"Muted Metals" Are Set to be Everywhere in 2025 — I Spoke to a Designer About How to Get the Look
Iron, copper, and time-worn brass — these chic metals bring both timeless elegance and trendy charm


When it comes to our living rooms, we all want a space that feels inviting and warm. However, that's not to say we want to sacrifice style. With the New Year upon us, there are trends and new ideas popping up everywhere, but one designer I spoke to predicted what might just be my new favorite: muted metals.
As far as interior design trends go, it seems the fun playful pops of color and accent pieces are getting a makeover that feels both refreshed and modern, yet still timeless and chic. Christiane Lemieux, an interior designer and the owner of homewares brand Lemieux Et Cie, says: "The quiet elegance of muted metals recalls the timeless quality of handcrafted objects, offering a counterpoint to the disposable nature of contemporary consumer culture. Like William Morris's celebrated maxim — 'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful' — muted metals bring enduring beauty to the everyday."
So, if you are looking for a chic way to incorporate contemporary elements into your living room in the New Year, you might want to add muted metals to your list. Below, I break down exactly how to do it.
So, what are muted metals?
In 2024 chrome metallic accents took over the design world, but in 2025 designers are looking to a more muted and antiqued version of the shiny statement. "The resurgence of muted metals in 2025 is deeply tied to the ethos of the Arts and Crafts movement which championed craftsmanship, authenticity, and the use of honest materials," explains Christiane Lemieux.
Brushed brass, aged bronze, and matte pewter echo the hand-finished details that defined this late 19th-century design era. Christiane adds that "like the artisans of that time, who sought to counteract the soullessness of industrialization, we favor muted finishes to create interiors that feel bespoke, tactile, and human-centered." And in today's design world we are seeing a shift back towards decor that evokes nostalgia and life.
While a trend towards metallic finishes is still popular (think chrome side tables and lamps), there is a shift towards interior design that feels more welcoming and lived-in. "This shift aligns with a modern desire for spaces that embody warmth and authenticity, rejecting the cold sheen of artificial intelligence, technology, over-polished and trend-driven ideas and materials," says Christiane.
Shop Muted Metal Decor
You do not have to have a custom fireplace or accent wall to get the muted metal look. Below are some chic decor ideas to inspire your living room refresh.
Price: $257.40, Was: $351
Quantity: Set of Four
Price: $178.68, Was: $196.21
Material: Metal with Charcoal Gray Finish
How to Style Muted Metals
Of course, fireplaces and accent walls are a stylish way to make a statement, but when it comes to modern living room trends, it's sometimes best to start small and work your way up. Whether subtly accenting a console or framing a light fixture, these finishes celebrate craftsmanship and thoughtful design.
"Muted metals also reference the Arts and Crafts movement’s focus on integrating beauty and function," Christiane says. "These finishes, with their soft patinas and understated tones, seamlessly blend into diverse interior palettes while enhancing other natural materials like wood, stone, and ceramic."
You may have seen the copper interior trend pop up earlier this year; muted metals are a design idea that acts much the same way. Pieces that either develop a patina over time or have a patinaed look when imbue more character and personality to the piece. Pair them with warm shades of brown or deeply-hued blues and greens for a cozy living room idea that you will never want to leave.
Muted metals work as the centerpiece of the room, or small, eye-catching moments that add the perfect amount of thoughtful detail.
"They are not only a nod to the past but also a reflection of the present: a world seeking calm, grounded spaces imbued with historical and artisanal richness," says Christiane.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletters are your inside source for what’s shaping interiors now - and what’s next. Discover trend forecasts, smart style ideas, and curated shopping inspiration that brings design to life. Subscribe today and stay ahead of the curve.

Olivia Wolfe is a Design Writer at Livingetc. She recently graduated from University of the Arts London, London College of Communication with a Masters Degree in Arts and Lifestyle Journalism. In her previous experience, she has worked with multiple multimedia publications in both London and the United States covering a range of culture-related topics, with an expertise in art and design. At the weekends she can be found working on her oil paintings, reading, or antique shopping at one of London's many vintage markets.
-
People Don’t Write Songs About Just Any Sheets — These Egyptian Cotton Ones Live Up to Their Legacy
Here’s what makes Egyptian cotton sheets so special (and the sets that warrrant the hype)
-
The 12 Best Silk Pillowcases — From A Style Editor That Packs At Least One in Every Travel Bag
Silk may be a beauty secret, but it’s also a design detail. Here’s why the most beautiful beds (and sleepers) never go without
-
This Unexpected Color Pairing Is the Most Exciting Palette in Interiors (and Fashion) Right Now — These Rooms Prove It
If you're searching for color palette inspiration for redecorating a room, look no further than this surprisingly balanced duo
-
6 Sustainable Material Trends That Prove It's No Longer Just a Buzzword, but an Exciting Design Opportunity
As sustainability conversations evolve within the interior’s sector, material innovation have adapted to create more regenerative and circular solutions
-
The 70s Design Trends to Avoid That Will Just Make Your Home Look Dated, and What You Can Do to Make Them Work
From an overwhelming use of orange to toilet carpets (eww!), designers reveal which 70s interior trends are best kept in the past
-
6 Cut Flower Trends That Will Bring Lushness, Life, and a Little Bit of Luxe to Your Interiors in 2025
These are the fresh blooms florists and designers are favoring this year, plus how to arrange them for a striking look that fills your home with joy
-
I Spy With My Design Eye: This Specific Fabric Print Is Literally Everywhere Right Now — We've IDed It for You
It's whimsical, artistic, and full of character. We've called it already: Dedar's 'Tiger Mountain' is the fabric that will define 2025
-
Having Mismatched Dining Chairs Is the New Telltale Sign of Serious Style — Here's How to Make It Look Intentional
Once considered a sign of a lack of care, a dining room table with different chairs now screams ultimate curation... if you can do it right, that is
-
There’s a New Shape in the Garden — Why Whimsical Curves Might Be the Outdoor Furniture Silhouette of the Summer
Powder-coated petals, wavy lines, and a hint of surrealism — this microtrend is blooming, and we’re paying attention
-
I Asked Interior Designers to Share the Worst Decorating Trends They've Seen on Social Media
Just because something is trending, doesn't mean it's tasteful — from dupe-culture to OTT lighting, here's what designers hate seeing in homes