
Renting is the new owning for 2025, as elevated interest rates and limited affordable home inventory plague the single-family residential market.
In addition to potential cost savings, multifamily communities also hold a special power in the market by offering lifestyle features, amenities, and designs that today’s dwellers yearn for, but may not be able to incorporate into homes. Think rooftop pickleball courts, diverse spas with hot and cold selections, or mini markets as potential adds that offer fun, relaxation, and convenience in one place.
“As capital markets continue their thaw in 2025, we expect to see an even greater need for smart value-engineering solutions to help projects pencil out while still delivering the luxury aesthetics and functionality residents demand,” says Mary Cook, founder and president of Mary Cook Associates.
To see what’s in store for 2025 and beyond, Multifamily Executive compiled 10 emerging design themes and trends from several industry experts. Wellness, particularly options for rest and relaxation, connecting communities to local areas, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, and stepping into the world of color were some of the top-mentioned ideas for the coming year. Check out the full list of multifamily design predictions below.

Wellness Circuit
Beyond the more standard amenities like saunas and cold plunges, multifamily developments are evolving into wellness hubs, says Alanna Call, creative lead and storyteller for CID Design Group. “Thoughtfully designed circuits that pair infrared saunas with cold immersion tanks or incorporate steam showers in locker rooms are becoming essential. These wellness loops are curated for convenience and encourage a holistic approach to health, providing residents with accessible pathways to physical and mental rejuvenation.”
Designers from Sechrist Design Associates and Mary Cook Associates also mention wellness, with a special focus on rest. “In response to the increasing focus on mental health and emotional well-being, multifamily developments in 2025 are embracing the inclusion of quiet rooms, meditation spaces, or wellness pods as essential amenities,” says Pooja Jain, senior interior designer at Sechrist Design Associates. “These spaces are designed to offer residents a calm, restorative environment to decompress, reflect, or connect with others in private.”
Creative Uses of AI
A hot topic of conversation last year, AI has found its way into multifamily design. One expert referenced its ability to generate dynamic patterns for wallpapers, tiles, and textiles. “By leveraging AI, designers can create nonrepetitive, highly customized patterns that adapt to individual tastes and project needs,” says Jain. “These patterns blend organic forms, mathematical precision, and cultural inspirations to produce unique visuals.”
Rachael Lewis, co-director of housing at Ankrom Moisan, mentions AI as well, but for its integration into smart-home products. “In 2025, AI is set to become even more seamlessly integrated into smart-home products, transforming how we interact with our living spaces. From lighting and appliances to smart hubs and energy-efficient climate systems, AI will offer personalized, intuitive, and emotionally intelligent experiences.”

Community Connection
In an era where remote work and learning can make it too easy to feel isolated, multifamily design will prioritize strategies for increasing connections to communities, says Casey Kent, managing principal of Perkins&Will’s Austin, Texas, studio. “Developments will include accessible ground-floor spaces and retail storefronts. These spaces will also include public art installations that add an additional layer of connectivity to the community and support for local artists. In addition, rooftop decks that offer panoramic views of the surrounding region will be in demand.”

Bold and Textural
“While earthy tones will remain dominant, bold accents in deep blues, rich emerald greens, and muted mustard yellows will be introduced to add drama and personality, creating focal points and visual interest in multifamily interiors,” says Jan Steingahs, principal at Arcadis. “In addition, mixing textures will continue to be a key design element in 2025, with a blend of materials like rough-hewn wood, sleek metal finishes, plush textiles, and tactile elements such as rattan and leather to create depth and contrast.”
User-Centric Design
According to principals Steingahs and Andre Bellerjeau at Arcadis, developers “should adopt a user-centric approach by gathering feedback from residents on their lifestyle preferences, interests, and priorities, ideally before the design phase. This data should then inform design decisions, creating spaces that align with the unique tastes of the targeted tenants.”
Kent from Perkins&Will adds flexibility is a key to this concept, too. “With new technologies, priorities, and interests, generational needs are changing faster than ever before, making it crucial that multi-family developments are programmatically versatile, allowing them to adapt as needed in the future.”

Local Inspiration
Several interviewed experts reference the importance of weaving local narratives into multifamily designs. “Timeless designs are always trendy, and, in our work, we see that designs rooted in authenticity always garner the most positive response from residents,” says Cook. “That’s especially the case when the design tells a story grounded in a property’s sense of place and community. To deliver that response, we’re creating interiors inspired by the property’s location, heritage, and history.”
Playful Points
When it comes to amenities, multifamily buildings are moving beyond traditional fitness hubs and co-working centers into spaces that spark joy and encourage playfulness. “Expect designs that incorporate whimsical elements like interactive art installations, playful color schemes, or unexpected features like swings or oversized games,” continues Call. “These touches not only create memorable experiences but also foster deeper emotional connections, making residents feel at home while inspiring moments of delight.”

Residential Warmth
Design decisions in the multifamily planning process can either make a building feel more commercial or residential. Residents crave the feeling of home and the warmth it brings. “A homey, personalized environment builds emotional connections, encouraging longer stays,” reports Sechrist Design Associates. “This design trend reflects a shift toward creating residential sanctuaries that combine the luxury of hospitality, the warmth of home, and the functionality of modern living, shaping multifamily spaces into destinations where residents truly want to live, work, and connect.”
Mini Markets
Last year, on-site cafes with grab-and-go coffee and pastries were mentioned as an emerging amenity, but, for 2025, residents will appreciate the expanded version: a mini market. “In three recent projects, we have worked with companies that supply fresh food vending, drinks, and snacks,” states Phyllis Hartman, president of Hartman Design Group. “When designed well, they become a part of the amenity space. Mail and package experience spaces work well when a market is integrated into the design. Residents appreciate that they do not have to venture outside of their apartment building when they want a meal or snack.”

Co-Working Continues
While play and whimsical spaces are on the rise, co-working remains a steady need, with many renters working remotely. “Co-working spaces continue to be in great demand,” says Hartman. “Residents want private, acoustically sound pods for virtual meetings and quiet heads-down work. While we are still designing powered communal tables into our projects, the open spaces are the least used. In repositioning projects that do not have large amenity square footage, we are locating pods and intimate nooks throughout the amenities, even in the lobbies.”