6 "Essential" Architecture Trends Design Lovers Need to Know
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Every defining architectural era begins with a trend. For Brutalism, it was functional and quick construction to repair cities after World War II. For rococo, it was the style shift after Louis XIV. But unlike paint colors or bathroom tile, architectural trends are much more lasting. The trend cycle has been getting faster and faster thanks to social media algorithms, and the top architecture trends of 2025 are reminding us to slow down. From arched doorways to ADUs, it’s no secret that certain styles have been dominating the design world in recent years, and experts agree it’s time for a change.
“Although architectural trends have always existed, it appears that social media and home-improvement television have exacerbated the furor,” Ross Padluck of Kligerman Architecture and Design says. “The tragic oversaturation of the 2010s modern farmhouse is akin to the 1950s Atomic Ranch.” Like all interior design, Padlock agrees it’s best to avoid the style of the moment and chart your own path.
We tapped four architects to reveal their top architecture trend predictions ahead of peak building time (aka spring and summer). Read on to discover the top five architecture trends of 2025, as well as learn how to incorporate the styles in your own home.
Natural Modernism
“More and more, we are seeing requests for modern design with more glass, steel, wood, and stone,” Seth Ballard of DC-based Ballard + Menusa Architecture says. “I would label it natural modern as opposed to the standard modernist movement or even contemporary style.” Larger windows, more raw materials, and the use of nature-inspired colors all accentuate the desire for people to be more connected to their surroundings in an increasingly digital world.
Historical Character
“The white farmhouse with black windows is extremely overdone, and we are seeing a reaction to this from clients. While it was ‘all the rage,’ there are lots of requests for more color again,” Ballard says. “Modern industrial and modern Tudor homes are having some popularity right now, along with a sleeker take on French Country.” Of course, Ballard says that historical popularity depends on where you live. Victorian homes are more popular in areas like San Francisco, where the architecture was popular in its original era.
1920s Details
“I have a strong appreciation for the architecture of the 1920s and 1930s—early modernism combined with meticulously detailed, restrained traditional styles. There was a real sense of craftsmanship in those designs,” John Ike of the bicoastal firm Ike Baker Velten says. “Something I’ve noticed more often recently is sculptural forms with minimal details using natural materials such as wood, stone, and brick, often seen with tile or metal roofs.”
Closed Floor Plans
The days of loft-like living are over, at least according to Padluck. “Overall, we’re seeing more defined floor plans as a movement away from open concepts,” he explains. “Formal dining rooms are rarely required, so now the table finds a place in a large room for gathering with the kitchen dedicated to its own, separate space.”
Third Spaces at Home
In today’s communities, there is a distinct lack of third spaces. Libraries have been replaced by Kindles and clubs by online forums. Instead, architecture duo Catherine and VW Fowlkes, the husband and wife team behind DC-based Fowlkes Studios, say that these moments are moving back inside the home. “There are certainly trends in architectural spaces (rather than features or details) that reflect the general expectations people have for a home,” Catherine Fowlkes says. “Modern living can include dedicated spaces to sleep guests and store children’s sports equipment but also for things that used to be exclusively out of the home, like exercising and workspaces.”
American-Made Materials
“Clients are much more conscious of where building materials come from,” Padluck says. “Years of supply chain issues through the Covid pandemic, political upheaval, and tariff threats have us sourcing many more products made in the States.” This shift can also cut down on building timelines as shipping times grow shorter and goods (even materials like wood, stone, and metal) are increasingly becoming locally sourced.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
You Might Also Like
