Introducing Home Accents Today’s 2025 Trend Advisors

As we kick off 2025, we would like to introduce you to our new panel of trend advisors who will contribute to our “Notable” print feature each month (formerly known as “New & Noteworthy” in print.) Here, they discuss the cultural and fashion direction, the colors and other outside influences that will make the biggest impact on home design this year.

Saana Baker, founder, Editor-in-Chief The Textile Eye

Known for her meticulous work, Baker studied textile design with an emphasis on weaving at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating, she worked in New York at domestic upholstery mills and as the director of woven design for the fabric house Schumacher. After moving to the West Coast, Baker’s recent project includes the creation of The Textile Eye, a trend and show report on home textiles, shibori and indigo dying explorations. Over her 25-year career, she has helped craft lines for Schumacher, Barbara Barry, David Phoenix and Jiun Ho, and has acted as guest art director on more than a few licensed lines for name designers. Baker’s work has been used in the White House State Dining Room as drapery, and she is currently learning to rebuild an 1890’s Victorian fixer-upper in San Francisco.

What cultural, fashion, color or other trends outside of our industry do you think will most influence home design in 2025/26? 

Fiber art. The art world’s embrace of textiles is set to influence home design as art and design merge at events like ZonaMaco, Art Basel and Milan Design Week. Bold colors, reuse concepts and traditional techniques like knotting, patchwork and macramé are leading the way.

What is one trend you hope the industry will leave behind? 

Taste by algorithm. Too many designs are driven by sales data and social media trends, leaving originality behind. Fast-home fashion sacrifices quality and personal connection. Trends should inspire, not dictate — choose what you truly love, buy the best you can, and let it last.

Keith Recker, Editor-in-Chief TABLE Magazine

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Recker is now back in his home state after 30 years in New York, Rome, San Francisco and elsewhere. During his career, he has provided color intelligence to industry leaders including Pantone Color Institute, WGSN, Stylus and The Color Association of the United States. His diverse career includes positions as a home furnishings executive at Saks Fifth Avenue, Gump’s San Francisco and Bloomingdale’s; executive director at Aid to Artisans and creative director at the International Folk Art Market. He has also worked in artisan business development in almost 60 countries. Recker is currently the editor-in-chief of TABLE Magazine, a print and online journal about food, drink, tabletop and living a great life in the 21^st century. Recker has authored three books including: The Twentieth Century in Color (Chronicle Books, 2012), True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments (Schiffer Books, revised second edition, September 2020) and Deep Color: The Shades That Shape Our Souls (Schiffer Books, October 2022).

What cultural, fashion, color or other trends outside of our industry do you think will most influence home design in 2025/26? 

The single most important driver is comfort. And by that I do not only mean fuzzy and cozy. The world needs to be soothed and satisfied. Our nerves need a rest. Our discourse needs to calm down. We need to take a beat and replenish, restore and reconsider. Because I believe we can make a strong argument that the internet and social media are nudging us toward an almost post-trend environment, comfort will be defined individually and within the smallish circles of family, community and region. For some, soothing near-neutrals circling around Mocha Mousse will suffice. For others, enriched vitamin doses of dramatic color and texture will be required. Because our need for comfort is almost medicinal, one thing is for sure: offering the same “stuff” isn’t the remedy we’re looking for. Serious creativity is required.

What is one trend you hope the industry will leave behind? 

I feel we’ve seen enough bouclé textiles to last a lifetime. Likewise with any light that glows with a deadly too-blue Kelvin that does no good for anyone’s complexion or mood.

Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf, principal at Project Partners Network

As the co-founder of the Project Partners Network, Schwarzkopf works with some of the world’s largest corporations. In this role, she evaluates competitive intelligence in retail and trade show environments, offers general marketing support, trend reporting and research. As a trend expert, she is constantly looking for unexpected, innovative and inspired opportunities to promote differentiation and business growth. Schwarzkopf previously led General Mills’ trademark licensing team for six years overseeing the Betty Crocker, Pillsbury Doughboy, Wheaties and Cheerios brands. During that time, she tripled the licensee base for several properties, integrated Pillsbury’s properties into General Mills’ portfolio during the billion-dollar food giants’ merger, redeveloped the company’s licensee summits, and structured programs to improve licensees’ start-up and speed-to-market time. As a sought-after speaker, Schwarzkopf is a frequent presenter at global trade shows, licensing events and gift shows. A self-proclaimed product and manufacturing junkie, she loves to see how things are designed and made, and is also known as a pioneer in establishing industry-wide best practices.

What cultural, fashion, color or other trends outside of our industry do you think will most influence home design in 2025/26?

With economic pressure still a critical concern, consumers are often looking toward licensed products not only for inspiration but assurance on quality or a certain design aesthetic. I see this will continue into the coming years with tastemakers (brands, influencers, celebrities) and tribes. To illustrate the second, there’s been an uptick in sports-related licensed products in the past year. A sense of connection is a primary driver.

Madeline Stewart, Mustard Seed Home Director of Marketing and Merchandising

A High Point, N.C., native, Stewart graduated from the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University with a BS in Textiles Marketing and Brand Management. She is an Allied ASID member and has her certification in interior design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. For eight years, she has worked in marketing, B2B sales and senior management in furniture manufacturing. In 2022, Madeline joined her husband’s family business, the Mustard Seed Market, to create an omnichannel marketing structure and establish their second location, Mustard Seed Home. Madeline specializes in marketing, public relations, merchandising, styling and buying for the Mustard Seed shops. Under her leadership, Mustard Seed Home was a finalist for the 34th and 35th ART Awards. She has also been recognized as a Rising Star in Furniture Today, People to Watch and a Retail Star in Home Accents Today and was the recipient of the 2020 Future Leader Award from WITHIT. 

What cultural, fashion, color or other trends outside of our industry do you think will most influence home design in 2025/26?

We’ve seen a recent push in opulence and extravagance on the runway, especially from high fashion brands such as Saint Laurent and Dries Van Noten. I love the concept of maximalism and depth in color and textiles, such as lush velvets, jewel tones and pattern play. I believe we will see more of this moving into the home décor and furniture industry in 2025 as opposed to minimalist design, in an effort to create a warm, inviting, and full home without seeming cluttered.

What is one trend you hope the industry will leave behind? 

I would love to see nesting tables phased out in 2025. While I understand the necessity of maximizing surface area in a smaller space, they can start to feel cluttered quickly. I prefer a unique accent table or a smaller-scale statement piece that doubles as an end table instead of nesting tables to promote simplicity and open space in a home.

Erika Woelfel, Behr Paint Company Vice President of Color and Creative Services

Woelfel has been the vice president, color & creative services for the Behr Paint Company for the past 16 years. With more than two decades in the paint industry, Woelfel has always had a passion for color and design. Her background includes a mix of color consulting, trend forecasting, visual merchandising, graphic design, photography and product development. At Behr Paint Company, she and the creative team are dedicated to helping people find the perfect color for their walls. Woelfel also has international experience in color marketing, trending, visual merchandising and palette development for the paint and decorative product industries.

What cultural, fashion, color or other trends outside of our industry do you think will most influence home design in 2025/26?

New technologies and AI are changing our world at a rapid pace. AI is impacting design aesthetics for home décor by creating dreamy roomscapes that blur the line between the real and digital world.

What is one trend you hope the industry will leave behind?

Hoping to see more joyful and energetic colors working their way into home décor in 2025/26.

See also:

What to expect from Home Accents Today in 2025