Bold, retro, and serene: The 3 interior design trends taking over Aussie homes in 2025

This year, more is more when it comes to interior design in Australia, with a focus on wellness and old school flair. At least that’s what Australia’s largest online furniture and homewares retailer is reporting…

Setting out to identify the next interior design trends for 2025, Temple & Webster conducted their first ever Trend Report released earlier this month. Informed by millions of customer interactions and shopping behaviours, the report identifies a significant shift toward bold self-expression, nostalgic comfort, and wellness-focused living spaces.

From this research, they have identified three major design movements: Mix & Max, Past Forward, and Sumptuous Sanctuaries.

“We’re seeing Australians become more confident in their design choices, moving away from safe, matchy-matchy interiors and toward spaces that truly reflect their personality,” said Lucy Sutherland, director of insights and trends at Temple & Webster.

“At the same time, there’s a strong desire for homes that actively support wellbeing and provide respite from our fast-paced world.”

The Mix & Max trend

• This trend's for you if you are: An unapologetic individualist who wants your home to tell a story, spark a feeling, or make a statement.
• Must have: Pops of colour and gingham patterns 
• Focal furniture: A wavy lamp
• Expert tip: Use your artwork as a colour guide! Pick out the colours you like and repeat them throughout the space, such as cushions, rugs, and knick knacks on shelves.

Taking inspiration from high fashion’s maximalist approach, the Mix & Max trend embraces bold colour clashes, unexpected pattern combinations, and sculptural furniture pieces.

Temple & Webster has already seen shifts towards this trend as reflected by its customer data, with sales of wavy furniture having increased by 29%. Searches for boucle beds have also jumped 286%, reflecting Australians’ embrace of playful designs.

The Past Forward trend

• This trend's for you if you are: A nostalgic person who desires warmth, familiarity, and joy in your home.
• Must have: Rust, terracotta, and merlot coloured pieces 
• Focal furniture: Walnut coffee table 
• Expert tip: Bar carts are a fun way to add a 70s style focal point to your living area, perfect when entertaining!

Driven by a desire for comfort and familiarity, the Past Forward trend reimagines 1970s and 80s aesthetics through a contemporary lens.

Leading into this trend and in a nod to nostalgic colours and materials, merlot-coloured furniture sales have increased by 32%, while searches for walnut timber pieces have risen 95%, with “walnut coffee table” searches up 115%.

The Sumptuous Sanctuaries trend

• This trend's for you if you are: All about slowing down and switching off through comfort-first design, where you want home to be your sanctuary.
• Must have: Ribbed travertine accents 
• Focal furniture: A cosy swivel armchair 
• Expert tip: Add greenery to embrace biophilic design. Green soothes the senses, while natural shapes and textures bring tranquillity and a deeper connection to nature.

Responding to growing wellness consciousness, the Sumptuous Sanctuaries trend is all about creating luxury restorative spaces through natural materials, curved shapes, and calming colour palettes.

The research conducted by Temple & Webster uncovered that 57% of Australians feel the need to create a reflective space at home. It makes sense then that searches such as “swivel armchairs” have increased by 185%, reflecting Aussies’ love for comfortable and versatile seating options.

The trend toward quiet luxury and natural materials is also evident, with marble and travertine product sales increasing by 25%.

“These trends reflect broader cultural shifts,” Lucy explained.

“Mix & Max represents our growing confidence in personal expression, Past Forward taps into our need for emotional comfort during uncertain times, and Sumptuous Sanctuaries responds to the wellness movement and our understanding that our environment directly impacts our mental health.”

Whether you’re styling your first home or reimagining your forever one, reports like these can act as your inside guide to the future of interior design trends, from brands that are helping to shape it.

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