Ask Eli: 2025 home design trends

This regularly scheduled sponsored column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at Eli@EliResidential.com.

Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.

Question: What design trends have you been seeing in the residential market lately?

Answer: Every year our marketing department does a deep dive into home design trends that multiple local and national design experts say to look for each year. Some of these trends last just a year or two, others take hold for years. Often, these trends reintroduce styles from decades ago (e.g. wallpaper resurgence) with small tweaks.

You can click this link to browse the full 2025 Design Trends e-booklet from RLAH Real Estate. I’ve pulled out a few highlights and personal favorites below…

Colors of the Year

Color trends have recently shifted towards an organic, natural look and all three 2025 Color of the Year selections from Pantone, Benjamin Moore, and Behr reflect that trend.

Return of the Formal Living Room

After years of buyers seeing formal living rooms and saying “what am I supposed to do with this room” we are finally seeing preference shift away from fully open spaces to more use-specific rooms like a formal living room free of TV and full of comfortable, elegant furniture to spend time with friends and family. It’s a room that can have its own unique personality where homeowners can take some design risk.

Western Cowboy

The Western Cowboy theme is trending because of the popular TV show, Yellowstone, and trendy social media posts of cowboy-chic fashion at exclusive Rocky Mountain ski destinations. I’ll make a wager this trend won’t last long.

The Unexpected Red Theory

This is a fun one and something most homeowners can do without much cost, add a pop of bright, energetic red in an unexpected place. It’s also easy to undo if it gives you and your guests creepy REDRUM vibes instead…

Returning From Last Year

Some of the 2025 trends that are sticking around from previous years are the use of curves in furniture, color drenching rooms, plant life as art, statement range hoods, and the selective use of bold and moody colors. I can confirm from my experience locally that these trends are becoming a more common design element in homes locally.

If you’d like to check out our past Design Trends e-booklet, follow the links for 2024 and 2023.

If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

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