Trend forecasting is partly a skill honed through years of experience and partly an art fueled by instinct. Here at House Beautiful, we spend a lot of the year shining a light on the trends we and other experts predict will bubble up and dominate in the upcoming months and years, such as whimsigoth and bookshelf wealth (remember that one?). But you can’t talk about what’s going to be in without also focusing on what’s going to be out. Entering a new year is all about starting over—these are the trends that dominated in 2024 that the experts do not want to see in 2025.
Extreme Maximalism
There’s a fine line between a tasteful maximalist space and something that feels extremely cluttered, and Gideon Mendelson from Mendelson Group says that we’ve veered too far towards the latter in 2024. “These chaotic rooms make me uncomfortable! True maximalism requires a more detailed eye, meticulously layering color, pattern, and texture,” he says.
Peter Spalding, co-founder of Daniel House Club, agrees. Don’t get him wrong: He’s a fan of maximalism. However, he believes there needs to be more restraint when it comes to designing these types of spaces, pointing to Katie Ridder (who he interned under) as a prime example of how to do it right. “In her work, there’s a lot of thought about what individual pieces are saying to one another and how the whole is responding to the architecture,” Spalding says. If you want to create or alter your maximalist interior in 2025, try a slow decorating approach.
Sterile Minimalism
On the other end of the spectrum, designers are tired of seeing bare interiors too. Minimalism has its place, says designer John Stivale, co-founder of Stivale Graffam Home, but he thinks some of us have leaned into the trend too much, creating interiors that feel completely devoid of life. Mendelson echoes this opinion, saying these all white places can feel cold and impersonal when not done right.
All Beige Everything
Similar to sterile minimalism, Steven Graffam—co-founder of Stivale Graffam Home—does not want to see the all-beige-everything aesthetic brought into 2025. “Although neutral tones can be calming, too much beige in every room became monotonous,” he says, adding that he’d rather see dynamic color palettes with playful tones throughout the home.
Large Central Light Fixtures
Anyone with a TikTok or Instagram account knows about the plight of the Big Light, and designer Meghan Jay is ready to toss it aside for moody accent lighting instead. “In 2024, the trend was to install large, central light fixtures. And while chandeliers can create a dramatic moment, they don’t necessarily add to the overall ambience of a room,” she says. For 2025, Jay is definitely going to take a page out of Gen Z’s book and opt for layered lighting for moody, cozy spaces.
Scallop Detailing
Scallop detailing is timeless in interior design—in moderation, that is. But due to an excess of scallop-detailed pieces, Jay says the look now feels “juvenile” rather than elegant and whimsical. “The goal of the trend was to introduce organic shapes and a touch of whimsy,” she says. “While I appreciate the nod to nature and the variation in texture, this trend now feels cutesy.”
Organically-Shaped Furniture
Similarly to scalloped accents, Jay is ready to leave behind organically-shaped coffee tables, as well. Kidney shapes and coffee tables that “look like tree trunks,” as the designer puts it, are tired and overdone. She explains that varying mediums and shapes in interiors is a good thing, but these too-literal interpretations of organic design feel out of place in a room with more refined pieces.
Too Much Fluting
Excessive fluting and channeling is another trend Spalding doesn’t want to see in 2025. “I’m done with it because it makes rooms hum just a bit too much for my liking,” he says. When fluting is done in low relief on pilasters and credenzas, for example, it gives off an air of sophistication. When done in high relief on essentially every piece of furniture, it’s repetitive and overbearing.
Clunky, Curvy Furniture
Apparently, this Gen Z design trend is already on the chopping block. Though Mendelson admits that curvy furniture has a place in modern interiors, “throwing it in any room can feel bulky and awkward.” You can’t just throw one of those bubble chairs into any room and expect it to look cool—it still needs to fit into a curated space. So beware: if you buy curvy furniture simply because it’s trending at the moment, then you’re going to grow tired of it a lot faster.
So. Much. Bouclé.
Designers Gillian Segal and Chrissy Jones seem to think we’ve finally hit peak bouclé. Segal explains that while she still loves the material, she clarifies that she only wants authentic wool bouclé, not the polyester blend you often find now.
“While I love the texture and coziness of boucle, I feel it’s been overused to the point of losing its impact,” Jones says. Bouclé is one of those materials that works in moderation. “Good design should be accessible for all, but I think the over-saturation of this look has made the material feel very ubiquitous,” Segal adds.
Chrissy Jones’s own bouclé chairs. “I still love the fabric, don’t get me wrong, I just need it to not be in every single project,” she says.
Knock-Off Furniture
We don’t think any designer would disagree with this one, but Segal calls it out. “The Internet has turned so many great pieces into ‘fast trends,’ which is heartbreaking to see,” says the designer. Taking classic and original designs and producing “dupes,” aka “throw-away” pieces, as she puts it, is disappointingly common. “I would love to see larger companies supporting more makers and original design,” Segal adds.
Wiggle Trend
Wiggles are another classic Gen Z trend that got a lot of traction in 2024. Jones believes that while they can be playful and bold in decor, they’re not very timeless. “As a designer, I’m always aiming to create spaces that age gracefully, and the wiggle trend feels too fleeting for that,” she says.
Slatted Wood Accent Wall
Jerel Lake, a designer who’s part of our 2024 Next Wave class, calls slatted wood accent walls a “time-stamped” detail, likening it to shiplap or a painted accent wall. “This trend is a popular way to add texture and accent to walls, but can often look forced and unfinished in a space if not done correctly,” Lake says.
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