Comfort, Color, and Character: Sonia Smith on the Top Home Design Trends in 2025
Interior design is moving in a bold new direction—and according to Lighthouse Custom Homes’ Sonia Smith, comfort is at the centre of it all.
“I am an interior designer and a project manager… As soon as the homeowners are finished their contract documents with our sales team, they hop over onto the design phase and that’s where we take over. We essentially lead them through design development all the way through to construction.”
Once the building process begins, Smith’s role continues.
“Through construction, we kind of take more of a project management role with them, until they get possession.”
Now a few months into her role at Lighthouse, Smith is already seeing major changes in what homeowners want. Social media is a big influence.
“There’s a couple of key home builders, designers down in the States that are trending all over social media—Instagram, Pinterest,” she says. “So quite often we get requests to align their designs with those designers and some of the things that they’re known for.”
But while American design stars are catching attention, Smith looks to Europe for what’s really next.
“I always look to Europe. I find that Europe usually is a key trendsetter as to what’s coming our way in the next couple of years. And I think it has a lot to do with everything like fashion as well. Fashion actually has quite a bit of impact on interiors, which is kind of crazy to say, but it’s true.”
Say Goodbye to Open Concept?
One of the most surprising shifts? Open concept floor plans are fading.
“We, for the longest time, were all about open spaces and now we’re going the opposite way,” Smith explains. “We’re now seeing a need to identify areas by creating separation, going back to the traditional layouts.”
Why the change? It’s about how homes make us feel.
“In terms of human psychology, we like to be cozy, we like to feel secure, we like to feel like we’re protected. And these open spaces did the opposite. As much as it was nice to have everything kind of open to each other, it also created this sense of just vulnerability in a way.”
The design of the new Lighthouse show home at Alpine Park is already reflecting this return to cozy, defined spaces.
A Darker, Richer Colour Palette
Another major shift? A move away from bright whites and minimal tones.
“We’re steering away from the white, white everything. Now it’s going back to what they’re calling colour drenching,” says Smith.
Colour drenching is a technique where one colour—often a darker, moodier tone—is used across an entire space: walls, ceiling, trim, and millwork.
“It creates a very cozy and immersive feel,” Smith explains. “Darker colours make things feel kind of smaller and tighter again. And that brings a sense of comfort and coziness.”
The Comeback of Character Materials
With bold colour also comes bold material choices. One of the biggest surprises? The return of travertine stone.
“That was something that 20 years ago was very, very popular and it went away for multiple reasons—mostly to do with even just maintenance and cleaning.”
“But now I’m seeing that it’s coming back again. Floors, walls, ceilings, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms—it’s definitely on its way back.”
The reaction is mixed, Smith admits. “Some people are going to love it, some people are going to hate it. I don’t know that I love it, but then again, it just depends I guess on how it’s applied.”
Along with travertine, rich wood tones and saturated finishes are also making a strong return, replacing the sterile feel of white-on-white interiors with more warmth, texture, and personality.
A Cozy Future
Looking ahead, Smith says homeowners are embracing spaces that feel safe, comforting, and personal.
“Creating these closed-in spaces, colour drenching them, it’s also very impactful,” she says.
Having recently joined the team at Lighthouse Custom Homes, Smith is excited to help clients bring this next era of design to life.
Mario Toneguzzi
Professional Media Expert
Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 and 2024 a Top Ten Business Journalist in the world and only Canadian. He also made the RETHINK’s global list as a Top Retail Expert 2024 and 2025.