Design News - July 2025
Written by Milan Jara on 31st Jul 2025
There have been some big innovations over the last month in terms of interior design, not only in the US but across the world. From new materials coming to market to changes in what home owners are seeking to create their perfect retreat, here’s the latest interior design news for July 2025.
- Surface Design Innovation: Ceilings & Wall Panels take Center Stage
- Emerging Materials: The Future of Interior Design
- Design Trends backed by Materials and Color
- Interior Design Events, Awards & Industry thought Leaders
- Rethinking Interior Designs based on Lifestyle Changes
Surface Design Innovation: Ceilings & Wall Panels take Center Stage
Ceilings are no longer just overhead surfaces! We’ve always felt this way, and now the broader design community has jumped on board and view ceilings the same as we do: a large blank canvas in every room, ready to be brought to life and add a whole new dimension of style to homes and commercial spaces.
In 2025, decorative ceiling tiles made from reclaimed materials started showing up in both residential and commercial interiors, but with the expensive material and installation costs, they didn’t take the market by storm. Recently, faux alternatives have grown in popularity, such as these faux reclaimed wood ceiling planks that have the same appearance and aesthetic appeal as authentic reclaimed timber.
These materials deliver warmth and texture with their patina and grain - they’re not just being installed as ceiling tiles, but the exact same panels are also being used to decorate walls.
For commercial building interiors, timber-look ceilings are being paired with faux metal wall panels, especially non-porous, disinfectable panels like these PVC wall panels are gaining traction in education, healthcare and wellness spaces for their practical hygiene benefits and sleek modern style.
This push isn’t just from the interior design community, some architects are now putting a big focus on cleanability and low-maintenance wall and ceiling coverings.
Emerging Materials: The Future of Interior Design
Innovators are redefining what goes inside the walls and beneath ceilings with new materials that are changing the way interiors are built and finished.
Some really innovative materials are starting to be seen in high-end residential and commercial buildings, including:
- Self-healing Concrete
- This innovative material contains a bacteria (or something of the like) that reacts to air or water, releasing limestone to fill new cracks - incredible, right?!
- Transparent Wood
- A type of wood strengthened with polymers that has as aesthetic that balances the warm texture of timber and the clean, minimalist beauty of glass
Image source: https://en.renovablesverdes.com/transparent-wood/
- Recycled Plastic Bricks
Image source: https://designwanted.com/precious-plastic-brick/
- Bioluminescent Timber Panels
- Scientists are inserting genes from mushrooms and jelly fish into materials to make them glow
- 3D-Printed Building Modules
- These have been around for a while now but with a lot of trial and testing, they’re now becoming increasingly popular
- Hempcrete is continuing to grow in popularity as a sustainable insulating material, ideal for interior renovations that are focused on energy savings and sustainability
- Mycelium-based Composites
- Grown from fungi, they are being tested for insulation in acoustic wall panels and acoustic ceiling tiles, this material isn’t just thought to be great at absorbing sound but it’s also fire‑resistant, compostable, seriously sustainable and on-trend for July 2025!
*Source for the seven points above: https://parametric-architecture.com/top-emerging-building-materials-for-2025-redefining-sustainable-construction/
Design Trends Backed by Materials and Color
Right now, ceilings and walls are getting some serious personality, thanks to two big design trends. The first is referred to as “tile drenching”, where one tile style is used across both walls and floors to create a seamless, spa-like style.
Designers are keeping it calm with soft matte finishes and earthy tones, so it feels soothing rather than over the top and overwhelming (which might be what you’re imagining!).
For a similar impact, but a little less drama, this range of 3D seamless panels will make an entire wall feel as though it’s one large piece.
The second is “wood drenching”, which is all about wrapping spaces in rich timber, from wood paneled ceilings and walls, even faux wood being and fireplace mantels are being thrown into the mix. The result? Warm interiors that feel like a luxury cabin that you’ll never want to leave, even if you’re in the middle of a busy city or far, far away from the rest of society.
Interior Design Events, Awards & Industry thought Leaders
At the recent 3 Days of Design event in Copenhagen last month, the theme was all about "Keeping It Real". In design terms, this meant celebrating honest and ethical materials, sustainable choices for an interior design that feel good as well as look good.
From recycled ceiling tiles to natural fiber wall cladding, designers showed off how eco-friendly finishes can still be stylish, proving that "green" shouldn’t be in the same sentence as “boring”.
Stepping into the commercial design world, the i+s Product Innovation Awards have made it clear that they’re looking for products that push the boundaries in terms of encapsulating performance, style, sustainability, health, acoustics and durability.
Over at BAU Munich (the world's leading trade show for trade fair for architecture and building materials), Holcim walked away with the “Architecture + Building Innovation Award”, attributing the win to their clever, low-carbon materials.
Rethinking interior designs based on lifestyle changes
In line with the other interior trends we’ve noticed in July 2025, designers (whether that be professionals or DIY enthusiasts) aren’t just choosing materials for looks anymore, they’re thinking about how a space feels, functions and the lifespan of the materials used.
Homes and workspaces are being treated more like retreats and private sanctuaries, with things like acoustical wall panels for a quiet space, decorative ceilings to set the appropriate aesthetic, adaptive lighting that adjusts to your mood, and materials that help regulate temperature.
We think that this change of thought isn’t just derived from a market that’s becoming increasingly educated, but as people are spending a lot more time at home, how it looks and feels is becoming more important.
Funnily enough, commercial spaces are opting for bold, rich new designs so that when people do leave their homes, they’ve got a better chance of attracting them to their location. We’ve seen a big uptake in our commercial customers seeking ceiling tiles and wall panels that are bright, textured and ornate.
Wrapping up
July 2025 design trends have continued on from June and are now pushing new boundaries. Countless new materials that were only recently seen as futuristic are now hitting the market, home owners are opting for materials that have a long life span and a low environmental impact, and designers across the board are accepting that people are going to continue to be spending more time at home, less time out-and-about, and how to adapt to this.
If you have any questions about this blog post or want some help to choose the right ceiling and wall panels for an upcoming project, please don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts for some friendly assistance.
