After years of dominance, gray and the brutalist industrial design style are out. This year, earthy tones will lead alongside deep shades of green and purple, rounded and soft lines, and extensive use of bamboo. Here’s what the design looks like in homes in Israel in 2025.
By Hadas Magen, Nadlan Center
Anyone who observed the dominance of gray in apartment design in recent years was not mistaken. Gray has been a staple in apartment design for years: on floors (gray polished concrete), walls, and furniture. One of the significant announcements for 2025 in apartment design is the end of the gray era. This coming year, gray will make way for other colors, as evidenced by announcements from major paint companies at the dawn of the new calendar year.
Recently, paint companies announced their colors of the year. Pantone, the paint industry giant, declared “Moss Mocha” its color of the year. “This is a deep and refined chocolate-brown shade,” Pantone explained, “that evokes feelings of comfort, warmth, and calm.” Benjamin Moore chose “Cinnamon Slate,” described as “a rich, velvety cinnamon shade that elegantly blends traditional style with modern sophistication—a delicate mix of refined plum and velvety brown, offering depth and softness that exudes comfort and sophistication.”
The tradition of selecting a “Color of the Year” has also reached the Israeli paint industry. Nirlat, whose factory in Kibbutz Nir Oz was destroyed in the Hamas attack on October 7, chose a light lavender purple. It represents the desire to return to joyful and vibrant lives alongside a yearning for daily peace and serenity, home happiness, authentic design, and personal expression. Meanwhile, Tambour selected “Touch of Mint,” described as “a touch of green.” They explained: “This color was chosen under the influence of the past year, which evoked feelings of pain, doubts, and a longing for hope, stability, and renewal. The selected color symbolizes a connection to nature, growth, and blossoming, establishing a link with the renewal and optimism of the coming year.”
Deep green and burgundy with sand tones
While there isn’t one winning color, it is clear that it will now be much warmer after the cold gray. “The concrete shades are being replaced with warmer tones,” says Gal Nardi, Vice President of Marketing at Laminam, the Italian granite porcelain brand. “If 2024 was characterized by spice colors like terracotta, paprika, chrysanthemum stone, and sand tones, in 2025, we continue to feel these warm shades and sandy tones that take us back to our roots. Alongside these will be deep tones like deep green and burgundy, providing a dramatic complement.”
Architect Boaz Snir reinforces this view and adds that “the design trend emphasizing a connection to nature and basic elements is strengthening. This trend highlights natural materials that evoke a sense of earthiness, rootedness, authenticity, clean design, and pleasant warmth.”
The standout shades this year, he says, include warm white, delicate cream, natural wood in various tones, and off-white, which adds softness and sophistication. At the same time, there is a decline in the use of black as a central element, especially in kitchen design. “Black kitchen cabinets are becoming less relevant, and the tendency is towards lighter, warmer colors. Even extra-clear white, popular in recent years, gives way to softer, more organic tones that create a natural and authentic look.”
Architect Miriam Baskon mentions clay and caramel colors, and designer Vivian Berman, who regularly updates herself with the annual “TrendBook” summarizing global design trends, says that sandy tones are prominent in homes in Israel. Meanwhile, globally, deep colors like purple, blue, and green are widely used in various shades, as well as gold-yellow. The “accent wall” trend—painting one wall in a space a different color, which was very popular in the past—is less common today, says Berman. Instead, a single color is used, with variations in texture.
The Japanese influence
What about design style? On this topic, most agree that the industrial design style, characterized by exposed concrete and extensive iron use, which accompanied us in recent years, is becoming less popular. “Already in 2024, we began saying goodbye to everything related to iron and concrete, perhaps due to the war,” says Nardi. “People sought warmth and softer design elements, reflected in rounded forms. This is evident in furniture and oval tables. It connects to the warmth and softness we seek.”
Interior designer Hila Hereli, the house designer for the Oknin Furniture Gallery, also feels the industrial style is less effective today. “There is the use of natural raw materials but with rounded, softer lines,” she says. Snir points to the Japanese influence: “The Wabi-Sabi style, drawing inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, which appreciates the beauty in simplicity, imperfection, and naturalness, is gaining momentum. Additional noticeable influences come from the Nordic style, characterized by clean lines and visual calm, and desert design, inspired by the dry and warm natural landscapes, incorporating raw textures and sandy tones.”
Baskon also highlights the Japanese influence, reflected in innovative storage solutions, functionality, and order, alongside extensive use of bamboo.
Flooring: Seamless and stylish foundations
What about flooring? In recent years, polished concrete has taken the spotlight, preceded by parquet. What now? Nardi talks about large tiles, reducing the number of seams. For example, Laminam produces giant tiles measuring approximately 160 x 320 cm. Another popular material today, says Hereli, is resin, which, although artificial, allows for seamless, unified surfaces.
Designer Nofar Roz also notes the popularity of resin. “Ultimately, practicality comes first, and resin is a durable material ideal for high-use areas, including wet rooms.” The shades will be sandy and beige.
Berman says marble has a place of honor today, as does laminate—a synthetic manufacturing process for creating surfaces in various shades—which remains relevant. “Globally, wood remains popular, but it’s less suitable for us since we don’t like maintenance. The technology in this field has advanced significantly, and today, laminate can be produced so that it’s indistinguishable from wood. The trend leans toward more durable materials. Bamboo, for example, is ideal: it has a clean and beautiful look, is environmentally friendly, and durable.”
Large windows to bring nature indoors
In the context of connecting with nature, Roz says the trend is to bring nature indoors. As a result, apartments and homes increasingly feature large windows, enabling views of the greenery outside. Regarding furniture, she says people want to add a personal touch.
“Conventional furniture arrangements are becoming less common,” adds Hereli. “Instead, eclectic setups are gaining ground. People want more unique imprints in a world flooded with imitations, using arrangements that add a twist. There is extensive use of wood and processed glass with textures.”
Baskon talks about creating corners within spaces that serve various functions, such as a coffee corner or relaxation area. Berman highlights the modularity trend, which has gained traction: “Furniture now serves multiple purposes. Instead of walls, furniture is built to partition spaces and has multiple functions. For instance, a piece that serves as a TV stand on one side and a wardrobe on the other.”
“The direction is light and minimalist designs that convey relaxed elegance and harmony,” summarizes Snir. “The heavy Tuscan style, which once symbolized luxury and nobility, is losing appeal. Today, it is seen as outdated and even kitschy, giving way to light, modern designs that emphasize emotional connection and a sense of home, balancing practical aesthetics with timeless beauty.”
