New Grad, New Lens: Our Interns' Take on 2025 Interior Design Trends

Trends. They’re everywhere.

From fashion to pop culture—and especially now, interior design. Trends come, go, and then 10, 15, sometimes even 30 years later, they get revived and reimagined. Some are great. Others… a little regrettable.

Jaden Bourchier - Interior Design Intern for The Retail Duo Inc.

As a newly graduated Sheridan College interior design student, here are a few key trends I’ve consistently spotted as we pass the halfway mark of 2025. Let’s explore what I’ve been seeing in residential, commercial, and retail spaces.

Let’s Start With Residential

In the past decade, we’ve cycled through a few big colour moments. From the all-grey (bye-bye Millennial grey) phase to the soft beige and sage green aesthetic, each brought its own vibe. But in 2025, one bold trend is making its mark: colour drenching.

Colour drenching is exactly what it sounds like. A room is fully saturated in a single hue from top to bottom—walls, ceilings, trim, and baseboards—all painted the same shade to create a monochromatic, immersive effect.

Navy blue colour drenched bathroom ensuite.

It first popped up in powder rooms, where designers often experiment with bold choices in smaller spaces. But now it’s showing up in living rooms, bedrooms, and even larger areas. What I love about this trend is how it plays with drama while still feeling cohesive. It can make a room feel taller, more unified, and definitely more fun. I predict this trend will soon trickle into commercial design too—but let’s see! While soft neutrals aren’t going anywhere just yet, the rise of deep, saturated tones feels fresh and exciting. I hope it sticks around.

Commercial Design: Modular Is the Moment

When it comes to commercial design, a lot of what I’ve learned comes from school. One trend that really stuck with me? The shift toward modular, flexible hybrid workplaces. (Yes, it’s a bit of a tongue-twister.) Our professors really pushed us to think beyond the traditional office. For years, workspaces were designed to be plain, structured—and let’s be honest, a bit boring. Employees would come in, sit down, work for eight hours, then go home. Little interaction. Little inspiration. But the pandemic, hybrid work models, and changing attitudes have flipped that. We were taught to prioritize collaboration, natural light, and adaptable layouts. Now, we’re seeing offices with movable partitions, foldable desks, lounge-style seating, and multi-use breakout zones. It’s less about fixed layouts and more about creating spaces that evolve based on who’s using them and how.

Flexible workspaces provide more options for employees to comfortable and productive.

In my opinion, these kinds of environments have been long overdue. And while modular workspaces aren’t brand new in 2025, they’re becoming more refined and widely embraced. Companies are starting to see that great design supports both creativity and productivity. As one of my professors said, “It’s not just about how a space looks—it’s about how it works for the people inside it.” I’ve carried that with me.

Retail Design: Let the Space Speak for Itself

And finally, retail—one of my favourite environments to design. From both school projects and social media, I’ve learned that retail has always been about the experience. But now more than ever, interactive stations are taking over. These are areas where customers can test or explore products independently—without a salesperson hovering nearby.

While I may be a bit biased (I did a conceptual project on Aesop in school), they’re a great example. Aesop’s in-store sinks offer a full sensory experience. You wash your hands, smell the fragrance, and walk away with a memory. It’s intentional. Personal. Memorable. More brands are starting to lean into this approach—creating stations that engage touch, scent, sound, and more. What I love about it is how it makes retail feel more inclusive and welcoming. There’s no pressure. No hovering. Just the space doing the selling.

Let’s be honest—nothing is more uncomfortable than an over-attentive salesperson (even when they mean well, haha). This new direction lets people explore at their own pace. From smart-lighted makeup mirrors to self-serve sample stations or fabric touch-walls in furniture stores, today’s retail design is all about interaction and independence.

Final Thought

These are just a few of the 2025 trends I’ve seen through the lens of a new designer stepping into the industry. They excite me—and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

What do you think the top 2025 trends are?

Let’s chat.

Jaden

The Retail Duo Intern