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Underpinned by our Scandinavian design heritage, we bring you regular stories about architecture and interiors, exploring natural materials, acoustics, and the creation of safe and harmonious environments.
In 2025 and into 2026, interior design continues to embrace natural materials and acoustic wellness as defining qualities of modern spaces. Designers are blending organic textures – warm wood, natural stone, woven fibres – with thoughtful sound design to create interiors that are both beautiful and comfortable to live and work in.
The picture shows the NIBE office in Sweden, where the architects have combined natural wood, stone and acoustic elements to create a warm and balanced interior.”
Link to Project >>
Natural materials connect people to the outdoors and bring warmth, texture, and depth to interiors. Wood in particular offers visual richness, a tactile quality, and the ability to age beautifully over time. In biophilic design, these materials help reduce stress, improve focus, and create a calming atmosphere.
By integrating natural wood with light and greenery, this interior demonstrates how biophilic design reduces stress and enhances focus.
Take a look at this beautiful project Filipstad Brygge by Grape Architects.
Alongside visual design, acoustic design has become a core priority. Excessive noise disrupts focus, communication, and comfort in offices, restaurants, and public spaces. In 2025/26, we see a growing integration of sound-absorbing surfaces, “silent architecture” principles, and discreet acoustic solutions that preserve aesthetics while improving the overall sensory experience.
The image shows Feltfon, sound-absorbing wall featuring acoustic materials that blend natural elements—here, sunflower seeds combined with authentic wood veneer.
The fusion of natural materials and acoustic wellness – now combined with flexibility, multi-sensory engagement, and sustainable thinking – is shaping interiors that are more than visually appealing. They are spaces that enhance comfort, promote health, and stand the test of time. This is the future of design in 2025/26: interiors that look stunning, feel harmonious, and work seamlessly for the people who inhabit them.
While the natural-and-acoustic focus remains strong, several complementary design movements are emerging:
interiors designed to engage sight, sound, touch, and even scent for a richer, more immersive environment.
furniture and partitions that can be reconfigured easily, supporting changing work and lifestyle patterns.
Increased use of recycled, low-impact, and regenerative materials without compromising on luxury or durability.
Gustafs Linear Ribs use 98% recycled material.
Read more about Gustafs use of recycled materials >>
rounded corners, curved surfaces, and fluid forms that create a sense of flow and reduce visual harshness.