Amthal Karim – Head of Design at Furniture And Choice – shares her monthly overview of on-trend styles and interior looks currently inspiring furniture buyers.
There’s no doubt that the rise of social media has enhanced the average person’s knowledge of interior trends. Influencers have earned their follows by feeding a common desire for better design in our homes. As a new year begins to settle in, we believe that customers are beginning to demand more from their furniture.
Along with the introduction of curved silhouettes and high-quality materials, we’ve noticed an insistence for – well – just fancier furniture! Plain, boxy sofas with straight seams have made way for seating with detail, interest and something unique. Customers not only want to personalise their living space with colours and décor, but with exciting furniture too.
The most prevalent emerging pattern trend for 2025 is fluting. Vertical stitching on the side of a sofa or back of a dining chair refines the look and adds depth to the design. Combine this technique with fashionable upholstery such as velvet or two-tone chenille and you’ve created something visually interesting. What’s important here is that for every choice of upholstery a fluted sofa will look different, thus introducing personalisation and customers creating their own styles.
Different types of geometric design are becoming prevalent across living and dining furniture. Hexagonal stitch on a dining chair adds drama and the contemporary bubble-shape sofa is made even more elaborate with wide stitch panels transforming the silhouette for modern appeal.
Alongside stitching, we’ve also noticed other types of detailing coming to the fore. Pleated fabric on beds, armchairs and sofas is becoming fashionable. Think thin, satin fabric pleats – much like plissé in the fashion world – adding opulence to a curved bed frame. Wide fabric box pleats offering a classic take – cosy yet beautifully decorated. And metal trims spotted accentuating a modern leather sofa for a statement finish.
The inspiration for furniture with intricate detailing has close connections with both quiet luxury and the Art Deco revival. The Art Deco movement was defined by lavish embellishment – geometric shapes and patterns were combined with bold colours to create statement sideboards, mirrors and coffee tables. The aim was to exude glamour and convey wealth and progress.
In the contemporary design world, pleating is being used to blur the lines of reality – buildings and products are envisaged in an ethereal effect – almost optical illusion. With 3d design evolving quickly, it seems retailers may need to embrace the concept of furniture with all the frills.
