What The Pros Are Saying About 5 Top Home Design Trends For 2025

The American Society of Interior Designers, a leading professional association for this industry, recently released its 2025 Trends Outlook Report, covering what designs will be popular this year. This includes a number of features that enhance a home’s wellness potential, (the focus of last week’s article), as well as those that upgrade its sustainability, technology and outdoor living potential. I asked three designers from three different regions of the country how these top 2025 home design trends are showing up in their projects. They are:

1. Sustainability

“Sustainability has become an essential part of design,” Madhyani declares, pointing out that “Clients today are looking for more than just energy efficiency — they want materials and finishes that are healthier for their homes, responsibly sourced, and built to last.”

Kelly agrees. “Sustainability conversations have shifted toward holistic wellness—clients are as concerned about air and water quality as they are about energy efficiency.” In addition to these family health concerns, homeowners are most willing to invest in high-performance windows, energy-efficient appliances, and low-VOC materials that enhance planetary health, but she caveats this by noting that spending tends to cap around 10-15% premiums.

Even in Texas, long one of the country’s premiere oil and gas centers, sustainability is a trend with homeowners, Sanders reports. “Clients today are looking for ways to blend beauty with responsibility, and conversations often center around both efficiency — saving energy and resources — and wellness, particularly reducing toxins in their home environment,” the Dallas-based designer says. “When it comes to investment, I find that clients are willing to spend more on sustainability when they see a direct benefit — either in long-term cost savings or an improvement in their quality of life. High-efficiency HVAC systems, solar panels (especially after the disastrous Texas winter storm), smart energy solutions, and toxin-free materials are areas where they’re most likely to stretch their budgets.” A price ceiling holds for her clients too, she says, giving a 10% to 15% range of tolerance.

Madhyani is seeing that same cap, but observes that sustainable choices, while potentially costing more to purchase, can save homeowners money in the long run, both on their water and energy bills, as well as on healthcare bills. “When it comes to where clients are willing to invest, the focus is on high-impact areas where sustainability and function intersect. Kitchens and bathrooms see the biggest upgrades,” she notes.

2. Lighting Innovations

“Circadian lighting is gaining traction, particularly among health-conscious and aging populations,” Kelly comments, noting, “I’ve noticed that younger generations gravitate toward color-changing LEDs and customizable lighting experiences, while older clients prioritize warm-dim technologies and motion-activated solutions.” Madhyani is seeing this trend, as well, along with customizable LED systems and intuitive automation.

“What’s exciting is how much more intuitive lighting automation has become, making it accessible across generations,” Sanders says. “Younger clients seamlessly integrate voice controls and app-based settings, while older generations appreciate the simplicity of preset scenes and user-friendly controls. No matter the age, one thing is clear—everyone wants lighting that enhances their lifestyle without unnecessary complexity,” the Dallas designer comments.

3. Smart Homes

Along with circadian lighting, smart climate, touchless automation, (including motion-activated faucets), voice-controlled security, and keyless entry are of interest, Madhyani shares. “Features like automated shading, AI-driven temperature control, and discreet security enhancements make homes more responsive, adaptable, and effortless to live in,” she adds.

Kelly’s clients are ranking smart lighting, security, and climate control highest on their wish lists, she says. Security and personalization are major priorities for Sanders’ clientele, she says. “Smart locks, integrated surveillance, and remote-controlled shading devices are some of the most appreciated features, giving homeowners peace of mind and the ability to tailor their space to their needs.”

4. Adaptive Living

“Aging in place is no longer an afterthought — it’s an integral part of the conversation,” Kelly declares. “While requests surged post-2020, the AIP movement has steadily grown for over a decade,” she points out. Common updates include curbless showers, wider doorways, and well-lit staircases, while luxury touches range from voice-activated controls to wellness spas and integrated home lifts, the California designer notes.

This is true across the country. “The demand for adaptable spaces has grown significantly, especially post-pandemic, as clients take a more proactive approach to future-proofing their homes,” Madhyani says. It’s showing up for her New York area luxury clients in dual primary suites and guest cottages for privacy-friendly multigenerational living and smart home enhancements to automate lighting, security and climate.

“The most common upgrades I see are in the bathroom — integrating zero-entry showers, stylish yet functional grab bars, and better lighting for safety,” Sanders says. “Luxury adaptations go beyond accessibility; they focus on enhancing quality of life. Full kitchen remodels with ergonomic design, smart appliances, and custom storage solutions allow clients to continue enjoying their space with ease. Ultimately, aging in place isn’t just about accommodation —I t’s about maintaining independence, dignity, and joy in a home that evolves with its owner’s needs.”

5. Outdoor Integration

Outdoor integration is a cornerstone of luxury design, Madhyani observes. “For me, the outdoor space is just as important as the interiors — whether it’s a condo overlooking the water or a home nestled among pine trees, I always consider how the surroundings shape the way we live.” Clients aren’t just asking for patios or decks, she says, they want spa-like primary suites with open-air showers and meditation gardens, living spaces that dissolve into covered terraces with fire features, and home offices with floor-to-ceiling windows and adjacent green spaces.

Outdoor living has long been a hallmark of California design, as Kelly well knows. What’s more recent is its very sophisticated ties throughout the home. “We’re seeing the strongest integration in primary suites, living areas, and kitchens, with retractable walls, covered patios, and biophilic design elements like green walls and water features.”

“I see homeowners prioritizing outdoor connections that enhance their daily experience — whether it’s a home office strategically positioned to capture serene backyard views or a living space that blurs the lines between indoors and out with expansive sliding doors,” Sanders shares.

Technology is also playing a role, she notes. “Smart home advancements allow homeowners to embrace these open transitions with confidence, integrating security cameras, automated shading, and climate control to make outdoor living more comfortable year-round. The goal is to create an effortless flow—whether it’s extending the living room for entertaining or designing a primary suite retreat where nature becomes part of the relaxation experience.”

Conclusions

“Luxury today isn’t about more space, but better space,” Madhyani declares, and I agree. While many of the trends in the ASID report reflect premium upgrades, there is a design trend I call “democratization,” in which in-demand luxury features become mass-produced and more widely attainable over time, thus becoming available and affordable not just to the mansion client but the condo, townhouse and tract homeowner as well. Building codes, like CALGreen for the nation’s largest market, also drive mass pricing and have made the LEDs responsible for circadian lighting ubiquitous.