- Interior design in 2025 will focus on texture and natural materials, with a Japandi influence.
- Ken Crosson’s Boathouse Bay won 2024’s Home of the Year for its sustainable, community-focused design.
- Designers urge quality materials and timeless elements, warning against trends driven by social media algorithms.
If you like texture and natural materials in your home, then 2025 is the year for you as interior design moves toward cosy. But don’t let Instagram or Pinterest’s algorithm dictate your choices and beware of soulless, car-orientated developments.
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Philippa Whitaker, of Trinity Interior Design, says her clients have shifted away from the clean lines and cool tones of the past few years to texture and natural materials.
“We certainly went through that phase where everyone was getting rid of their textured walls and ceilings, but they’re back and so are the warmer tones but it’s more of a Japandi [a cross between Scandinavian and Japanese design] feel,” she tells OneRoof.
Think bronzes and brass for your tap wear and matt finishes on your bathroom basins. Wood panelling and even textured wall-papers are having a comeback.
Edges are also softer with round curved furniture and even rounded kitchen islands with panelling details, but it’s also worth thinking about how one cleans among all those grooves and wood panels where dust and grime can certainly gather.
Japandi - a cross between Scandinavian and Japanese design - will be big in 2025. Photo / Getty Images
“The panelling is making a comeback just in certain areas and you do want to think carefully about where you are using it,” Whitaker says.
“Think about how you’re designing your bathrooms and kitchens for longevity. It’s easy to change wallpaper or a wall colour, sofas or cushions but it’s much harder to switch out fixed items in your design.”
Sarah Foote, of Sarah Foote Design, says people should be thinking about the quality of materials and timeless designs.
She encourages homeowners to invest in enduring elements rather than fleeting trends, especially for significant features like kitchens and bathrooms.
“While trends fade, quality materials that are easy to maintain offer both longevity and beauty,” she says.
And beware of the Instagram or Pinterest aesthetic, which can drag you down an algorithm rabbit hole.
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“You might start looking there for ideas but as you do the algorithm starts feeding you more of the same look you have already viewed rather than really broadening your design idea base,” Foote tells OneRoof.
She also says not every room needs to be a feature and suggests homeowners consider sustainability as a cornerstone of their design.
“Whatever you do, in a Marie Kondo-ish way, make sure it sparks joy for you because it’s going to be there for a long time."
Ken Crosson, of Crosson Architects, the designer of Boathouse Bay, the Home of the Year winner for 2024, says Boathouse Bay is an example of where New Zealand should be heading with architectural design and land usage.
Sarah Foote, of Sarah Foote Design: "Whatever you do, make sure it sparks joy for you because it’s going to be there for a long time." Photo / Samantha Donaldson
It is the first time in the award’s history where a multi-unit project has won the top accolade, and Crosson says sustainability and respecting our natural environment are at the heart of the design.
Boathouse Bay, saw a large home replaced by 33 smaller residences with shared community spaces, serving as a model for promoting social cohesion and environmental responsibility.
Crosson says sustainability is crucial in modern design and we must be considering climate change in all our design decisions moving away from car-centric suburban sprawl to densifying sites but with design that is done well.
“I think there’s a real danger in New Zealand at the moment that this is not happening. Drive north or south out of Auckland and what is being built is a series of soulless developments that are car-orientated on productive land.”
Ken Crosson: "If you know your neighbour, you're mentally stronger than if you’re anonymous and separated from them." Photo / Supplied
Crosson Architects’ Boathouse Bay development won 2024's Home of the Year award. Photo / Supplied
“At Boathouse Bay we developed 33 homes with a series of community spaces and green space. It accommodates younger people, and older people resulting in a socially cohesive community.”
He stresses good design can support community mental health and well-being by encouraging interaction between neighbours and says the current trend of isolated suburban developments was doing the exact opposite.
“You’ve got to be able to see your neighbour ... if you know your neighbour, you’re mentally stronger than if you’re anonymous and separated from them.”
He highlighted the growing trend of designing homes with smaller footprints but with an emphasis on space efficiency and making quality spaces that feel bigger through light, higher ceilings, and the efficient use of space.
“With the smaller footprint, and efficiency we can make it feel bigger than it actually is and function well.”
There was also a strong focus on reducing the energy and maintenance costs of homes optimising orientation and ensuring efficient insulation and low-maintenance materials.
“The biggest cost of home ownership is actually maintenance and running costs. Good design does not necessarily need to cost more but requires thought and problem-solving.”
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