This year’s design trends reflect a yearning for both experimentation, nostalgia and comfort. From 16 – 18 July 2025 in Melbourne, the design trade can see the latest collections at Australia’s original and longest running exhibition for the industry. Decor + Design will take place at Melbourne Exhibition Centre, with important features including VIVID Emerging Designer Awards and the prestigious Seminar Series with speakers including Thomas Hamel, David Flack, Arent & Pyke and Sarah Ellison.
As we prepare for a great show in July, let’s dive into the fundamental movements shaping the creative industries right now.
FURNITURE THAT HUGS
More so than ever, there is a ‘nesting’ aesthetic in interior design and art that prioritises comfort and safety. Materials are voluminous and tactile, with everything from bio-resins to plush corduroy embracing the user.
Designers like Pierre Yovanovitch and Rogan Gregory have crafted pieces that feel like a hug from a friend —furniture that becomes a character in the room.
Pierre Yovanovitch’s ‘Papa Bear’ Chair. Image: Pierre Yovanovitch
This reflects a shift socially towards community and shared experiences. There’s also a sense of play at work. Sugary pastel tones and organic edges evoke a sense of playful sophistication, while the arrangement of furniture—like placing a sofa in the centre of a room—encourages interaction and spontaneity.
FLUIDITY
Fluidity is another unifying design principle of 2025, manifesting in everything from garments to furniture. Fashion houses like Maison Margiela (left) – led by a marvellously recharged and rehabilitated John Galliano – are leading the fray with collections that explore voluminous draping, liquid tailoring, and translucent fabrics. Think frothy, cloud-like clothing paired with flat, feminist shoes—a romantic nod to fluid motion that is anchored by modern sensibilities.
In both fashion and interiors, this fluidity finds expression in biomorphic forms, translucent materials, and a playful embrace of movement. Designers are reimagining lace, smocking, and pleating in unexpected ways, while metallic accents and iridescent finishes evoke the shimmering quality of water and sea anemones.
PLAYFUL COLOURS
Sky-blue—the colour of expansive optimism—is a standout shade for 2025, offering a cheerful counterpoint to the earthy browns and neutrals. As are rich reds and purples, such as the Rhubarb and Hubba Bubba Purple we’ve chosen for Decor + Design this year.
MODERN FLORALS
Florals are back – but these aren’t your mother’s florals. Gone are the small Liberty prints and in their place are bold, graphic, and sophisticated flowers, often rendered in black-and-white or high-saturation palettes. For painterly inspiration, look to Margaret Preston or David Hockney.
A playful palette and modern botanicals have shaped the signature artwork for Decor + Design 2025, inspired by the essential elements which influence designers.
NOSTALGIA
In a perma-stressed world that is craving connection and safety, design often turns to the comforting textures and ideas of childhood. Sociologically, nostalgia is also behind the renewed interest that Gen Z are showing in old ideas – from tableware to vinyl records to Oasis, everything old(er) is new again; albeit packaged more adroitly for social media.
CARDBOARD AND PAPER
The possibilities of cardboard and paper can be seen in an ever-increasing array of furniture. Completely recyclable and able to be flat-packed for transport, it’s one of the most sustainable, stylish options to think about in 2025.
Corrugated Cardboard Shelving by Gessato. Image: Gessato
That childhood favourite papier-mâché has also re-emerged as a tactile medium. It emerged again as a viable material during the pandemic, when artists and designers made do with the materials they had at hand. It’s now become favoured for its visual lightness and ability to create playful forms. It can also be lacquered for a more modern, grown-up edge.
CRAFT AND COMMUNITY
Amid these aesthetic explorations, a deeper narrative is emerging: the influence of the Global South and local wisdom on design. From basketing techniques in raffia to tarnished metals that celebrate imperfection, these designs speak to a collective yearning for authenticity, as well as community.
PET Lamp made by artisans in Ghana. Image: PET Lamp
A great example is the PET Lamp Project, which works with communities and artisans all over the globe to upcycle plastic bottles into gorgeous lighting.
CONNECTION
A running motif among the 2025 directions is the yearning for community; for simpler times offline and connection with peers. The Decor + Design community is truly unique in Australian design. Established for 21 years in Australia’s design capital of Melbourne, it is a true gathering place for the industry, with features including the International Seminar Series, VIVID Emerging Designer Awards and the Green Design Show.
Start planning your trip now for 16th – 18th July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre! Register to visit now and receive your ticket – entry is free but limited to trade visitors.