Why Earth-Tone Walls Are Coming Back in Style in 2025
by Evelyn Long
After years of bold, jewel-toned shades, black accents and Barbie pinks, home interiors are taking a different route in 2025. This year, interior design experts are anticipating the return of earthly-colored walls for a more grounded aesthetic.
Of course, bringing back earth tones isn’t so much about nostalgia as it is about creating a tranquil, comfortable environment. From rich terracotta to sage green, these nature-based shades will be the perfect foundation for wide-ranging home styles.
Bringing the Outdoors In: What Are Earth Tones?
The year 2025 is set to be a big one for earth tones. While 2024 brought interiors closer to nature through tonal browns, the year ahead will broaden the palette to other natural color families.
Designer Ghislaine Viñas from ELLE DECOR anticipates moodier and muddier tones throughout design projects. Desaturated hues, dusty blue and clay colors will be long-lasting.
Brown isn’t going anywhere in 2025, but you’ll probably see deeper truffle coloring, described as a blend of chocolate and taupe. According to Viñas, other earth-tone wall trends might include eggplant, terracotta, grayish-blue, iron oxide and pink with brown undertones.
Earth tones aren’t new. In fact, they were all the rage in the mid-1970s. However, those particular hues — like mustard yellow and avocado green — had more movement than today’s colors. This year, earthy wall colors will have a softer and more complementary feel. They’ll be easier to pair and blend with other natural shades for a seamless design.
Biophilic Design in the Post-Pandemic World
Biophilic design integrates nature into the built environment, and it’s one of the hottest trends in modern home interiors. Research has shown this style benefits people’s well-being and promotes a stronger connection to the untamed world. One study, in particular, highlights its profound impact on positive emotions and mental health.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had significant effects on the psyche. As the world shut down and everyone’s way of life was altered, many were drawn to the outdoors for healing. This love for nature continues in the post-pandemic world with design elements like natural light, plants, raw materials and earthly decor. At its core are earth tones.
Social media has also driven earthly trends in interior design, especially amid a growing interest in sustainability. Influencers post DIY tips for conscious living and sustainable spaces to improve one’s ecological footprint at home. Things like repurposing furniture and opting for recycled or biodegradable materials have all been integrated into earth-inspired residences.
Style Your Home Using Earth Tones With These 5 Tips
Earth-tone walls are one interior design trend you can get behind in 2025. For one thing, you know its popularity isn’t fleeting. Here are five tips to style a timeless and relaxing living area with natural shades.
1.  Choose Complementary Colors
Nature tones — including warm, beige walls — make a room feel more balanced and less overwhelming. However, you don’t have to adhere to a bland, neutral palette. Allow lighter earth tones to serve as a backdrop for deeper shades.
Then, layer with earthier hues to complement colors and enrich the design. Consider pairing terracotta, sage and slate blue accessories with your walls.
Likewise, earth-tone walls present an opportunity to incorporate pops of color in decorative pieces or artwork. Just be sure to avoid more vibrant hues and stick with deeper blues and burnt oranges. Metallics — brass, copper, gold and silver — will also stand out and infuse a sense of luxury in the design.
2.  Extend Earthy Colors to Your Exterior
Your bedroom and kitchen aren’t the only places to paint earth tones. The exterior of your home might need a facelift, too. Earth-tone exteriors are aesthetically pleasing and have more sustainable benefits. For instance, a light-colored roof absorbs 50% less heat than a darker one, helping keep your home interiors cool and comfortable.
Likewise, earthy shades complement the home’s surroundings and improve curb appeal. When you choose wood, stone and other natural materials to match your nature-inspired palette, your house will blend with the environment.
3.  Add Warmth With Lighting
Lighting can transform the ambience of an earth-tone room. Consider options like table lamps, floor lamps and sconces, which deliver a softer and warmer glow than overhead lighting. A dimmer switch is another way to illuminate your living space and create a cozy atmosphere.
Strategic placement will enhance the color of your walls even more, bringing out the different undertones and textures. For instance, a deep brown may have a hint of purple when you shine a light on it just right.
4.  Integrate Natural Elements
Of course, natural elements will harmonize beautifully in a room with earth-tone walls. Decorative items like driftwood, stone vases and woven seagrass baskets will infuse the indoors with the outdoors. Even small details like agate coasters will deliver a more subtle allure.
Place a bowl of shells on the coffee table or display dried flowers and botanical prints. Wooden furniture should also reveal natural grains for rustic charm.
Every earthy space could also use some fresh greenery. Potted and hanging plants bring life into your home, making the living area more inviting and calm. Weeping figs, aloe vera, chrysanthemums and golden pothos are excellent and low-maintenance options. Many indoor plants also help remove harmful volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
5.  Play With Textures
Texture adds depth, visual interest and a more connected experience to a room. For example, knitted throw blankets, rugs, smooth stones and rattan pair well with earth-tone walls.
Rattan furniture, in particular — with its organic richness — stimulates the senses through touch and makes the space warmer. Like nature-based paint colors, rattan is making a comeback in interior design. Even actress Zendaya has included the wicker-like weave in her dining room chairs. It’s one furniture style you won’t see disappearing anytime soon.
Embrace Nature With Earth Tones This Year
Like most trends, vibrant, maximalist designs were never meant to stick around. Earth tones deliver something different — an everlasting aesthetic for serenity and a more profound connection with nature.
Whether you freshen your walls with earthy shades or hang natural accents and accessories, you can create a space where you feel most comfortable and at ease.
Evelyn Long is the Editor-in-Chief of Renovated Magazine, where she writes on interior design and home organization content. She is passionate about making home styling easier for all homeowners and renters by writing about home interior trends. Subscribe to renovated.com/subscribe for more posts by Evelyn!
