The most fascinating design trends are the ones that cause debate among designers. Sometimes it's because they contradict everything we thought we knew about decor. Sometimes it's because they're so retro they remind people of aesthetics they'd rather forget. And sometimes it's just a matter of personal taste.
This year's interior design trends are full of controversial ideas. There is a metallic finish that has gotten a lot of people scratching their heads about how to use it, some date kitchen trends that are seeping back into homes, and some potentially impractical looks no one is sure whether to commit to.
These five trends that are dividing designers are the key looks creating the most heated conversations right now, and we're still, as a collective, working out if they will stick.
1. Chrome faucets
With the rise of chrome as a big new design trend in 2025, it's taking some designers a while to get their heads around it – brass has dominated for so long.
'We’re trying to step away from gold and give other metals a chance,' says Monica Santayana, co-founder of the Miami-based Studio Moniomi. 'But aged brass is a little deeper, and we always veer towards its warmth.'
On the other hand, the New York-based designer Sarah Tract sees the value of a chrome faucet. 'My instinct was to stick brass for this powder room, [above], which is expected, especially with the greens,' she says. 'But it would feel like chrome is having its moment again, and we didn't want to feel super traditional. I actually love that against this very patterned wallpaper, the chrome seems to disappear, whereas brass would have stood out. This feels more modern.'
2. Black countertops
Black countertops are a returning kitchen trend in 2025, and are now starting to be seen in bathrooms and powder rooms, too. It's a big U-turn from the whites and creams that have dominated for years, and is a look that designers are still only cautiously embracing.
'I think a lot of people are scarred from the shiny black countertops of the past,' says Sarah Tract. 'But used in the right way they can feel really cocooning. I particularly like them in powder rooms, which are small and don't get much natural light. A black countertop here can feel really dramatic.'
3. Fluted kitchen cabinetry and islands
A big design trend in recent years, fluted kitchen islands and cabinet fronts catch the light beautifully. 'They work well in monochrome spaces as a way to layer in texture,' says Sarah Tract.
But they're not for everyone. 'The grooves catch food that gets dropped,' says the Santa Fe-based designer Heather French of French and French Interiors, with her practical head on. 'They don't fare well as dust settles in the ridges, too. I have found you can get the same warmth from adding in a vintage or found piece of furniture, that offers character in a different way.'
4. Floral prints
Florals are coming back into fashion. Yes, just in time for spring decor. Groundbreaking, we know. But not every designer is choosing to use them.
'I wanted an organic motif for my recent Parisian project,' says the designer Olga Ashby. 'But florals would have felt too pretty, not sophisticated enough.' She chose a wallcovering with a more unique pattern using wheat instead.
But what designers who like florals are discovering is that fabric houses are updating the look with new approaches. 'I love florals,' says Sarah Tract, who created this very modern bedroom above, complete with its floral headboard and bed frame.
'But there is a fine line between being a bit chintzy and taking them in a modern direction,' she adds. 'This fabric is by Schumacher, and the white background and space between each flower gives room to breathe and an airiness that stops them feeling so heavy and old fashioned.'
5. Gray walls
'People are moving away from decorating with gray, and I can't pretend to be disappointed about it,' says Farrow and Ball's Color Curator Joa Studholme. 'We all want richer shades now, tones that feel more familiar and warm and make your shoulders drop when you walk into the room.'
And while many 2025 color trends are revolving around boldly colored walls right now, gray is making a comeback – as long as it's warm, or more beige in tone.
'We actually wanted to lean into the gray for this dining room,' says Sarah Tract. 'The rest of the apartment is very neutral, and the oxblood dining chairs are about the most daring thing in it. Keeping the walls gray was a way to harmonize them with the rest of the decor.'
These five trends might divide designers, but they are all key looks for 2025, and can imagine will we see more and more of them throughout the rest of the year. What trends are dividing your opinion so far this year?
