6 Design Trends to Help You Break Out of Your Midyear Slump, According to Designers
If you’re feeling like you’re in a decorating slump, you’re not alone. We’re almost halfway through the year, and while new design trends have been emerging, and new brands are launching, maybe you haven’t had a chance to make any changes in your place. I get it — sometimes it can be hard to figure out where to start.
That’s where this list comes in. I spoke to a group of designers to identify a few different moves you can make to break out of a midyear decorating rut. Choose just one — or try them all. Any change will be a welcome one, and hopefully you can fall in love with your place all over again.
Switch to patterned lampshades.
Patterned lampshades are super popular right now, so why not weave a couple into your space if you haven’t already? “Swapping your standard white paper or linen shade for a colorful and/or patterned shade can freshen up any space, and it has never been easier,” says designer Katie Wolf of Wolf Interiors. That’s because there’s no need to go the custom route these days; thanks to stores like Pooky, Ballard Designs, World Market, and Anthropologie, you can find plenty of options at all different price points. Whether you’re in the market for a small clip-on design for a wall sconce or a floor lamp-sized statement shade, there’s truly a solution for everyone.
Hang textural wallpapers.
Wallpaper can be a transformative finish for any room, large or small. But you don’t have to settle for something with very little dimension — especially if you’re looking for an extra touch of texture. “Forget flat prints — 2025 is all about wallpapers that feel handmade,” says designer Krystal Reinhard, the founder of Old Soul Design Studio. “These are tactile, dimensional surfaces that shift depending on light and distance — far more nuanced than the smooth, mass-market options of past years.”
Designer Ali Milch is also a fan of working with textured wallpapers — specifically printed grasscloths. “I gravitate toward geometric or patterned grasscloths that break away from more traditional styles, like bold stripes in subdued color palettes that elevate a bedroom design with subtle drama,” she says.
Show the fifth wall some love.
It’s time to stop neglecting the ceiling — and why would you, when there are so many exciting decorative treatments and approaches to consider? “Bold painted ceilings and wallpapered ceilings are popping up everywhere,” says designer Jennifer Jones, the founder of Niche Interiors.
You can go in a number of different directions here. “Geometric patterns in a small to medium scale work best for enclosed spaces such as bedrooms and dining rooms,” Jones says. But if you want a simpler look, paint might be your best bet. “Pick a saturated color to create drama, add dimension, and draw attention to high ceilings,” Jones says.
If you’re craving a more tonal textured look, you could always go the pressed ceiling route. Whether sold as tiles or panels, these typically come in tin or PVC and can give you that old-world look.
Add antiques to the mix.
Reinhard is happy to see antiques having a major moment and thinks they can help you break out of a decorating rut. “In our projects, we’re often pulling from flea markets, estate sales, and even clients’ attics to find art and furniture that tells a quieter, more personal story,” she says.
Best of all, the designer adds, going the secondhand route can “help avoid the ‘catalog feel.’ It’s a subtle way to create tension and dimension in a space that feels stuck.”
Break up a neutral room with colorful chairs.
Jazz up your home with a colorful side chair — or several — suggests designer Darlene Molnar. “They’ve been overlooked in recent years in favor of their neutral counterparts, but they are a great way to update a room,” the designer explains.
If you’re looking to work one or more of these into your design scheme, focus on a few accents in key areas. “Add a pop with side chairs in a bay window — or even just swapping the end chairs at your breakfast table is a nice way of freshening up your space,” says Molnar.
Want to marry this trend with a more airy look? Molnar suggests armless styles in bright colorways, like the ones she’s used in a project shown here.
Commit to color-drenching.
Better yet, go all-in with color by implementing a color-drenching moment — one where a room’s walls, ceilings, and trim are all painted in one hue. Reinhard points out that this look is “still going strong for 2025.” Color-drenching, she says, “creates a dramatic, cozy energy that instantly recharges a tired space.” It’s also good to have in your decorating bag of tricks if you have a room with weird proportions, irregular ceiling lines, or dated trim, as it can downplay transitional areas by making everything appear continuous and unified.
Not ready to go all-in by drenching an entire room? Designer Jill Litner Kaplan suggests painting a built-in cabinet or another piece of furniture in a bold hue. “[Try] a bar turned orchid [in] color, a laundry room painted cobalt blue, or a foyer console table in royal blue,” she suggests.