, Multifunctional Workspaces

Remember when we turned much of our precious NYC square footage into home offices, complete with huge desks, monitors, and ergonomic chairs? Those days are fading fast. With many people back in offices, home workspaces are becoming smaller and more intentional. A cozy nook with a chic chair and a laptop-friendly surface is all you need—so your living space can get back to being, well, livable.

OUT: Minimalism & Neutrals

IN: Maximalism & Primary Color Play

Gray-on-gray interiors? Hard pass. The neutral, minimalist look that dominated the 20-teens and has been replaced by Scandinavian inspired blonde woods, marble everything, and minimalism in the early 2020s will soon be overruled by personality-packed spaces. Enter maximalism: wallpaper that wows, dark wood furniture, and vibrant primary colors (hello, reds, blues, and yellows!). Even designers with heavy minimalist & mid-century modern inspiration are leaning towards these pops of color to bring energy and warmth. Imagine a dreamy Upper West Side apartment with a jewel-toned sofa—Carrie Bradshaw would approve.

OUT: Modern Open Layouts

IN: Defined, Traditional Spaces

Open floor plans had their moment, but who really wants their kitchen mess in full view of the living room? This year, we’re craving defined spaces that feel purposeful. Think separate dining rooms for dinner parties that rival When Harry Met Sally, cozy living rooms made for curling up with friends, and kitchens that can keep their secrets (and their dishes). It’s about creating spaces that celebrate entertaining, connection, and a little bit of privacy.

OUT: TVs as Living Room Centerpieces

IN: Concealed Entertainment

A 50 inch flatscreen TV is a right of passage in the American home. Even the chic Samsung Frame TV can’t compete with this year’s big trend: hiding the TV entirely. Built-ins, sliding artwork, or just moving it to a secondary space are the new go-tos. It’s all about making the living room feel more like a place for hosting and less like a Netflix zone. There's nothing more elegant and refined than an apartment dinner party with no screens in sight, just a room buzzing with energy, good food, a beautiful tablescape, and conversation.

2025 is bringing us interiors with personality, nostalgia, and a sense of fun—just like the city itself. So, whether you’re designing your dream Upper East Side pied-à-terre or sprucing up your Brooklyn brownstone, these trends will make your space feel like nostalgia itself.