Children live in the present moment and this design trend finds everyday joy in just that—appreciating the little whimsical details in the here, now, and mundane elements of life. Bright and playful style elevate everyday pieces, bringing a smile just by looking at one’s surroundings. Wavy edged rugs or placemats, quirky shaped silverware, abstract faces on bathmats or accessories, cheerful floral prints and colorful gingham pillows create a lightness and sunny retreat not just in our homes, but our psyche.
As the cost of going out continues to rise, dinner parties at home will take root. Retailers like Pop Up Grocer and Big Night are tapping into the art of joyful hosting with curated, design-forward items to bring your favorite type of restaurant into your home. This includes happy green and multi-colored striped napkins from Dusen Dusen, floral patterned plates from La DoubleJ and hand-blown glasses with smiley faces on them from artist Neal Drobnis. Mix and match freely within a defined color palette that will provide amusement and entertainment for years to come. The world has many hard edges, and our homes can be uplifting and playful sanctuaries.
Features of Everyday Joy Design Choices
The color palette here shines with elevated primary colors like confident cobalt, bright cherry red and sunny yellow. A green khaki becomes a new neutral to experiment with. A sugary, soft lilac provide much-needed innocence and light-heartedness. Scents include warm bread, fresh rosemary and oregano, juicy berries, sugar cookies, cherry cola, crayons and sharpened pencils, and freshly picked flowers. Patterns to consider are rich with whimsy and quirk, like jolly color-blocking, grinning faces, hand painted motifs, soft shapes, mix and match ginghams and stripes, and wavy-edged textiles.
Everyday Joy in Your 2025 Design Choices
Glassworks
Our friends at Vietri know how to channel Italy’s dolce vita directly into American kitchens and dining rooms. This simple Blue Drop glassware design, available in several shapes, brings a spritely optimism to your home. It also comes in red and white.
Nathan Turner
Nathan Turner gathered items that have inspired his California Collection on a deep level. Many of these items include touchstones from his childhood there. (He’s a fourth-generation Californian.) “Growing up spending time at my family’s cattle ranch I was surrounded by things like California poppies, live oaks, green rolling hills that turned golden yellow in the summer.” He remembers when he and his brother raised quail from eggs in an incubator to setting them free. His palette comes from these memories. The sky blues of the West. Greens with the depth of natural grasses. The yellow of pastures after a hot summer. The latter inspired his Heaton fabric, while pressed, native wildflowers he gave to his mother as a Christmas gift informed his Poppy design. “We were always outdoors, if you were found hanging around the house, you’d be given a job.”
Nestled into Nathan’s vintage finds and favorite objects, you can find two of his fabric designs: Dora Chintz Linen Fabric in Saddle Green and Stuart Stripe Linen Fabric in Green. Both at Nathan Turner’s website.
Tile and Designs
Deep blues and greens, not to mention the radiant abstracted floral references from Moroccan art and architecture, make this niche from Tile and Designs a source of everyday joy ease.
Pictured Above
- Kapital T-Cloth Ringer Tee in mint and Kapital Happy Heel Socks in purple from Vestis.
- Face Vase Tete in olive by La Soufflerie.
- Benita Block Printed Napkins (set of four) by Studio Ford.
- Niki De Saint Phalle Tarot Cards available at Artbook Bookstores.
- Vintage Floral Scarf from @heybettyvintageclothing.
Momentum Textiles and Wallcoverings
The Yinka x Momentum collection is a collaboration with British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori. His love of color, his humor, and his provocative optimism bring forth work that is joyful in every way.
Glassworks
Juliska’s Villa Seville pattern reimagines, in dinnerware form, the romantic Spanish city’s tradition of patterned architectural tilework. The resulting plates are equal parts fresh, tranquil and whimsical. Dishwasher, oven, microwave and freezer safe.
Larrimor’s
Softer than a proverbial baby’s bottom, this Kinross cashmere sweater in delicate blue is made of six-ply, three-gauge, 100% cashmere yarns. Venture into Larrimor’s in Downtown Pittsburgh and feel for yourself.
Story by Stephen Treffinger, Abbey Cook and Keith Recker / Principal Photography by Dave Bryce / Principal Styling by Danny Mankin and Keith Recker
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