Still hunting for “mid-century modern” and “wabi-sabi” inspiration on Pinterest? We have news: those looks are quietly slipping into retirement in 2025.
According to Pinterest Predicts, which analyses trends from half a billion users, two styles are set to transform home interiors: Primary Play, highlighting DIY paint jobs; and Mix & Maximalism, featuring layers of colours, textures, and patterns. But how do you work these into a small space without it looking like we’ve let a kindergarten (or hoarder) loose? Let’s find out.
Primary Play
From beige-on-beige to fine art in mahogany frames, everything you thought made a space look “grown-up” is getting a playful makeover in 2025.
A 135% increase in searches for “hand painted furniture” since last year tells us one thing: those rollers and brushes aren’t just reserved for nurseries anymore. It’s time to unleash your inner child—with better taste, of course. As homeowners snatch up reds, yellows, and blues faster than you can Google “colour theory for beginners,” windows are getting jazzed up with contrast trims, and tired old cupboards are coming back to life with fresh coats of paint.
But there’s more to Primary Play than channeling your inner Mondrian and Warhol. While some folks are going full pop-art paradise, others have taken a personal route with hand-painted patterns and murals. Some furry family members have even secured their spot on the walls, because nothing says “this is home” quite like a portrait of your four-legged freeloader.
Pro-tips for small spaces:
- Add colourful shelves to maximise vertical space and keep your floor area clear and open.
- Use colour to mark out spaces for activities like workouts or reading in an open-plan layout.
- Introduce coloured decor pieces, like lamps and frames, to enliven the space without overwhelming it.
Mix & Maximalist
Remember when dopamine decor was all about adding bold colours and whimsical patterns for a mood boost? It turns out that was just the warm-up. Now, we’re witnessing a full-blown maximalist revolution, with searches for ‘eclectic apartment’ skyrocketing by 630% year-on-year. And here’s the plot twist: it’s not just Gen Z and millennials who are embracing the ‘more is more’ philosophy. Gen X and Boomers are joining the fray as well.
Perhaps it’s the flexibility that’s drawing people in. An eclectic home rolls with the punches, perfect for those who see their home as a living canvas. Found a new art piece you love? Go ahead and bring it home. Have your tastes changed? Easily handled. Or maybe it’s the comfort of surrounding yourself with pieces that tell your story, from that vintage IKEA lamp that survived three house moves to the quirky vase your friend hauled back from Bali, just because it reminded them of you.
For many, these eclectic spaces have become personal travel diaries in three dimensions—the David Shrigley print that evokes memories of a rainy afternoon in London, the poster you carefully rolled up after discovering it at MoMA. More than mere souvenirs, they are snapshots of your adventures, each one a conversation starter with its own story to tell.
Pro-tips for small spaces:
- Focus on one or two larger statement pieces and use smaller items to complement them.
- Balance your textures by softening metal chairs with plush rugs or warming up cooler tones with wooden accents.
- Repeat a design element—be it a shape, material, or colour—throughout the space to create a cohesive look.
