Design News - September 2025

Written by Milan Jara on 6th Oct 2025

Welcome back to our September edition of interior design trends and what’s been happening in the world of design.

There’s been a lot of exciting advancements in September 2025 that aren’t just making waves now, but could completely change the way that homes are designed and where they’re situated with the rise of AI-powered architectural tools and the concept of floating homes.

Going inside the walls, we’re exploring the latest color shifts, seasonal updates that are reshaping interiors, and the revival of some past architectural design and decor trends, all paired with practical, actionable insights for interior design enthusiasts to run with and draw some inspiration from!

Table of Contents

• AI-Designed Homes
• Floating Homes and Cities
• New Color & Finish Trends
  • Color of the Year: Universal Khaki
  • Change of season influencing color palettes
  • Pinterest spike in searches for Art Deco interior
  • Martha Stewart introduces Reverse Color Capping
• Architectural excitement
• Design Awards & Exhibitions

The future has arrived with AI-designed homes

September 2025 has seen the rise of home design tools powered by AI. For a long time, this has just been in the experimental stage, but this technology is now being used by both architects and everyday homeowners, not just the ultra-tech-savvy.

Platforms like Maket.ai and Planner 5D allow users to generate floor plans and 3D room layouts with speed, they can be produced almost instantly. Going a step further, reportedly, some tools are almost getting to the point where designers can simply speak and describe their desired architectural floor plan and AI can then produce a buildable draft from it ^*1 - incredible, right?!

This blend of human imagination coupled with AI could completely transform the way homes are designed in the near future, let alone the timeline enhancements. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this space and see what other exciting enhancements come to life in the near future!

What this means for interior designers: Treat AI tools as your new design assistant now so that you’re ready when clients start asking for it, you’ll also have an extra resource to add some wow-factor to your projects.

Floating Homes are Coming to a Coastline near you!

What was once reserved for the ultra-rich or the very opposite end of the scale is now making headlines as a realistic solution: floating homes.

To combat issues such as rising sea levels and population growth around the world, floating homes are being floated as a possible solution.

Projects like the SeaPod by OceanBuilders have shown that this isn’t just a sustainable option, but a realistic one, where each floating home can be adapted to the coastline that it’ll live in. ^*2

On a larger scale, Maldives Floating City demonstrates that it’s not just a choice for luxury dwellings and residential spaces, but it could soon become a mainstream way of living for thousands of people.

What this means for interior designers: Stay ahead of the curve and keep an eye on the floating-architecture space, as this concept is rapidly changing from a novelty idea to a reality that might end up being a future project request by one of your clients.

New color & finish trends

Getting back onto land and retreating inside, we’ve seen some exciting things happen in the world of color and finishes throughout September, from new trends to announcements that will result in further interior design trend changes in the near future.

Color of the Year: Universal Khaki

Sherwin-Williams have announced what they believe to be the 2026 Color of the Year, and it might not be what you expected! ^*3

In 2025, we’ve seen designers seek bold and bright interior designs, whereas the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year is Universal Khaki, which is a warm, mid-tone tan. This doesn’t necessarily sing “Dopamine Decor” trend, however, the idea is that it sets a beautiful foundation to then be amplified by other design elements.

What this means for interior designers: Use Universal Khaki as a foundation and then layer it in bold accents to energize and adapt the color to your space and style preferences to achieve a fresh new look that’s right on-trend.

Change of season influencing color palettes

Each year when the warmer months come to an end, we usually see interior style preferences shift to cozy color palettes that make you want to stay indoors, and the following design trend aligns with these expectations.

If designers weren’t opting for bold colors and finishes throughout 2025, they seemed to be sticking with greys, although it seems that has come to end. These sterile pallets are now being swapped out for more earthy colors like rich greens, terracottas, and browns paired with creamy whites and (you guessed it!) khaki color-ways. ^*4

What this means for interior designers: Say goodbye to sterile grey and swap it out for the new season trends that are all about earthy tones like terracotta, deep greens and warm neutrals.

Pinterest spike in searches for Art Deco interior

Pinterest has released their 2025 Fall Trends Report and it shows a staggering 745% increase in searches for “art deco interior”! ^*5

Here, at DecorativeCeilingTiles.net, this is of no surprise to us based on the demand for our Art Deco style panels that have seen an increase in demand throughout 2025, mostly in the last few months, although the growth is more than what we could have anticipated.

This surge in interest for Art Deco style interiors signals a revival of such a timeless design style, with the broader market desiring a nostalgic glamour and modern sophistication in their spaces. It feels like a natural progression of the all-so-bold Dopamine Decor trend from earlier this year.

What this means for interior designers: With such a large increase in searches for art deco interiors, it should be of no surprise if some of your clients are interested in this style.

To help achieve an art deco interior design style, incorporate geometric patterns, luxe finishes and bold accents.

Martha Stewart introduces Reverse Color Capping

Color capping has been all the rage in the second half of 2025. In our Design Trends - August 2025 blog post, we explained that in simple, color capping is “..a technique that uses different shades (usually 3 shades are used) from the same color family to create a smooth gradient from your walls up to the ceiling”.

World-renowned interior design enthusiast, Martha Stewart has gone on to say that although this is great in principle, it should be adapted to the space and that this trend can evolve when in the hands of professionals. Examples of this are reversing the gradient, starting with dark tones and finishing with a light ceiling, or using more than one hue (& not just on the walls & ceilings, but with decor and other items too) that pair well together, and completing the gradient with both palettes. ^*6

What this means for interior designers: Take the concept of color capping and experiment beyond the basics by trying things like reversed gradients and multi-hue palettes to create a high-impact interior that sets your work apart and is on-trend in more ways than one.

Architectural excitement

Some fun and interesting things have happened in the architectural space. From repurposing an entire building to an old design trend being reborn.

U.S. Embassy transformed into a hotel

Sir David Chipperfield transformed the former U.S. Embassy in London from an outdated building into a luxury hotel. ^*7

This massive renovation project, taking what was an eyesore and turning it into souring profits, where it’s reported to cost between £17,000 and £24,000 for a one-night stay in the hotel's penthouse, puts more emphasis on “reuse culture”. ^*8

Potentially, this may spark the interest of other property developers to imagine revitalising and repurposing old buildings, rather than going straight for the modern-day way of thinking, which is the knock down & rebuild school of thought.

What this means for interior designers: Be a champion of the reuse culture by reimagining outdated spaces with fresh design solutions, proving that in the right scenario, revitalisation can be more valuable than knock-down rebuild projects.

Hotel-worthy Built-in beds

Built-in beds haven’t always had a great reputation in the broader market, although they can serve a purpose and be the perfect room addition in the right space. The quirkiness often leaves a stronger and longer-lasting impression than the benefits, until now.

Designers from all over the world have begun including built-in beds right into their architecture and floor plans ^*9, and to us, it makes perfect sense, and keep in mind that when we refer to a “built in bed”, it doesn’t have to mean one that’s compact and folds into a wall, rather a bed that’s been including in the architectural design to suit the space.

Homes are no longer just a space to retreat to, but for many people, they’re now a full-time sanctuary. Incorporating the bed into the floor plan from the get-go allows for a more practical, meaningful and cohesive space where the bed isn’t an afterthought, but carefully considered from the project’s start.

What this means for interior designers: Start incorporating beds into your design plans from the ground-up, thinking of them as architectural elements, creating a residential sanctuaries that feel intentional and cohesive.

September 2025 Design Awards & Exhibitions

Here are some highlights of awards and exhibitions across interiors, architecture, and product design:

INT Interior Design Awards 2025

The INT Awards announced winners across 85 categories, putting a spotlight standout on Watertown Exploratory Labs and Walkway House due to their standout designs

Learn more, here:
https://intdesignaward.com/

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is a major global prize that celebrates buildings and projects making everyday life better while honoring local culture and the environment.

Seven projects were celebrated this year, including the Revitalisation of Esna in Egypt and Khudi Bari modular homes in Bangladesh.

Learn more, here:
https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/winners-of-the-2025-aga-khan-award-for-architecture-announced

Homes & Gardens Kitchens & Bathrooms Design Awards 2025

The annual Homes & Gardens Design Awards have been presented, with Blakes London’s Nicholson Collection taking out ‘best kitchen award’ and Marlborough Tiles’ Classic Delft winning the ‘best tiles design’.

For decorating, Tess Newall’s Herbarium collection won ‘Best Patterned Collection’, and Mark Alexander walked away with the ‘Best Natural Fibre Wallpaper’.

Looking at product excellence, the standouts were A RUM FELLOW’s Lithic rug collection and the Porta Romana Dajo sofa for proving that craftsmanship should still be at the heart of product design.

Learn more, here:
Homes & Gardens - Kitchen & Bathroom awards
Homes & Gardens - Decorating awards
Homes & Gardens - Products awards

Wrapping Up

AI-powered home design and architecture tools are set to transform the industry, giving everyday people the ability to create extraordinary designs in just seconds, whether it’s or traditional builds or innovative new concepts like the rising trend of floating homes.

With the change of season well underway and the end of the year in sight, we’ve seen some of the most popular design trends of 2025 start to slow down and new ones emerge. It’s safe to start cooling down on the bright and bold interior design and incorporate some more earthy tones that are fitting for fall and winter.

Designers are still seeking new ways to reimagine old or outdated buildings and design trends, from huge accomplishments of transforming the US embassy to everyday architecture where beds are being incorporated as an architectural design element.

There’s a lot of excellence being achieved in the world of design, and it’s not going unnoticed with those who have gone over and beyond to deliver greatness, being recognised and awarded for their achievements.

If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed in this blog post or want to know how we can help implement any of these great ideas, please feel free to contact our team of experts at your convenience.

*Sources:

• *1 - https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.00543
• *2 - https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/ocean-builders-exclusive-look-inside-the-worlds-first-eco-restorative-floating-home
• *3 - https://www.hgtvhomebysherwinwilliams.com/en/colors/2026-color-collection-of-the-year
• *4 - https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/trends/a65831907/fall-design-trends-2025/
• *5 - https://newsroom.pinterest.com/en-sg/news/the-2025-pinterest-fall-trend-report/
• *6 - https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/martha-stewart-color-capping-trend
• *7 - https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/david-chipperfield-transforms-former-us-embassy-into-hotel
• *8 - https://www.livingetc.com/ideas/built-in-beds
• *9 - https://intdesignaward.com/