Amthal Karim – Head of Design at Furniture And Choice – shares her monthly overview of on-trend styles and interior looks currently inspiring furniture buyers.
Sensory design is emerging as a prominent interior movement for 2025. The concept of sensory design is not new — it’s unsurprising that design appeals to your senses — however, the extent that this affects interior styles and new product development is now paramount.
When designers and interior bloggers reference wellbeing they invariably start with colour psychology, but sensory design is broader and deeper than the simple effect of colour on your senses. Modern design considers emotional responses not just to colour, but also to form and materials, combining them to excite and to convey meaning.
Colour confidence means that neutrals such as grey are increasingly marginalised as customers opt for bolder greens, blues, or even orange sofas. With the help of limitless social media knowledge it’s easy to style adventurous hues — now everybody is a designer.
And we’re going deeper — sensory design encourages the use of colour in more complex ways: the intensity, depth, and layers that different shades of a single colour can create when used together in a monochrome look; the powerful interplay of contrasting colours used in equal amounts. Or how we utilise colour to completely alter the dynamics of a room, for instance, creating a cocoon-like feel by colour drenching the ceiling.
So, the influence of sensory design in furniture extends further than colour — it inspires shapes, materials, and proportions. It forces furniture to be considered an integral part of the entire living space, not just a standalone element. A curved, lozenge shaped sofa is aesthetically pleasing when styled with a square, metal coffee table — the juxtaposition of shapes generates a graphic effect as the two pieces of furniture create balance together.
And then there’s touch — tactility is vital for us to create an emotional connection with our living space. Soft fabrics and textures help you relax and put you at ease. Luxurious velvet is an upholstery mainstay and now other ‘cosy’ fabrics such as chenille, linen-look and thick weave textures are emerging. In dining furniture, fashionable stone, plaster, and wood-effect tables provide authenticity by connecting us to nature and natural elements.
Like the post-pandemic interest in enhancing our work-life balance, the way our homes influence our mood has become an important topic of conversation — we’re all increasingly aware of the link between our environment and personal wellbeing. Sensory design is positively impacting how we choose to furnish our homes, adding engagement, depth of thought, and shifting home design into something ever more meaningful.
