2025 Residential Trend: Playful Minimalism
ABOUT THE TREND
As we weather the challenges of the global polycrisis, Playful Minimalism offers joyful moments of escape and reprieve.
This trend blurs the lines between maximalist and minimalist aesthetics—balancing minimalism with bold colour juxtapositions that explore high and low, tactile elements and playful forms. Designers and individuals are encouraged to create emotionally resonant spaces in the home which prioritise sensory connection and moments of delight.
Authentic self-expression is key—avoid overly curating the home and instead craft invitations for people to engage with spaces through touch, shape and material. Whether through exaggerated tactility, kid-ult motifs or bold hardware accents, Playful Minimalism reflects a design approach that is practical and imaginative, and fosters creativity and individuality in everyday living.
PROOF POINTS
+160% Percentage increase in #boldminimalism on WGSN interiors feed for Aug 2024 YOY
TikTok views for #DopamineDecor +26% YoY
Kidult style is trending—from Salone del Mobile 2024, to rising social media trends and playful cartoon-inspired forms—joyful, childlike references are resonating across generations.
COLOUR AND STYLING CONSIDERATIONS
Confident use of colour
Pair maximalist colour with minimalist forms or vice versa, to create dramatic contrasts and bold juxtapositions.
Playful silhouettes
Embrace curves, cartoon-style shapes, emoji-like motifs and exaggerated organic forms to introduce playfulness and joy into the home.
Tactile finishes
Experiment with powder-coated metals, high-gloss surfaces, scalloped edges and hyper-textural elements to enhance sensory engagement. Balance the playful aesthetic with more paired back, minimal flooring—think woods, neutral-toned carpets or monotone tiles.
Featured products
Tarkett Venetto Linoleum 688
Tarkett iQ Eminent Pale Yellow
Karndean LooseLay Mountain Spotted Gum
Jacobsen Aotea White Mosaic Tile
Jacobsen Hause Textured Loop Pile Carpet Three
