Holistic Design: Libra on the Interior Trends Shaping Autumn–Winter 2025

When exploring interior trends, it is important to take a holistic view, one that considers how product design, material choices and colour palettes connect to form spaces that are cohesive and joyful. Looking at trends in this way helps designers and businesses create commercially successful environments that resonate with users and leave a lasting impression. 

With this in mind, Design Insider sat down with Paul McLaughlin, Managing Director at The Libra Company & Libra Interiors, to discuss Libra’s story, the inspiration behind their Autumn–Winter 2025 collection, and the ways these trends are being translated across commercial spaces.

Paul McLaughlin, Managing Director at The Libra Company & Libra Interiors, with Sales Director Sarah Stewart (left) and Liann Foster, Sales & Marketing Manager (right)

Libra’s story began in the last ’60s with my parents, who set out on a three-year journey across India in search of unique antiques and artifacts. When they returned to the UK, they founded the company to bring back some of the richness of culture, history and craftsmanship they had experienced on their travels.

What started as a small family business has, over the past 53 years, grown into a brand with a reputation for eclectic and timeless design. We have significantly expanded our product offer. Today, our collections range from furniture and lighting to accessories, all carefully curated with quality and craftsmanship at their centre. That continued focus on originality and design integrity has positioned Libra as a trusted name in interiors, both residential and commercial.

We have seen a lot of conversation in the sector around colour and texture driving atmosphere. What are the design directions that you and your team are most focused on for the Autumn–Winter 2025 collection?

Autumn–Winter 2025 is a rich and layered season for us. It feels cocooning and rooted in heritage, but with a modern sensibility. Our design team has developed a palette centred on deep jewel tones such as forest green, burnt orange and amethyst. These are balanced with warm neutrals so that schemes feel immersive rather than overwhelming, encouraging dwell time and creating memorability.

Tactility is equally important. We are working with fabrics including velvet, chenille and boucle, which add depth and comfort to our upholstery. On the hard materials side, we are exploring combinations of textured woods, travertine, marble and stone, used together to celebrate and highlight their innate and unique natural qualities.

Key highlights this season include terracotta upholstery, smoked glass and darker woods, which bring richness and weight to the collection. We are building on our lighting range through the introduction of the Belgrove collection, which balances classic reference with contemporary design. In terms of form, we continue to refine organic curves and soft minimalism through arched mirrors, rounded upholstery and bell-shaped lighting. Our intention is always that our products create spaces that feel timeless, comfortable and distinctive.

Commercial interiors are evolving quickly, with workplace and hospitality briefs looking very different to five years ago. From your perspective, what big-picture trends are shaping the way businesses are approaching their spaces?

We are seeing a fundamental shift in expectations. Hybrid working is now established, and offices have to earn the commute. Increasingly, the focus is on hospitality-inspired environments and collaborative spaces that feel genuinely uplifting and celebratory. 

Wellness has also moved to the forefront, and it is being addressed in measurable ways. Factors such as daylight, acoustics, biophilia, lighting and air quality are now being considered not only as design but as a compliance requirement. Materials are also under greater scrutiny than ever, not only for aesthetics but for how they influence wellbeing and sustainability.

At the same time, there is a greater appetite for richer and more atmospheric palettes. Many briefs now draw influence from boutique hospitality, with deep greens, terracotta and layered metals being used to create both intimacy and a sense of identity.

Statement lighting continues as a key trend and is a significant area of growth. It has the ability to completely transform a space and to reinforce brand storytelling. Alongside our stocked lighting collections, our ability to design and deliver bespoke architectural lighting gives us a distinct advantage.

Translating trends into specific sectors can be challenging. How is Libra applying the Autumn–Winter 2025 directions differently across workplace, hospitality and retail?

In the workplace, the emphasis is on creating spaces that people want to use. We are continuing our partnership with a London-based design practice to deliver offices with hospitality-level comfort. Upholstered seating, warm materials and carefully considered lighting are key. Our marble and travertine occasional tables are being specified to break up modular layouts and bring variety into hybrid working environments.

In hospitality and leisure, the demand is for spaces that feel private and cocooned. For example, we are working with a leading spa operator to design quiet nooks and spa-adjacent amenities. Warm woods, brass and marble are central to achieving a calm and restorative atmosphere.

Retail is also moving forward. Wellness and biophilic design remain influential, but there is a growing focus on immersive, service-led experiences. We recently piloted an AI-assisted home styling service in our Fenwick concessions, which has been very well received. The ability for clients to visualise pieces in their own spaces has been transformative, and we are preparing to roll this service out across London, Surrey and Newcastle.

Across all of these sectors, the common thread is our holistic approach. By considering colour, material and form together, we are helping clients to create spaces that are not only visually distinctive but commercially successful and memorable.

Find The Libra Company on Supplier Finder

Supplier Finder is the UK’s only search platform for accredited suppliers of commercial interior furnishings.

At Supplier Finder, our mission is simple: to help you find the perfect commercial furnishing suppliers for your interior schemes and projects. We understand the importance of having confidence in the suppliers you specify and the products that bring your designs to life. That’s why each supplier featured on our platform is accredited through Commercial Interiors UK’s rigorous membership application process. This ensures that you engage with only the best in the industry!