New Design Trends Transforming Homes In 2025

If you're at all interested in home design, you're probably familiar with one of the more recent popular styles: modern farmhouse. Think rustic wood beams, sleek white kitchens, and sliding barn doors. While homeowners have embraced this style for years, a new trend is taking over home design and the real estate market. According to Zillow's latest research, organic modernism is the new modern farmhouse, and buyers are increasingly willing to pay for homes with nature-inspired design choices. In fact, homes featuring these elements sell for as much as 3.7% more than expected, translating to about an additional $12,500 on the typical U.S. home.

But what exactly is organic modernism? As defined by Zillow’s Home Trends Expert Amanda Pendleton, organic modernism has been on the rise since the early stages of the pandemic. "Organic modernism feels like an evolution of the modern farmhouse look. It’s a design style that blends modern minimalism with natural elements and materials — think lots of wood, natural stone, patinated metals, and texture. It’s become so popular lately because it offers a balance of comfort and style, and it feels attainable yet luxurious," says Pendleton. This trend is rooted in sustainable design, which has become increasingly important for younger homebuyers who crave a connection to nature. It provides them, as Pendleton describes, a "refuge from a chaotic world."

So, what features are homebuyers looking for when it comes to organic modernism? This design style emphasizes raw yet refined features, promising a strong connection between homeowners and the natural environment both inside and outside their residences. According to Zillow, several key design elements resonate with buyers’ desires for serenity and can effectively boost a home's sale price. Some of these indoor features include white oak floors and Venetian plaster walls, while outdoor elements to look for include outdoor showers, kitchens, and bluestone patios.

Interestingly, soapstone is now more sought after than quartz for countertop materials, contributing to a sale premium of 3.5% for soapstone compared to 2.6% for quartz. Additionally, homes with listings mentioning outdoor features like showers, kitchens, and patios can see a resale value boost between 2.2% and 2.8%. It's evident that functional outdoor spaces are growing in demand.

While trends come and go, the inclination to remain connected to nature while at home has only intensified among homeowners since the pandemic began. The desire for sustainable, natural materials integrated into everyday spaces has been simmering for years, and it’s now reaching the mainstream, hinting that organic modernism has genuine staying power. Pendleton points out, "This style has saturated social feeds and media to the point where a typical homebuyer now associates these features with an up-to-date home. As a result, they’re willing to compete for a home that has these trendy features and pay more than expected."

In an exciting extension of this evolving theme, homeowners are now also enhancing their homes' exteriors in 2025. Gone are the days of standard windows and doors lining the streets in monotonous gloss white. Homeowners are customizing their exteriors, favoring bright and bold front doors and unique stained glass windows. According to SoGlos, this year highlights seven of the hottest styles for windows and doors that will make any Gloucestershire home stand out.

Homeowners are stepping away from neutral accents and experimenting with vivid colors. Entrance doors are a great canvas for this, allowing for playful application of bold hues like deep reds and bright blues reminiscent of elegant jewel tones.

There’s also a growing trend of updating heritage styles with a modern twist. Timber sash windows, a design that dates back to the 17th century, remain popular, especially amongst homeowners with modern architecture who desire a classic touch. These traditional windows are now often paired with the latest in double or triple glazing technology, improving insulation without sacrificing aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, homeowners are choosing to accessorize these frames with modern finishes like shiny chrome or gunmetal brass, moving away from the classic yellow brass.

Stained glass is witnessing a renaissance as well, extending beyond entrance doors to incorporate designs in accent windows. Heritage styles from the Victorian and Edwardian periods are being replicated and integrated into modern engineered front doors. Some homeowners even commission artists to create bespoke pieces that align with their home’s architecture and style.

Importantly, a focus on sustainability is driving choices in 2025. As consumers prioritize environmentally friendly options, many now question businesses about their sustainability practices before making purchases. Timber Windows, for instance, sources its timber from properly managed forests, ensuring that for every tree felled, more are planted. This commitment has contributed to reports that European forest areas are expanding by about 5,000 square kilometers annually.

The trend toward simplifying shapes and designs is emerging for home exteriors as well. Clean lines, basic hardware, and unobtrusive designs are key characteristics for homeowners seeking minimalism, reflected in everything from window frames to door handles.

Moreover, the trend of blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces continues to broaden, allowing homeowners to merge their interiors with their gardens. Modern kitchens are becoming hybrid spaces with bi-fold, French, or patio doors that easily connect living areas to outdoor settings. Businesses like Timber Windows are addressing this need, offering thermally insulating glass options that almost double the effectiveness of standard double glazing.

Finally, biophilic design—a concept integrating natural patterns and elements into architecture—continues to be a popular choice for homeowners. This includes incorporating plenty of plants indoors, adding living walls, and ensuring ample natural light through large windows or skylights. Homeowners look for ways to evoke the patterns and forms of nature, creating a harmonious living space that connects them to the world outside.

In summary, the synergy between organic modernism and cutting-edge home designs signals a significant shift in homeowner preferences in 2025. As people strive for an enhanced connection to their surroundings, the influence of nature on modern architecture continues to redefine spaces both inside and out.