10 of the Biggest Sofa Trends for 2025 — These Are the Couches You'll See in the Coolest Homes This Year

Buying your sofa based on a trend isn't, necessarily, the best idea, you might think. A trend is fleeting, after all, right? And a sofa is a big purchase that needs more careful consideration.

Well, before you discount the styles of sofa that are having a moment in the spotlight, think of it this way — that plain, gray, corner sofa may feel like a safe bet, but that was once a trend, too. Trends are just a catalogue of what's inspiring designers at any given time, but your job when choosing a new couch is weeding out the ideas that don't have the longevity or potential timelessness to endure the lifespan of your new sofa.

Okay, so now we know it's almost impossible for your couch not to have some relationship with interior design trends, how do you find the right one for you? Well, using sofa trends as a guide is one thing, but choosing the style that speaks to you aesthetically, as well as to the functional needs of your home is the most important piece of advice you need to follow. After all, nothing is as trendy as being authentic.

However, to give you a steer on the best bets for design-forward homes in 2025, I've curated this list with the most exciting and fresh-feeling trends for this year. These are the styles you'll necessarily see in every home yet — we're aiming to be slightly ahead of the bandwagon after all.

The last time I updated this feature at the end of 2024, however, what were once predictions have certainly come to pass as the biggest trends in 2025 so far, and I've even added some new ideas in this time around, which have been cropping up continuously in the design projects and new launches that pass by my desk.

1. Retro Influences

There's an unavoidable reference to retro styles in today's sofa trends, whether you're looking at the predilection for iconic furniture from the past or new couch designs inspired by them. It's what, to some degree, inspires most of the styles you'll see in this list, but particularly there's a leaning towards the 1970s aesthetic that's enjoying a revival right now.

A sofa such as the one pictured above in this living room by Netherlands-based Atelier ND feels right on the money, drawing on mid-century and 1970s elements. It's the Tactile Sofa, from Baxter — an Italian design brand that does this style of interior particularly well.

"The Baxter bank has many leather colors, and this soft moss green is a very soft but masculine colour next to the soft pink walls," Nicole Dohmen, founder of Atelier ND tells me. "The model is so beautifully made and the owner loved this one immediately."

2. Diplomat Style Sofas

A retro favorite that I can't seem to escape in 2025 is the Diplomat sofa for Howard Keith furniture. Designed by John Home in 1970, it's recognizable for its low but full style, and always finished in a bold, 70s-appropriate pattern, from diagonal stripes to animal print.

"This Howard Keith sofa has a strong appeal in today’s interior design world because it brings together statement design and real functionality Dymfy Erens tells me. "Its sculptural form, with those soft curves and low profile, adds an architectural element to a space. It offers a great balance between comfort and visual impact, and a retro elegance. But it doesn’t feel stuck in the past, it feels fresh, bold, and completely relevant."

If sourcing an original Howard Keith sofa isn’t possible (after all, they're sought-after designer pieces fetching 10s of thousands of pounds), the key is to capture the essence of its design through shape, texture, and styling. "Look for a sofa with similar low-slung proportions and soft, sculptural curves, those features really define the Howard Keith look," Dymfy says. "Or find a nice vintage side chair and upholster it with one of the many retro-inspired fabrics available."

3. Animal Print

An animal print sofa might sound scary, but it's fair to say we're seeing a revival of decorating with animal print in interiors to such a degree that it's being embraced for design-forward couches.

"Animal print has experienced a major resurgence in contemporary design," interior designer Koren Owens agrees. "It's no longer the tacky, over-the-top statement it once was. Today it is used almost as a neutral print, blending with other materials and textures to create a modern, edgy space. With this resurgence, many of the higher end textile companies have created the most stunning animal prints."

Our pick for right now? A tiger print style similar to the one used in Koren's project above. "I think tiger print is one of the more sophisticated and elegant patterns of all the animal prints. We often see cheetah used so I tend to mix it up a bit to avoid falling in with the trends."

4. Box Pleat Sofas

The box pleat sofa was something we spotted emerging at the very end of last year, and it continues to hit the right tone for the coming year.

But what exactly is it? It's a sofa with a 'box pleat' skirt around the base, a type of pleating that creates an alternating in-and-out pleat, or a series of square pleats with gaps between. They're often seen on more traditional furniture, but have been given a more modern feel for 2025.

"The box pleat dresses up the sofa in a crisp, modern way, adding subtle verticality and playfulness to the overall composition," says David Alhadeff, founder of Future Perfect, who collaborated with Colin King on a box pleat sofa design.

However, this is a style that, right now, you can only find from more premium retailers. It's a good sign that this style of sofa is still on the "breaking" side of the trend scale, rather than being over the hill, but means if that's out of your budget, you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for new wallet-friendly designs as and when they launch.

However, my one trick for getting the look for less? Bemz, a company that retails modern IKEA sofa covers, has a box pleat design, but you'll need to factor that in on top of the cost of whichever IKEA sofa you choose too.

5. Croissant Sofas

Let's face it, curved sofas are going nowhere. But, where once the lines of these designs were organic and wobbly, the new take on the curve is a little bit neater and more refined.

The new shape is reminiscent of a croissant, with a sweeping curve and low back that marries elegance with cocooning comfort.

"While it has a formal aesthetic due to its clean lines and elegant form, its comfortable seating makes it versatile enough for casual relaxation as well," say Joëlle Alexa Kütner and Jesse Rudolph, founders of LA-based studio Ome Dezin, who chose a croissant-shaped sofa (in form and, surprisingly, color) for this project. It's an evolution of the curved boucle sofa craze and, honestly, one that's a lot more sensible for the majority of homes.

6. Dual Aspect Sofas

The multi-directional living room sofa functions as a clever way to stop this piece of furniture from becoming a block to how the room flows, and how you can use it to interact with the rest of an open-concept space.

"Multidirectional sofas are ideal for people who host a lot of guests," says Richard Misso, creative director at the Stylesmiths. "They help disperse a crowd and create intimate smaller groups which make it easier to converse. They are also great for dual-purpose living zones. For example, one side can be used for a semi-formal living room and the other could be utilized as a TV sofa. This would ideally take up less floor space whilst providing a dual purpose."

"In general, these sofas take up less floor space than two traditional sofas back-to-back, making them ideal when space is an issue," says Richard. "Additionally, in many cases, the purchase of one multidirectional sofa could be less costly than two traditional sofas. Multidirectional sofas can provide a more interesting aesthetic and help break up a room into separate zones, especially in an open concept space."

7. The Camaleonda

When it comes to iconic sofas, the Camaleonda, designed by the legendary designer Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, still remains the go-to for contemporary homes with character.

"What I find particularly appealing about Bellini's designs, including the Camaleonda sofa, is their emphasis on modularity," explains architect Agi Kuczyńska, founder of Takk Studio. "This characteristic makes the sofa an ideal choice for private spaces, as it allows for flexibility and adaptability in any given interior."

8. Pit Sofas

The conversation pit might feel like a retro throwback, but it makes a lot of sense for the way we want to use our homes in 2025. Whether sunken in the living room, or by opting for a "pit sofa", it's a way to turn the sofa from something simply turned towards a TV, to something that makes a living space sociable.

In this design for her own home, interior designer Kelly Keay created this sunken space with this in mind. "The sunken living room was to create a space where people would be able to relax and enjoy each other," Kelly explains. "This acts as a designated space for socializing before and after dinner parties as well as a space we go to relax with each other — it is surprisingly used daily."

9. Sofas With End Shelves

Integrating a side table into a sofa design helps to streamline your furniture, helping create a more minimalist living room.

"This particular sofa design with a built-in side table not only provides structured yet casual seating but is also an innovative feature," says Emilija Hopenaite from The Stylesmiths. "It adds convenience and also maximizes space in modern settings. By providing a designated area for drinks, electronic devices, or soft furnishings, this built-in side table eliminates the need for additional furniture pieces, making it particularly appealing for smaller living spaces or modern apartments where space is at a premium."

10. Fluted Designs

Soft and sculptural, fluting brings a new dimension to living room furniture.

"These sofas are so desirable because of their versatility for traditional and transitional interiors," says Eddie Maestri, principal and owner of Maestri Studio. "The lack of back cushions allows for a simpler and tidier look, and the tufting and fluting keep the sofa looking structured even in a home with children, dogs, and a busy life all over."

The design above, used in an apartment by Madrid-based design studio De La Villa, is a take on De Sede's Serpentine sofa — an iconic fluted design. "This sofa has a unique design, with a structure of wavy lines that give it a sculptural character," says interior designer Victoria Sánchez Maestre. "We chose it because, aside from being a striking piece, it combines comfort with a strong visual appeal."

FAQs

What sofa textiles are on trend for 2025?

Having visited Milan and Paris Design Week this year, I can speak to two big material trends that we're going to see more and more of in interiors in the year to come.

Boucle sofas aren't a new trend by any stretch of the imagination, but the take for 2025 is less about the gleaming white fabrics we've seen before, but different colors and combinations that still benefit from the texture of these looped textiles. One of the biggest micro-trends I spotted in terms of boucle sofas in particular was the use of "two-tone" boucle, where the base is a darker shade than the loops. It's a subtle effect, but gives the material the sense of a richer, deeper color.

Another textile I spotted in abundance was chenille — the retro, more dramatic cousin of velvet. It's a fabric with a lot of texture, even compared to classic velvet sofas, and that has a vintage leaning, coming through in the 1970s revival we're seeing in interiors right now. It's a bold but glamorous choice that I'm hoping people pick up on for a fresh take on luxurious-looking couches.

The last textile I spotted in Milan this year was suede, a potentially unexpected sofa material, as it leaves the patterns and imprints of whoever sits on it. However, I must say it felt like a very cool texture to add to a space.

What color sofas are on trend for 2025?

2025 about bold and daring designs, statement-making hues, and more. Sofa color trends such as deep blue, punchy red, charcoal grey, and moss green will be big for sofas.

The most exciting color trend of the year though has to be unexpected purple. This rich, punchy, power-dressing color is ideal for making a statement but one that doesn't necessarily have to steal too much focus if you pick the right shade.