How Can Serene Interiors Feel More Like Self-Care Retreats?

I nearly drafted another one of those “2025 interior trends forecast” posts before quickly losing interest. Since we can never truly know what will become viral, isn’t it more interesting to let the year unfold? I’m curious about what endures. What qualities do serene interiors possess to when they feel like self-care retreats? What brings comfort or a sense of recovery to chaotic workdays? If we consult social media feeds, the messaging never changes: this new thing will make you happier!

Serene Interiors as Self-Care Retreats in 2025

When I imagine what lies ahead in 2025 for interior design, the growth of the self-care industry springs to mind. With increased uncertainty concerning the economy and global affairs, we want our homes to offer more than shelter. I discuss this HERE.

My favorite rooms feel soulful and like self-care retreats; they are also influenced by European countryside charm and rustic elegance. If a space feels tranquil, atmospheric, and ethereal too? Ahhhh, just what I’m after! Achieving this look need not cost a fortune. But it must be cozy.

Cozy often entails a mix of vintage items, special attention paid to lighting, designing for all of the senses, and integrating creature comforts.

Love Scandinavian Serene Style?

What I love about “self-care retreat like” interiors is how they aren’t uniform. If your style is traditional, no problem. Modern and minimal, quite all right. The look is often influenced by Scandinavian sensibilities and lifestyle. Here’s a peek around a peaceful home:

Romantic Nostalgia That Isn’t Too Sweet

If you have seen the work of Heidi Caillier you may have noticed how her heritage style look is also peaceful and zen-like. Do you crave warmth and patina for your interiors? The designer’s own home reflects them both so beautifully, and she eloquently describes her process here:

Cozy Paris Apartment

Even though this small light and bright Paris apartment with modern touches appears nothing like the Tacoma home above, it also exudes calm cozy luxe. (Plus, it challenges the notion a kitchen must be spacious to live calmly and large.)

Clearly there isn’t a singular path to a peaceful look! And I hope that feels comforting. But where to begin if you hope to welcome more calm to your 2025?

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Hello Lovely’s Follower Favorites

I actually have data reflecting appetites for particular styles. For example, Pinterest followers continue to engage with SANCTUARY, NATURAL and CALM looks. What has changed from last year is less love for anything eerily ai.

The AI generated rendering above captured the imagination of many FB and Pinterest followers in 2024 with its rich patina, warmth, lofty rustic elegance, and luxurious finishes. But its lack of soul? A year later, it is deemed spooky and followers are critical.

This breathtaking bath (above) from The French Nest Co has a sophisticated simplicity ai designers try to emulate, but artificial can’t deliver the very real textural sanctuary here.

A color palette of natural colors, cool with warm seems to ignite the most attention from blog readers. Photography from a beachy shoot by Johnny Abegg for SPELL more than a decade ago still inspires.

Does it get more serene, ethereal yet earthy, and organic than this?

Minimal or Maximal?

Will we see more minimal or maximal designs trending in 2025?

Engagement on my channels suggests movement away from extremes to the middle.

Now how can we get the rest of the planet onboard with such movement?

Not strictly minimal or maximal, storied and personal without perfection or extra fuss.

Organized curated collections of treasures, memories, and moods still strike a chord.

Need an instant sophisticated gallery wall at a super affordable price?

Will “Old Money” and Heritage Style Stay Vogue?

No matter how you describe it, social media is flooded with images of cozy rooms with sophisticated finishes and furnishings.

What I have observed since 2020 is increased desire for warm natural textures. After years of crisp cool white walls paired with industrial and black accents? Soft is where it’s at.

Timeless choices, patina-ed metals, distressed wood, and earthenware are prized.

Which Soulful Interiors & Self-Care Retreat Ingredients Endure?

You can hardly go wrong when you choose well made, sustainably sourced, high quality natural textiles for home. I love test driving them for you!

This luxurious, high quality Australian merino baby blanket sent over by Woven Woven is a lovely example. Made to last, certified by OEKO-TEX®, and just the right weight, imagine the most gentle polka dots keeping little ones warm and dry this winter!

Such textiles will age well and may become heirlooms.

Here’s another wool winner:

And there’s nothing like a quality candle to appeal to both our sense of sight and smell. Glass jar candles are a favorite!

After the candle has burned away, you can still enjoy the beautiful glass jar by dropping in a handmade candle (ever do this?) or simply store essentials within it (makeup brushes, jewelry, etc.).

While the solid white oak (and made in the USA!) desk above is pricey, the image captures a pared-down, natural, organic look I’m always after:

An oak branch on an oak sideboard on white oak hardwood flooring is about organic as I get!

You’ll find all sorts of inspiration you never even knew you needed in books by Jenni Kayne:

Houseplants & Indoor Gardens

For years now, indoor gardens top the list for any wellbeing interior trend.

New businesses spring up everywhere that specialize in providing and caring for plants in offices and workplaces.

No idea how my plants thrive with me as their caretaker, but they do! While plants in the house are suggestive of clean, fresh air, they don’t actually clear toxins from the air (true!). They do however lift spirits.

Is GREEN Still Trending for Interiors?

With nearly 100k tuning into my FB page, it sure seems like it. As AD noted…

“…shades like emerald bring a sense of tranquility and rejuvenation into any space, whether it’s a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, or office. (It’s part of that ongoing process of reconnecting with nature.)”

Reconnecting with nature also means the demand for more sustainability is going strong. We are all ditching plastic and welcoming natural, non-toxic materials that are not manmade.

If you’re into a serene green, you’ll definitely want to peek at THIS too!

Moody greens seem a tad less popular than last year…will this be a year for citrus?

I have seen forecasters talk about *get ready for it* ALL THINGS PICKLE being the ticket in 2025.

As a lifelong sour pickle fan, I am here for it.

Is Modern Farmhouse Style Out?

When earth shut down in 2020, a whole lot of people began working remotely from home and many moved at least temporarily, to more rural environments.

Style-maker and designer Leanne Ford left LA for country living in Pennsylvania and said this about how her collection with Crate & Barrel was born:

“…it seems like everyone either moved to the country or wanted to. I fell for this look that
feels dusty, rusty and a little glam.”

Psst. In case you haven’t seen her laid back approach to decorating a Sears house in the country (with second floor ceilings so low, she couldn’t even stand up, see the tour here:

My hunch is the many folks who committed to farmhouse and modern farmhouse style aren’t ditching their investments completely. With neutrals (white sofas, white shiplap, wood coffee tables, rustic bar stools), small tweaks can freshen the look. White walls are easily repainted a warm putty or sage.

Add antiques and vintage (scored locally quite easily from online marketplaces these days) to a modern farmhouse mix for an elevated look with fresh personality. Here are some items trending two years ago…are they out yet?

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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