Photography: Alana Landsberry / Styling: Lucy Gough
Home Beautiful has been busy looking to the future to determine the interior design trends that are set to capture our hearts and homes in 2025 and beyond. We’ve pinpointed four distinct looks we believe will rise in popularity. We’ve already detailed why we believe Renaissance Red will burn bright in the coming year. Now it’s time to reveal the second interior design trend: the classic yet modern Check Mate. It’s filled with black and white chequred patterns amidst a backdrop of dusty blue. “This trend stems from the timeless, but using checks on upholstery is modern,” outlines Elle Lovelock, Home Beautiful Editor-In-Chief. Read on for a full description and to find out how to recreate this interior design trend in your own home.
Brought to you by Choices Flooring.
Interior design trend 2025: Check Mate
There is no palette as timeless as black and white. Even after centuries of use, this pairing has versatility as the shades famously complement nearly every colour. “When you think of monochrome you think of something modern, striking and hard,” says Elle Lovelock of the black and white look. “This has softness, teamed with a rustic touch that’s ideal for a modern farmhouse look.”
Play with pattern
Here, gingham is the crowning glory. While chequered tiles have been popular on bathroom floors since time immemorial, using this pattern on upholstery marks a point of difference. Black and white gingham bedheads, blankets, cushions and sofas calm the contrast between these opposing hues. “We also did a play on this aspect with the gallery wall,” reveals Elle. Monochrome artworks arranged in a grid echo the gingham pattern. Even the use of square cushions atop a bed gently evokes the interior design trend.
Introduce colour
“There aren’t that many people that live purely with black and white in their homes,” explains Lucy Gough, Home Beautiful stylist. “That’s why I added the Cadet Blue from Porter’s Paints. It adds a bit of personality.” Swathes of dusty blue form soft undercurrents that tie the aesthetic together. “The blue works as a neutral to ground the space,” says Elle, “but it has enough colour for vibrancy.”
How to choose flooring
Also helping bridge the gap between the two shade extremes are timber floorboards. “Grey-washed or naturally grey-toned woods provide a middle ground between black and white, adding depth without introducing strong colour,” says Nicole Canty, product manager at Choices Flooring. For natural warmth, Nicole suggests honeyed hues like oak or wide planks in any of these tones, “to add texture without complicating the clean lines of the palette”.
Get the look
Best for: bedding
These stylish gingham bed sheets are the perfect way to embrace the black and white check trend in the bedroom.
Key features:
- Non-toxic dye
- European flax
- Hemstich border
02
Ascot 1 light wall bracket in brass
$219, Beacon Lighting
Best for: lighting
Incorporating this brass wall sconce into your black and white check interiors brings a little industrial edge to your look.
Key features:
- Adjustable heads
- Indoor only
- Brass
03
Velvet cushion cover
$27.99, H&M
Best for: home décor
This classic black and white cushion cover is a lovely addition to any checkered bedding or furnishings.
Key features:
- Cushion cover in soft cotton velvet
- Concealed zip
- Square shape
04
Bruno side table
$449, Castlery
Best for: living room
This sleek Bruno side table from Castlery will fit effortlessly into any black and white style interiors.
Key features:
- High gloss finish
- Engineered wood with High Gloss Lacquer
- W46 x D46 x H50cm
05
Ruffle round platter in chalk white
$162.50, Marmoset Found
Best for: décor or servingware
With its unique shape, this round platter is just as stylish on the sideboard as it is on the dining table.
Key features:
- 32cm x 32cm x 6cm
- Hand cast
- Irregular shape
