In 2025, commercial spaces must do more than just look good—they must support user behavior, build emotional connections with the brand, and respond to changing needs . The interiors of offices, hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces are becoming dynamic systems: adaptive, sustainable, and human-centric.
Design is becoming a language of experience—increasingly , it's created not only with the eyes but also with emotions, touch, light, and sound . Global reports (JLL, Gensler, ArchDaily) and data from behavioral and neuroarchitectural research show that commercial interior design is shifting toward empathy, nature, and intelligent technologies .
In this article, we've gathered the key trends that will shape commercial design in the coming year—both aesthetically and functionally. It's a guide to creating spaces that truly work: psychologically, operationally, and visually .
1. From the entrance to the destination ("from the street to the seat")
In 2025, the design of commercial spaces is increasingly based on creating coherent and sequential spatial experiences in which the user is guided naturally – step by step – from the entry point to the destination: reception, shopping area, bar or work space.
As highlighted by JLL's "Global Commercial Real Estate Trends" report (2024), such "path-based" design can increase user engagement by up to 20% in retail and hospitality spaces , as reducing orientation time increases emotional comfort and a sense of security . This, in turn, translates into longer stays and greater willingness to interact with the brand.
Importantly, this way of thinking isn't limited to physical layouts – designers are increasingly incorporating scenographic and sensory elements (changing materials underfoot, light, scent, or music) to enhance the rhythm of transitions and anchor the user's emotions. This approach is close to narrative interior design (narrative environments), familiar from museums but now increasingly used in retail and hospitality.
In practice, this means that the entrance to a space becomes the first point of contact with the brand , and its role is not only functional but also emotional. When customers "feel guided," they are more likely to stay, explore, and return.
2. Nature-inspired palettes – earthy colors and materials
The year 2025 marks a continuation and deepening of the trend of designing with nature in mind—not only in the form of vegetation, but also through color, texture, and material . Earthy tones dominate: shades of terracotta, sandy beiges, muted blues and greens, accompanied by raw, sensory materials—such as linen, wool, wood with visible structure, and stone with an irregular finish.
According to the Artsy Interior Forecast 2025 and the R-TF Design Outlook, these natural combinations have enormous psychological power – they reduce tension and restore a sense of inner balance . Interiors built on such values address the needs of people overwhelmed by digital stimuli, noise, and the pace of urban life.
This approach is increasingly being used not only in wellness hotels and slow-work offices, but also in retail and coworking spaces that emphasize connection, regeneration, and mindfulness . Natural palettes are therefore not a "color fad," but part of a strategy to influence user well-being and engagement .
3. Adaptive and hybrid spaces
In the era of remote and hybrid work, the traditional office as a fixed, hierarchical structure is being completely dismantled. In its place, flexible spaces emerge that can be adapted to the current needs of teams – from project meetings to individual, focused work.
The JLL Global Office Trends 2024 report highlights that companies investing in adaptive spaces (movable furniture, modular walls, flexible space division systems) report up to 23% increase in the productivity of hybrid teams and a significant improvement in work comfort and satisfaction indicators (JLL, 2024).
This type of arrangement often combines:
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"focus" zones – for individual work or video conferencing
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"town-hall" spaces – for meetings of entire departments
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informal micro-zones – supporting the exchange of ideas and organizational culture
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privacy modules – acoustic, semi-closed boxes or capsules
Leesman Index research, conducted among over 100,000 office workers, found that flexibility in space layout was the second most frequently cited factor influencing productivity (after acoustics). Furthermore, designs that utilize adaptive solutions have a higher ROI per square meter because they enable dynamic management of people flow and space function over time.
Adaptability is not only a response to the new needs of employees – it is also an element of sustainable space management : offices, showrooms and service spaces become more functional, which reduces the need for frequent reconstruction and brings energy and operational savings.
4. Emotionally intelligent design
Commercial interiors are increasingly moving beyond aesthetics and functionality, entering the realm of designing an emotional experience . So-called emotionally intelligent design involves consciously shaping a space to influence the user's mental state —not only through appearance, but also through light, sound, scent, acoustics, and tactile comfort.
Research conducted by The Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California, Berkeley shows that over 90% of users attribute their daily well-being (stress, concentration, fatigue) directly to the physical conditions in their surroundings – such as natural light, wall colors, temperature, and background sounds (CBE Survey, 2023).
Sensory elements play a key role here:
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warm and diffused light soothes and supports regeneration (melatonin studies, Harvard Medical School),
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cool color tones (e.g. blue, gray) support concentration and cognitive precision (Mehta & Zhu, 2009),
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natural sounds (white noise, forest sounds) increase efficiency and reduce mental fatigue (Alvarsson et al., 2010),
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Essential scents (e.g. citrus, mint, lavender) can improve mood and reduce tension (Herz, 2009).
This type of approach is implemented, among others, in coworking projects, hotel lobbies, showrooms and educational spaces, where the user's emotional comfort directly influences the duration of their stay, the effectiveness of activities or the willingness to interact with the brand .
Importantly, emotional design is not intuition, but a conscious strategy informed by neuroscience and environmental psychology . Designers are increasingly collaborating with perception researchers to create spaces that not only function operationally but also communicate a coherent, positive emotional message .
5. Biophilia – nature in the interior as a neuroarchitectural strategy
Biophilia, the innate need for contact with nature , has become not only an aesthetic trend but also a strategy for supporting the mental and physical health of commercial space users . Its elements—vegetation, daylight, natural materials, and organic forms—are increasingly being incorporated into the design of hotels, offices, restaurants, and wellness spaces.
Research conducted by DLR Group and cited by Times Union (2023) shows that interiors containing biophilic elements (such as wood, stone, greenery, daylight, biomorphic forms) reduce cortisol levels by 15–30% , improve mood and shorten mental recovery time after stress.
In turn, a meta-analysis conducted by Terrapin Bright Green (2014) showed that in office environments:
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eye contact with plants increases concentration and work efficiency by 6% ,
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and the presence of natural materials (e.g. wood) can reduce employee absenteeism by 10–15% .
Similar effects have been observed in the hotel industry: rooms with a view of greenery (or decorated in a biophilic style) improve the subjective assessment of comfort and the quality of sleep of guests (Ulrich, 1984; Kellert, 2015).
Biophilia also works through the senses: daylight regulates the circadian rhythm, and materials with a natural texture – such as raw wood or stone – stimulate the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and memory.
In commercial spaces that compete for customer attention, time, and loyalty, biophilic design is no longer decorative – it becomes an instrument for influencing user behavior and well-being .
6. Authenticity and locality
In 2025, commercial spaces are increasingly moving away from standardized, corporate templates in favor of interiors that reference the local cultural, architectural, and material context . This is a conscious shift toward authenticity —understood as design grounded in the true history of a place, its craftsmanship, and the aesthetics embedded in the region.
According to analysis published by Penketh Group and a report by Frame Magazine: Hospitality Futures, interiors incorporating regional elements—such as local wood, handicrafts, ceramics, applied art, and references to the site's architecture —significantly increase the level of emotional identification with the brand . In the context of hospitality, such a measure can increase the overall customer experience by up to 18%.
From a psychological perspective, authenticity in design is consistent with the so-called place attachment effect —a concept describing the emotional bond between a person and a space that feels "familiar," "human," or "real" (Lewicka, 2011). In practice, this means that users value and remember interiors that offer a sense of local identity more than those that replicate global standards.
Importantly, in times of visual overload and superficial storytelling, localism is not just about aesthetics – it's also an expression of brand values : sustainability, authenticity, and respect for place and people. Therefore, hotels, restaurants, and showrooms are increasingly building narratives based on:
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materials obtained from the region (e.g. wood, clay, stone),
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cooperation with local craftsmen and artists,
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integration of folk patterns or architectural details in a modern form.
7. AI and smart office technologies – a space that responds
In 2025, intelligent space management systems are no longer a futuristic addition—they are becoming the standard in commercial interior design . Technologies based on AI, IoT sensors, and user data analysis increasingly support the daily functioning of offices, hotels, showrooms, and public spaces, responding to real user needs in real time.
According to the JLL "Future of Work" report (2024) and the market review prepared by Buildiyo, the most frequently implemented solutions include:
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intelligent entry authorization and guest registration systems ,
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adaptive lighting that automatically adjusts to the intensity of daylight and user activity,
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real-time desk and room reservations (so-called hot-desking + smart occupancy),
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environmental comfort sensors (temperature, noise, air quality), analyzed to optimize working conditions.
Research conducted by Aygün Varol et al. (2022) in a paper published in Sustainability shows that the use of artificial intelligence in workspace design can significantly increase users' sense of control and comfort . By personalizing the environment (e.g., adjusting light and temperature based on individual preferences), the space becomes an "active partner" in the work process, not just a background.
Additionally, data collected by smart systems can be used to optimize layouts —for example, by identifying underutilized areas or pinpointing areas with noise pollution. This, in turn, impacts not only well-being but also the efficiency of square footage management (a key metric for investors and space operators).
Importantly, a modern smart office isn't just about technology—it's a hybrid of digital and design intelligence . The ultimate quality of the user experience stems from the integration of these tools with the aesthetics, materials, ergonomics, and function of the space.
8. Resimercial & quiet luxury – comfort that communicates value
In 2025, commercial interiors increasingly emphasize quality, emotion, and a sensual user experience. Two styles that particularly define this trend are quiet luxury and resimercial – aesthetics that seem subtle but are incredibly effective in building long-term customer relationships and brand image.
Quiet Luxury – luxury without ostentation
"The sublime, the subtle, and the luxurious, without ostentation"—that's how designer Tracy Svendsen describes this style. Quiet luxury is based on the premise that true luxury doesn't need to be displayed —it expresses itself in the quality of materials, color harmony, proportion, and light . Its hallmarks include:
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natural, noble raw materials (stone, wood, linen, wool),
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subdued colors: beige, off-white, graphite, olive green,
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"logo-free" finishes but with perfect detail,
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unobtrusive light - layered, warm, diffused.
Luxury Institute research (2023) shows that as many as 72% of premium customers prefer brands that offer "quiet and authentic" luxury—equipped with responsibility, peace, and refined simplicity. Quiet luxury works well in boutique interiors, hotel suites, showrooms, and concierge spaces.
A space that works – not just looks good
Commercial interiors in 2025 are no longer just aesthetics and function. They are emotional and intelligent systems , designed to meet the needs of modern users – aware, demanding, and sensory-enhanced.
Modern spaces combine:
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operational efficiency (modularity, AI, reservations, data analysis),
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user experience (biophilia, light, colors, acoustics),
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local and emotional identity (handicraft, quiet luxury, narrative of the place).
These are interiors that communicate brand values through atmosphere , help users feel cared for , and increase engagement —without having to say a word.
