Material matters: what’s new in living room furniture in 2025
Written by
26 January 2025
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4 min read
ArchiPro speaks with Tom Hodgman, Marketing Director at Ivory & Deene, about its 2025 predictions in living room interior design and furniture trends.
Founded in Tasmania in 2004, family-owned home furnishing business Ivory & Deene boasts a collection of industrial, minimalist and luxurious furniture and accessories designed to bring unique products to the Australian interior design market.
1. Increase in Inlay furniture
Tom’s first prediction is a further interest in bone inlay furniture, noting its popularity and intense price point, “[At Ivory & Deene], we've created a product using mother-of-pearl inlay that is far more affordable while still providing the same desirable look of the bone inlay – it's an expensive-looking piece for a lot less,” says Tom.
This inlay can be seen in Ivory & Deene’s Hanora mother-of-pearl coffee table and its best-seller, the Amelia. Tom explains, “The Hanora coffee table has a more coastal vibe. Yet, incorporating a mother-of-pearl selection into this range brings a distinctly different aesthetic reminiscent of mid-century modern design.”
Recognising how the coffee table often serves as the focal point of the living/lounge room design, the brand is shifting away from standard timber or timber-look coffee tables toward more unique pieces like the Hudson Hammond barrel coffee table in brass, creating standout texture while still providing a muted, warm tone to the piece.
2. A focus on handmade
2025 will see the continuation of consumers desiring handmade pieces, which is often what makes furniture so attractive and withstand the test of time.
“Our Inlay coffee tables are handmade in Vietnam, and I've visited the production site. What’s interesting is these items are not made in a factory but in the artisan’s homes in the villages,” says Tom. “We got to know the craftspeople, who use generational techniques passed down through their families.”
Tom adds, “This artisan-based approach brings a contemporary twist to creating these distinctive handmade pieces, and it’s a huge drawcard for the conscious consumer.”
3. Branching out from timber
From glass, concrete, stone and metals, timber is losing its gloss as consumers and designers branch out in materiality for focal furniture pieces such as tables.
“Our hammered barrel table, also handmade in India, comes as a side table as well. Although rarely purchased together, customers now avoid matching their coffee and side tables,” says Tom.
“One of our recently introduced products selling exceptionally well is our Denver Boucle bench seat. These are flying off the shelves,” says Tom. Tom remarks customers also frequently place them in entryways or bedrooms—often at the end of the bed or as a stylish accent in a hallway. Ideal for providing extra seating in the lounge area, the Denver Boucle bench is curved and compact in design, ideal for filling awkward spaces with its neutral and cosy material.
“For us, it’s always about identifying gaps in the market. We aim to deliver a unique product at a competitive price point. So, traditional wooden coffee tables are not a focus for us.”
4. Apartment friendly furniture
With the cost of living predicted to continue into 2025, consumers could continue to seek value products. However, this is just one part of the picture, with consumers also opting for smaller-scale furniture due to the trend towards smaller, more cost-effective homes, apartments and townhouses.
“This is indeed an observation we made throughout 2024,” says Tom. “Our largest market is in the city, where many customers already live in apartments. Our brand has seen significant success here because we occupy the affordable luxury space and offer a smaller-scale range.”
Despite the current cost of living crisis in 2024, Ivory & Deene’s consumer demand remained stable. “I believe this is because we deliver quality products to designers at more reasonable prices than many top-tier brands. This positioning has helped us and specifiers thrive even amidst economic challenges.”