While it is impossible and unwise to try and keep up with every design trend when designing your dream home, it is nice to pick and choose from what’s popular at the moment. With that in mind, we sought out co-founder Sze Ming from Studio Kabi, who gave us advice on the biggest interior trends of 2025, their take on design solutions, and some renovation pitfalls to avoid.
Contents
- Using brand names as design shorthand
- Blending Japandi with sustainability
- Increasing emphasis on eco-friendly materials
- A shift towards understated elegance
- Natural materials & earthy tones to dominate
- A softer & more refined industrial style
- Retro styles & maximalism making a steady comeback
- Rejection of cookie-cutter aesthetics
- Embracing dark colours for small spaces
- False arches will slowly fall out of style
- Smart space-saving design solutions
- Design trends 2025 & reno tips from a Singaporean interior designer
Using brand names as design shorthand
Image credit: Aesop
Studio Kabi points out that more and more local clients have been inspired by designs that are synonymous with certain global brands—picture Aesop or Park Hyatt, for example. Rather than using the names of interior styles, clients are name-dropping brands to better convey what they want, and that could be a smart choice if the brand has a truly strong associated image.
Blending Japandi with sustainability
Image credit: Studio Kabi
Unlike fast fashion, interior design trends don’t tend to shift that quickly. Hence, it was no surprise when Studio Kabi revealed that Japandi is still going strong. That’s not to say that the aesthetic has remained stagnant. Rather, savvy Singaporeans and their designers have worked together to evolve the style into something more localised and sustainable.
Instead of buying expensive furniture from international brands, more and more homeowners have become “interested in sourcing their own wood and rattan” from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
Increasing emphasis on eco-friendly materials
This push for sustainability isn’t just limited to homeowners renovating their homes in a Japandi style.
Image credit: Studio Kabi
According to Studio Kabi, who strongly believe that environmental responsibility is a necessity and not just a trend, homeowners have been increasingly opting for repurposed materials such as recycled plastic and terrazzo made from construction waste.
They’re also choosing to buy from sustainable furniture brands and local craftsmen, or even sourcing pieces from second-hand furniture stores. Besides just being good for the Earth, another upside of sourcing from second-hand stores and thrifting is that you get unique pieces filled with personality.
A shift towards understated elegance
Besides Japandi, modern luxury has also been widely popular amongst Singaporean homeowners. But, as Studio Kabi sees it, there will be a shift away from flashy, modern luxe towards subtle, understated elegance.
Image credit: Studio Kabi
“I think things are shaping up to be a blend of functionality, sustainability, and quiet luxury. This translates to interiors that feel luxurious yet minimal. We’re looking at high-quality natural materials such as travertine stone, linen, suede, and brushed brass. Muted, warm colour palettes [incorporating] taupe and sand, and more thoughtfully curated spaces with fewer but high-end pieces [will also be popular].”
Image credit: Studio Kabi
Specifically, home interiors will be inspired by modern European aesthetics—think Parisian chic—but with a Singaporean sensibility. Feature doorways, statement entrances, as well as layered textures and patterns, will be a hallmark of this style.
Natural materials & earthy tones to dominate
Image credit: Studio Kabi
If you aren’t sure where to start with your reno journey, we recommend using natural building materials and earthy tones as an anchor.
According to Studio Kabi, Natural materials—stone, polished concrete, stainless steel—and earthy hues—lush greens, terracotta, and warm neutrals—will reign supreme in 2025. Beyond that, these are relatively timeless design choices that will look chic even when trends inevitably shift.
A softer & more refined industrial style
The industrial look will continue to be popular, but as it grows, it’ll get softer and more refined. “Instead of raw concrete and exposed pipes, we’ll see a lot more interest in polished cement finishes for walls and floors, dark wood, and soft metallic accents with lots of stainless steel,” Studio Kabi adds.
Retro styles & maximalism making a steady comeback
But not all is lost if you’re a staunch lover of colourful, quirky designs. In fact, you may be ahead of the design curve.
Image credit: Studio Kabi
“70s and 80s-style aesthetics are [also] making a comeback but in a sleek, modernised way. We foresee quite a lot of muted pastel tones such as sage green and burnt orange, along with curved furniture and vintage-inspired patterns,” Studio Kabi says, adding that they are seeing “lots of second-hand vintage pieces and contemporary furniture” being picked out too.
Give it another year, and Studio Kabi predicts a slow but steady reaction against neutral minimalist trends.
Image credit: Studio Kabi
“Minimalism still dominates, for sure, but there’s a counter-trend towards bold, joyful interiors. There’s a lot of interest in funky, unique tiles, along with mixing patterns and textures in an intentional way. I think it appeals to younger Singaporean homeowners looking for a fun, energetic space.”
Still, there’s no need to do a complete 180° and ditch everything minimalist. Studio Kabi notes that Singaporean homeowners are increasingly experimenting with bold accents and geometric shapes, all the while keeping their overall space minimalistic.
Image credit: Studio Kabi
In addition, there’s a rise in adventurous homeowners mixing and matching design trends and styles to create something that’s uniquely their own, eschewing cookie-cutter aesthetics. For example, you’ll see people meshing vintage, industrial, and even wabi-sabi styles together.
“I think some homeowners get too caught up with labelling their interior style. Sometimes, it can be a mix—it doesn’t have to be a fully Japandi home, for example. It’s a matter of thoughtfully blending styles that can create a unique, personalised space. And often, the key is to find a common element, such as a color palette or material, that ties everything together.”
Image credit: Studio Kabi
When in doubt, Studio Kabi recommends using the “rule of three”: only utilising three different materials while keeping a cohesive colour scheme. They also recommend using fewer bulky decor pieces to further reduce visual clutter.
Embracing dark colours for small spaces
Image credit: Studio Kabi
Common wisdom tells us that lighter colours open up a space, while darker shades on the walls can make a room seem cramped. But that is a myth in Studio Kabi’s books. Rather than “cramped”, dark colours can be deftly wielded to create cosiness in a small space.
“While light colors can make a room feel bigger, dark and bold tones can also work beautifully. Forest greens, charcoal, and warm browns can add depth and cosiness without making a space feel cramped, especially when paired with good lighting and mirrors.”
Image credit: Studio Kabi
“Mirrors and glass surfaces reflect light and create an illusion of space. And when used well, they create a good contrast to the space, so I encourage the use of more mirrors and glass [to add texture and layers],” Studio Kabi elaborates, expanding on ways to add depth to modern interiors that can seem too sterile at times.
False arches will slowly fall out of style
In recent months, homeowners seem to be moving away from using false ceiling arches to conceal air-conditioner pipes. Still, if that is a look that you love—and are confident about loving for a while—there is no harm in incorporating it into your home. After all, as Studio Kabi emphasises, home design is all about tailoring things to your needs and lifestyle, not about chasing the latest trends.
Smart space-saving design solutions
In a land-scarce country like Singapore, where the average size of a BTO keeps creeping downwards, space-saving design solutions are a must-have, not a good-to-have. For starters, Studio Kabi recommends having hanging rails and pegboards in high-use areas such as your kitchen, service yard, and home office spaces.
Image credit: Studio Kabi
Concealed storage benches and bay window seating are also good options to consider, especially in dining areas, bedrooms, or even home offices. Interestingly, bay window seats have gradually become more popular, and Sze Ming has found herself designing more work-from-home settee nooks in recent months.
Also, in lieu of regular doors, it’s a good idea to opt for sliding doors that allow for more flexibility in function, transforming the space just by opening or closing a door.
Design trends 2025 & reno tips from a Singaporean interior designer
Image credit: Studio Kabi
So there you have it, the biggest interior design trends in 2025 according to Studio Kabi. It’s all about mixing and matching, cherry picking your favourite elements and incorporating them into your own home design rather than blindly chasing trends.
Japandi and wabi-sabi won’t be going away any time soon, but vintage and retro styles, as well as maximalism, will become more popular. Will you choose to meld the myriad of styles, or are you more of a design purist? The choice is yours.
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Cover image adapted from: Studio Kabi
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