Posted by Maryann Quenet on Monday, September 8th, 2025 7:28am.
If you are renting in the Greater Toronto Area, you know every square foot has to work hard, look good, and be easy to reverse on move-out day. The biggest design shift in 2025 is toward expressive, personal spaces that still feel calm, functional, and sustainable. Market trends are pointing to warmer palettes, handcrafted details, and small-space solutions you can implement without losing your deposit.
Below are the top ten trends you will actually use in a condo, basement apartment, or rental house — plus renter-safe ways to bring each one home.
After years of stark neutrals, 2025 is all about cosy browns, complex plums, and earthy mid-tones. In fall trend roundups, designers also emphasise grounded, earthy palettes. For renters, think textiles: cocoa-toned throws, chocolate velvet cushions, and warm-wood frames will shift the mood with zero paint required.
Renter tip: If your landlord allows it, try a single accent wall. Otherwise, add warmth through lampshades, art, and walnut or oak accents.
Curved sofas, rounded mirrors, and bubble-edged tables continue their streak in 2025, but with more sophistication and balance. Designers report that sculptural shapes are showing up across furniture, cabinetry, and even tile, bringing flow to small rooms and softening hard condo lines. Pair those curves with a few crisp, squared pieces (like a gridded side table) for contrast.
Renter tip: A round dining table can make a tight eat-in nook feel bigger, and a curved floor lamp arcs light into dark corners without wiring.
“Colour drenching” — one hue on walls, trim, and ceilings — isn’t the only bold move anymore. Editors and designers are championing pattern drenching: mixing florals, stripes, checks, and geometrics across textiles, rugs, and art to create personality-rich rooms. It is a joyful, renter-friendly way to go big without a paint roller. Start with cushions and a patterned rug, then layer in a striped throw or botanical shade.
Renter tip: Use peel-and-stick wallpaper on a single wall or inside bookshelves for a reversible hit of pattern.
From English-inspired details to the return of classic “brown furniture,” heritage looks are back. While some designers' forecasts highlight English style, others call out the revival of brown wood antiques. Chintz wallpapers and traditional prints are trending on social, too — but you can nod to the look with a vintage mirror, a second-hand wooden dresser, or floral curtains.
Renter tip: Swap in antique brass knobs on a dresser or TV console, and keep the originals to reinstall at move-out.
The biggest “look” of 2025 is not a look at all — it is personalisation. Designers are steering people toward rooms that reflect their stories: heirlooms, travel mementos, family photos, and custom touches that feel collected, not copy-pasted. It is a cost-smart approach for renters because you can evolve it over time, and it moves with you.
Renter tip: Build a gallery wall with damage-free hooks. Mix frames, art prints, kids’ drawings, and vintage finds for layered character.
Biophilic design — bringing nature into interiors — ranks high with experts again in 2025. Think natural materials, organic textures, plants, stoneware, and nature-inspired colours. In GTA units with short winter light, choose low-light plants (snake plant, ZZ plant), layer jute or wool textures, and add stone or clay accessories for a grounded feel.
Renter tip: If your balcony faces north, try hardy evergreens in planters and bring them indoors over winter to extend the greenery vibe.
Artsy’s 2025 trend watch spotlights craft-centred furnishings and durable materials — quality over quantity — as a counter to disposable décor. For renters, that can mean one great solid-wood sideboard, a handmade ceramic lamp, or reupholstering a thrifted chair in a hard-wearing fabric. You will get longevity, and the piece will adapt as you move.
Renter tip: Shop Toronto’s vintage circuit for real-wood pieces you can refinish. They handle condo moves better than flat-pack.
Latest trends point to warm metal accents — brass, bronze, and copper — alongside fluting, ribbing, and gridded patterns for subtle texture. These finishes add depth under condo lighting and pair beautifully with the year’s browns and plums. Swap in a brass floor lamp, a ribbed ceramic vase, or fluted side tables to nail the look without renovations.
Renter tip: Plug-in wall sconces with a brass arm bring “custom” lighting to a rental, no electrician required.
Consider smart technology and neuro-inclusive design — spaces that support focus, calm, and sensory comfort. In a rental, that can be as simple as smart bulbs that shift to warm light after sunset, a white-noise machine for city sound, or removable acoustic panels. Small adjustments make a big difference in open-plan condos.
Renter tip: Use smart plugs for lamps, fans, and humidifiers, so you can automate cosy routines without touching hardwiring.
From ICFF to Milan, modular and space-saving designs are everywhere — built to evolve with you. Editors note a surge in modular seating systems and sculptural poufs, while consumer brands are embracing reconfigurable sofas and nesting tables that scale up for guests, then tuck away. For renters, these pieces are MVPs: they fit your current unit, and they move easily to the next.
Renter tip: Start with a storage ottoman, nesting tables, or a compact modular sofa; these solve real space problems in GTA layouts and look design-forward.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper for feature walls, bookcase backs, or entry niches. Independent tests show quality brands remove cleanly when installed on the right surfaces.
Damage-free mounting for art and mirrors; check weight ratings, and keep the packaging to show your landlord.
Plug-in lighting to layer warm light without electrical work.
Textile swaps — curtains, shower curtains, bedding, cushions — to test colours, patterns, and heritage prints.
Hardware and shade changes on your own furniture for instant upgrades you will take with you.
Design in 2025 is personal, practical, and warm. You do not need to renovate to join in — renters across the GTA can layer colour, pattern, craft, and smart tech through reversible updates that move with them. Start small, edit often, and let your space tell your story.