A Trend Forecaster Just Told Me 2025's Most Sophisticated Color Scheme Is Inspired by This Type of Food

Where overly sweet pastel shades have been booming in popularity in recent years, for 2025, things are getting a little more grounded... Quite literally. Vegetal hues use the rustic, earthy colors of our plates to form a particularly stunning interior palette inspired by root veg, brassicas, and more. Though we might all still be in the cozy comfort food months of winter, this trend forecaster says we should be looking to the colorful shades of our gardens for home inspiration.

"Food's influence on color continues to grow. However, dainty desserts are swapped for hearty sides. Marshmallow pastels like lavender and mint give way to grounded vegetal colors. Lettuces, olives, beans, and onions act as inspiration, creating new interest in muddy yet sophisticated reds and greens," says Rebecca Goesling, trend forecaster and the director of design at Goesling Group.

From oil painting still lives of artichokes and eggplants to major fashion brands releasing tomato candles and baguette-shaped bags; food has always served as delicious inspiration across creative fields. Now the saturated hues of our favorite vegetables have sprouted into our interiors.

Next time you pull out your phone to snap a photo of a perfectly plated asparagus stem or side salad, you might want to consider adding it to your interior design mood board. I talked to color experts, trend forecasters, and designers to get the scoop on how to harvest this latest color trend.

The shift towards the warm shades of a hearty harvest comes from the stylish defiance popular in contemporary design — embracing moments of bold color and unexpected accents that invite character and joy. Think rich oxblood red and Pantone's Mocha Mousse, but with a tasty twist.

Rebecca Goesling explains "What we're seeing currently is disillusionment, excess, and misaligned expectations sparking a new wave of conscious surrealism, drawing inspiration from 1920s Paris — a time when indulgence and the unconventional thrived. Food, central to these cultural conversations, becomes a tool for prolonging joy, redefining taste, and challenging expectations through reverence for "trash" foods, deceptive dishes, and mind-altering ingredients. Humble veggies have become the key ingredient in delivering the unexpected. From a design standpoint, this comes to life in vegetal hues seen in the home—an array of reds, greens, and grays."

Simone Wilson, color and trend expert at Voyage Maison highlights that there has also been a noticeable shift in interior design trends that focus on wellbeing and how our surroundings affect our mood. "We’ve seen this with biophilic design, which focuses on bringing nature into our homes. Lately, the idea of creating a 'healing habitat' at home has also become popular. Aiming to create spaces that support both our mental and physical health and the vegetal hues trend pairs perfectly with this celebration of nature."

Colors to Look For

Color specialist and interior director at Lick Paint, Tash Bradley, highlights, "As we gravitate towards natural, timeless colors that have an enduring quality, colors found in nature have an innate ability to create harmony in the home." However, natural in this instance does not mean an all-beige living room design. Greens, purples, reds, and surprisingly greys are all on the table when it comes to vegetal hues.

It is as easy as looking to your favorite sides for inspiration. "The rich, dark purple is like the deep hue of eggplant, exuding warmth and sophistication. The calming green brings to mind dark leafy greens, like lacinato kale, while the deep, vivid orange is a nod to the vibrant tones of carrots and pumpkins," says Simone.

From the jewel tones of hearty cabbage to the zesty vibrance of bell peppers and chartreuse celery, vegetal shades capture the beauty and richness of natural produce while still keeping a calming and sophisticated sense of serenity.

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How to Style Vegetal Colors

A split complementary palette, or double-drenched space, is a great starting point in styling these shades. For instance, pair a classic red focal point with both yellow-green and blue-green accents. "That could mean a lipstick-red sofa with citron and jade throws or a red-stained dining table studded with olive dishes and teal textiles. Play around and don't be afraid to get funky with it," says Rebecca.

There is no wrong way to try your hand at this trend. Vegetal shades can be incorporated through small, simple nods with soft furnishings or by completely immersing your space with wallpaper and paint. "In the living room, think about layering your sofa with sage green or burnt orange throws and matching cushions for extra warmth. For the bedroom, eggplant hues are a great choice to create a rich cocooning space —bring them in with your bedding, cushions, and a table lamp to create a luxurious look," says Simone.

As for specific color ideas, Tash says to "Embrace the dark, luxurious aubergine and beetroot tones and drench your entire room in it." Or for bursts of bell pepper red, try accents like painted trims and doorframes or painted ceilings for a pop of energy.

If you lean towards minimalism in interior design, onion-inspired off-whites, and warm root vegetable tones all lend themselves to being styled with natural woods, marbles, and linens for a timeless and grounding look. Rich, vegetal shades also pair beautifully with metallic finishes creating a harmonious balance between texture and tone.

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Farm to table...to interiors? This color trend is serving up a hearty helping of style.