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Design Trend Alert! Breaking Down Regency Minimalism For Your Next Flea Market Trip
The time has come to unveil a “new” design trend for 2025. And boy, is it a pretty one. To be honest, this one has been sneaking up on us for a minute, and no, it’s not “fisherman core”. For me, let’s keep fish in the sea and add ornate light fixtures into our homes:) “Jess, did you just say something favorable towards an ornate decor item?” Yes, I did. While Emily (and the team) have nearly inspired a drinking game with the amount of times we say the phrase “simple but special”, this trend lightly flirts with luxury and heavy detailing. I call it Regency Minimalism. It’s deeply inspired by the ornate European decor of the past (hello vintage!) but done in a very minimalist way (this isn’t promoting a Versailles look). Honestly, I think with a few key pieces, this is a very achievable trend that a flea market could easily help with.
Now, one key factor that didn’t get its own section is that light colored walls are key to the airy element that is needed. It’s the same for most minimalist trends. Start with a light base and then add your decor from there. And sure, some pretty mouldings if possible:) Let’s dive in.
Glass Chandelier Lighting
I figured I should start strong with Lenny Kravitz’s new Paris home. While every room in this carousel wouldn’t be classified under this trend, the first photo definitely does, and that’s heavily due to that incredible crystal chandelier and candelabras. Aside from those pieces, nothing else would really be considered “regency”. That’s the minimalism part. There are stunning other vintage pieces, but the restraint to not overdecorate and fill the room with highly ornate items gives it a sense of space, calm, and a touch of luxury.
In these two examples, the rooms are beautifully designed, not overly colorful, and have a few modern touches (i.e., the sink in the bathroom and the stainless steel kitchen). But with the use of glass or crystal light fixtures, both spaces instantly look and feel more luxurious/old-world.
Now, vintage (or vintage-inspired) chandeliers range in price, but there are a ton of options if you love this look!
Ornate Carved Accent Pieces
This is where things could be a little dicey for me, as I’ve never been a huge fan of overly ornate carved furniture. However, when used in small doses and sparingly, like these examples show, I can absolutely be in. FYI, if you love this type of furniture, then that’s wonderful. It’s just a personal preference, and I am more drawn to simple and cleaner lines. But how sweet is that little wall table? It looks like stone, which is stunning, and when paired with that modern bed and side table, it really shines, instead of overwhelms.
P.S. This was the space that was the final nail to confirm this trend for me
So while this trend seems to still mostly be in Europe, more American designers like Amy Kehoe are also in on it. Take a look at the console table she used in this entry. Then Munich-based designer, Regina Hoefter, put this gorgeous colorful credenza and fringed stool in her small space apartment. The fact that she kept the walls light and fairly sparse creates a really beautiful balance.
Ornate Iron Lighting
Crystal chandeliers aren’t the only lighting stars in town. Ornate metal/iron lights are also key to this trend. They are a little less “glam” at first look, but ultimately add so much detail and whimsy. Look at that three-light sconce above the fireplace. It’s so detailed, looks like the most chic flower in the world, but its dark tones balance perfectly with the other dark pieces in the space. This was designed by Nate Berkus’ longtime design partner, Lauren Buxbaum Gordon, so no surprise this is a perfect room with perfect vintage pieces. Then we have another Kehoe space on the right, and here the lighting is perfect too. The room overall is less “glam,” but the general feel and those light fixtures make a great version of Regency Minimalism.
Here are two more examples. I love that with this trend, you can go more vintage gold and crystal or use beautifully curved dark metal fixtures to lean more organic. It’s just important to not overdecorate and choose your pieces very intentionally. Both are so chic.
Small Sparely Placed Art
A major definer of this trend is wall art placement/size. As you’ll see in almost every example in this post, there isn’t a ton of art on the walls. Take this kitchen above, the art is placed on the higher side, and the pieces themselves are not all that large. They don’t fill up the wall really at all. Instead, the placement and size look and feel very intentional. It’s quiet.
And the same goes for these two spaces. The art is smaller, more neutral, and pretty spread out, even for the “gallery wall”. I love how casual it’s supposed to look, even though the negative space is so purposeful. Choosing vintage art or original art seems to be pretty key. You need the soul and textures to come through to make up for the lack of size.
The pieces here are a little larger, but again, there’s a lot of negative space in that the walls don’t have very many pieces. The ones over the door are also hung a little higher and not centered to the door. Intentionally “unintentional”. These pieces feel very much in line with the Recency-style art. I’m not an art historian, but in my little bit of research, they seem to be aligned:)
Wall Draping
Remember when I said this trend has been sneaking up on us? Well, the romantic wall drape was a decor trend I called back in February in this post.
The fabrics never seem to be patterned (or very subtly if they are), and it looks like a relatively easy DIY to make a pretty headboard, wall statement, whatever you want. A perfect way to cover up any wall eyesores. Just stick to lightweight fabrics so that they still feel airy and easy.
Try A Patterned Satin Headboard
So while the wall fabric shouldn’t be patterned, if you want an upholstered headboard, I’m noticing more neutral satin floral fabrics being used. I think for the right space, it would look so chic! The shine is luxe, the florals give regency, and the colors are minimalist. I’m sure there will be concerns about how to clean, so it may not be right for everyone, but it is an option if you love this look:)
So that’s what I think 2025 is going to have in store for us, and let’s just say I really love it, and it may have very much inspired my bedroom design:) What do y’all think? Weigh in!
Love you, mean it.
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Staging My Dream Parisian Hotel Suite with Sothebys
Thank you! I do like this trend-would do metal lighting option as once a lighting obsessed elderly man talked about how in the olden days house wives would spend one day regularly cleaning their crystal lighting -I was out. Here’s the thing: I believe you with the draping but it’s kinda a weird mix to me. All of the earlier photos are so clean and punctuated..the draping is so not. I associate that unconsciously with hanging a diy tie dye sheet up for college wall decor. ;) But then again I’m getting old and college students have more high end decor now.
Agreed. I am not a fan of the draping either. My thoughts went to a college dorm and looks messy.
Well, since you asked…. I think an in-process post of your bedroom would be fun to see! We know you’ve been working on it and appreciate the realness of the timeline. But we’re all friends here : ) take us along on the process!
This design trend is pretty, and gives weight to the ability to edit, edit, edit, which is not my strong suit, so it’s good to see on repeat. Love the small art effect, chandeliers, and the detail on the moulding found in so many of these examples.
It seems like in many of these spaces the architecture is the real star of the show–beautiful doors and windows, dramatic arches. I wonder how this style would translate into a more typical American home.
100% this was also my reaction. Every one of these homes has super tall ceilings and many have beautiful tall original windows. Frankly the spaces would look gorgeous even if they were completely empty. While fun to look at the pictures I’m not sure this style would work in my builder-grade Cape Cod with barely 8-foot ceilings and basic windows – it’s more of a Parisian pied-a-terre vibe!
I felt the same way as I was reading the AD Lenny Kravitz article, as His Paris house was the real star. The chandeliers were so stunning but would that work in a “normal” home ? .. Also agree on the Cleaning factor for ANY ornate items but especially Lighting !
The design is very European and that architecture compliments the style well, but American homes can lean into this too. While the base room may not be as ornate, the furniture itself can lean more ornate to make up for the lack of trim and extra flourishes found in an older European home. A lot of American homes are from the 1920-30s era which works perfect for this. Bring in some older pieces, like French gilt mirrors, but balance with contemporary pieces to keep it curated and timeless. While not as fun as a flea market find, RH does well with this style.
Most US homes are built after 1969:
I think you are missing my point. While you are correct that many homes in the US are newer, you cannot overlook many homes that are in the Northeast, the South like Atlanta and Nashville, the Midwest like Columbus, and West like Seattle. There are many homes
Where this style can be applied. It may be more difficult for a ranch home, but still works for many. Think about Chris Loves Julia who is
often applying something similar to her home that looks like a 1980s-90s Colonial. It’s works.
I love these kinds of posts Jess! I learn so much about my own design sensibilities based on whether a trend resonates or creates an internal tension and I often spend the rest of the day trying to sort out the ”why..?” of it all. It’s rather like having a continuing education design class with my coffee (my class title would be something like: “the quest to deepening your personal design philosophy beyond the fail-safe theories of ‘trust your gut’ and ‘buy what you love’ by challenging unconscious belief systems that might be obstacles to a more expansive and rewarding design aesthetic” ; ) ..!!!
Thanks to the entire EHD team for these continuing ED classes!
I’d take that class! 😆
I love this streamlined modern take on Regency. In all of the images shown, there are a few elements from that era/style that are scattered around the space which is what I think makes it work well with the more modern elements.
The metal lighting to me leans more towards Spanish colonial or Spanish mission than Regency. It still adds an ornate layer but one that is hand made and more rustic. Spanish revival would be a great search term for more inspiration on how to sprinkle that style delicately through a space to achieve balance with more modern elements.
While I love Hollywood Regency, can’t say Regency resonate with me (despite my love for Bridgerton). Although I did get an idea for a gallery wall I want to do. Regardless, I always love Jess’s trend pieces.
So ready for a Jess MOTO ! 😍
Why Regency? I think of Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer when I hear regency but I don’t understand it in this context. To be honest, I’m struggling to see any common thread in the photos above, some of which I like (the first Elle Decor entry hall) and many which I don’t (saw nothing appealing in Lenny Kravitz’s home in AD which was almost a cliched rock star home) and I absolutely loathed the satin headboards and the drapey bed things which look like hayfever traps.
Although I truly admire this style, I doubt if it will be a trend in most US homes. We just don’t have the architecture to do it justice. Like when we tried to make our homes into Tuscan villas in the ‘90’s! 🙄