Looking for a new sofa? These are the sofa trends designers are loving in 2025 to help you make good shopping choices

Shopping for a sofa is a pretty big deal. Not only are they quite an investment, but they're the commanding centerpiece to your living room or snug, and most importantly: they need to be super comfy.

There’s a growing desire for homes to feel more curated and characterful, and sofas are a key part of that narrative. Whether it’s through luxury fabrics, bold prints, or bespoke upholstery, people are looking to make their living spaces feel uniquely their own in 2025. Which up until recently, sofa furniture trends just didn't allow.

So, if you are in the market for one of the best couches, our thorough research of the top sofa trends of 2025 might just help with your decision process. Here, we've spoken to top designers and sofa makers to get you all the low-down.

10 sofa trends to look out for in 2025

A sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture that you will purchase for your living room. As a general rule of thumb, your chosen design should be comfortable and supportive to sit in, crafted from durable, long-lasting materials, and ultimately look beautiful and embody your sense of style – this is a purchase that needs much thought and consideration.

We know that interior design trends can come and go, but many of these designer-approved sofa trends will last way beyond 2025, and we hope they leave you feeling inspired.

1. Rich fabrics with luxurious textures

'Rich colors are always a go-to for us as well when we're designing living rooms,' says Jenna Kincaid, creative director at Lulu & Georgia. 'Velvets in chocolate, terracotta, or sage always add a luxe feel and are especially big news in 2025.'

'2025 is shaping up to be a year of bold, tactile interiors where layering patterns and textures take center stage,' agrees Andrew Cussins, CEO and design director at Sofas & Stuff. Materials such as velvet, linen, and boucle are particularly favored for their ability to add depth and dimension to living spaces.

'We're seeing a growing desire for fabrics that bring richness and depth to spaces, with velvets – particularly patterned velvet – becoming a defining feature across upholstery and other soft furnishings,' he adds. 'This shift towards touchable textures and vibrant design is allowing people to express their individuality in every corner of their homes'.

2. Loose, skirted upholstery

For those looking for a lesson formal alternative to a structured couch, a loose linen upholstered piece – or one covered with a slipcover – can really change the look of your living room and create a more relaxed atmosphere in the space.

We have to give thanks here to the Nancy Meyers aesthetic, which was huge news in 2024, for bringing the slip-covered sofa back on trend. Because this is a style that feels comfortable and lived-in, it works particularly well for the rom-com-inspired home.

'Sofas are getting a more expressive and layered look this year, with a resurgence of fringe bottoms and skirted bases,' says Kailee Blalock from House of Hive Design. 'Skirts (whether tailored or loose) help create a grounded, refined silhouette. These elements help conceal dust and dirt, making them as practical as they are stylish.'

Perfect for a coastal living room, like the one seen above by Serena & Lily, the brand's chief design officer, Kirsty Williams says: 'Skirted sofas have always had an enduring appeal as people seek to incorporate softness and layers into their living environments in a tailored way,' she explains. 'Both dressmaker’s skirts and box pleated skirts strike a balance of subtle and thoughtful details that add depth and character without overpowering the silhouette of the piece.'

3. Relaxed silhouettes

'We're loving seeing the return of more relaxed sofa trends like skirted sofas or roll-arm styles,' adds Jenna Kincaid from Lulu & Georgia. With homes taking a softer, more laid-back approach to design, we want our sofas to feel approachable and inviting, rather than rigid and structured.

These styles are designed for sinking into after a long day. Taking loose covers one step further, there’s something inherently comforting about a roll-arm sofa or one plumped with pillows instead of a more traditional silhouette. Gaining attention for its casual design, a pillow-back sofa features many loose, oversized cushions that provide an inviting seat to sink into.

These low-profile couch styles offer flexibility as you can arrange the cushions to suit individuals' comfort preferences. However, it's important to note that the loose cushions may require regular fluffing and adjustment to maintain their appearance.

4. Soft and sculptural shapes

Fluid, sculptural sofa designs featuring elegant curves have been popular sofa trends over the last few years, and are still proving popular in 2025. Helping to create a more relaxing and calming atmosphere, these softer silhouettes come in all shapes and sizes, from grand three-seaters to compact and cozy loveseats, and create a cozy, cocoon of comfort.

Vermont-based interior designer Joshua Smith says, 'We are seeing more sectionals become curved instead of square. Curves reemerged in the past few years but are coming to a climax in the coming year, from sectional sofas to dining tables to coffee tables. The curves lean more biophilic and biomorphic as we crave more nature. Mother Nature does organic shapes best, so it makes sense we’d want to pull that inspiration into our homes.'

We explore in our dedicated piece, are curved couches still on trend? Spoiler: it's a resounding yes.

5. Contrast trim

For a fun way to elevate a traditional sofa, adding contrast trim like piping, fringe, or box pleating is a great way to give it a new lease of life and feel super on-trend for 2025.

'Fringe adds a sense of movement, softness, and a touch of vintage glamour, but beyond fringe, we’re seeing a rise in contrast welting and piping,' Kailee continues. 'Instead of relying solely on accent pillows to bring personality, designers are integrating color and contrast directly into the upholstery. This allows for a more customized and higher-end feel where even a neutral sofa can have an interesting edge with a complementary or unexpected piping detail.'

'Contrast piping is another trend we’re seeing as people look to create statement pieces that feel personal to them – it’s an effective way of creating a striking look by emphasizing the lines of the sofa silhouette,' adds Andrew from Sofas & Stuff.

Adding a subtle pop of color or texture to your sofa with a trim, like piping, helps to highlight and accentuate the overall look of the sofa. This subtle yet impactful detail allows you to introduce additional color and dimension into the living room without overwhelming the existing decor.

6. Earth tones

This year, the color palette for sofas is without doubt one derived from a palette of warm, rich, earth tones and we've got this on pretty good authority. Taking our cues from the 2025 color of the year from most leading brands, including the infamous Pantone's Mocha Mousse, warm neutrals and decorating with brown are set to endure into 2025.

'I’m noticing a shift towards deeper, earthier tones like terracotta and umber – hues that instantly evoke a sense of warmth and grounding,' says Lucy Uren, founder & creative director at Rowen & Wren. 'When paired with tactile fabrics such as brushed linen, these tones add a beautiful depth and richness to a room.'

Designer Kathy Kuo agrees, suggesting this can also be introduced with smaller items like cushions and blankets. 'Try adding warm earth tones like terracotta, sienna, and mahogany and mixing different woven textures together,' she suggests. 'I love the idea of adorning your sofa with a mix of throw pillows with different cozy tones in chunky knits, distressed leather, and even hair-on-hide.'

Leigh Harmer, founder & designer at Love Your Home agrees. 'There’s a growing preference for earthy tones and softer, muddier pinks and browns, which reflect a desire for grounding and comfort in our interiors.'

7. Personality-packed pattern

'This year, we’ll see a shift towards bolder, statement fabrics on sofas that draw inspiration from the art world, with designs that feel like a canvas brought to life,' continues Leigh Harmer. 'These pieces allow homeowners to express individuality and bring personality into their spaces.'

The great thing about adding a patterned sofa to your space is that it allows you to be more expressive and show your personality – think of it as a more subtle alternative to patterned wallpaper ideas, and depending on your chosen style, the effect can be both bold and understated.

Additionally, David from Andrew Martin is seeing a resurgence of more folk-inspired prints and patterns. 'Trends for 2025 are showcasing a vibrant blend of cultural influences and artistic expressions, with a notable emphasis on folk-inspired embroidery and South American textiles,' he adds. 'Embroidery techniques such as chain stitch and crewelwork are used to add texture and dimension to fabrics, creating a handcrafted look that stands out in any space.'

8. Custom upholstery

One of the biggest trends this year, across the board, sees interior designers embracing a movement towards custom pieces, allowing for more unique pieces that perfectly fit, pattern match, or align with their creative vision.

The reason this is gaining popularity is due to our shared desire to make our homes sing with personality in 2025, a far cry from the rather soul-less minimalist designs of later years. This means you can really look to show off your personality with a print or color that resonates with you – moving us away from mass-produced, matchy-matchy sofas.

'I am officially shouting from the rooftops that everyone needs to invest in a custom-upholstered sofa,' says designer Kathy Kuo. 'Spending a little more upfront for a sofa that is fully customized for your lifestyle and needs, and that has the exact color, texture, and size that you want is the best investment in your home decor that you can make,' she suggests.

'A high-quality custom-upholstered sofa goes beyond 'trend' – this is a timeless purchase that is going to save you money in the long run since you will be able to have it for years and years, and it's also more sustainable.'

9. Nod to nostalgic designs

Of course, many trends are influenced by designs and styles of the past, and one nostalgic trend that is back in a big way is an 80s influence on interior design. A fabric trend that has seen a resurgence across upholstery in homes both classic and contemporary, and that is synonymous with an 80s style, is charming chintz.

Chintz is often defined by beautiful patterns of lively, colorful florals, and can be a wonderful style to use for both your curtain ideas and living room seating ideas – especially for an English country decor look.

Designer and co-founder of Andrew Martin, Martin Waller says, 'in fabrics, we are seeing a trend for vintage florals, which are relaxed and colorful, being punctuated with rich velvets for casual and comfortable living.'

10. Extra deep cushions

For many of us, the key thing we look for when purchasing a new sofa is how comfortable and cozy the design is.

Of course, these factors are not so much sofa trends, but more crucial requirements, however, this year we will see sofas that exaggerate these important features, with big, oversized designs with deep, plump cushions taking center stage. Gone are the uptight cocktail sofas that offer a stiff perch, replaced by deep, slouchy seating that's designed to make you kick up your feet and sprawl out.

Martin Waller suggests 'The importance of curating a space to re-connect with friends and loved ones has been brought into focus in 2025. Whether it’s indoors or out, comfortable seating requires pieces big enough to lounge on however many guests you are entertaining. A mix of both sofas and chairs is key to making sure everyone gets a seat, extra depth means these remain relaxing even with lots of people.'

FAQs

What Sofa Colors Are On Trend In 2025?

From earth tones to warming, bright color palettes, there are many sofa colors to look out for in 2025 sofa trends – as well as what couch colors to avoid.

It seems we are stepping away from classic neutrals such as gray and beige, and making way for a new era of neutrals with roots in the natural world, from deep sea blue to moss green and rich rust reds and oranges.

Dani Burroughs from Snug says, 'we are definitely seeing a rise in blues – a deep blue with a gray undertone is the new hottest hue in town. Matching up with dark and dramatic or a calming and chic vibe, what’s not to love?

Contrastingly, we are taking more risk when it comes to using color in our homes, with many of us using furniture pieces such as sofas to make a real statement with color. and pattern'

Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf supports this and says, 'light, pastel tones always work well in interiors but we’re seeing homeowners become more adventurous with color by using brighter shades. We’ve noticed that customers are looking to come away from the gray and similar neutral shades and instead are opting to inject more color into their homes.'

If you're currently in the market for a new sofa and are struggling to pick the right color, we explore the most underrated sofa colors in our dedicated feature – these are the colors that deserve a little more love.