Luxury design in Orange County is having a moment. From the latest design revelations at Milan Design Week 2025 to the ongoing worldwide shift toward handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces, today’s trends offer something for everyone, no matter if you’re refreshing your personal space or preparing your home to sell.
As top Orange County luxury real estate agents, we watch these trends closely. They matter for how you live in your home today and how much it’s worth tomorrow. The best luxury homeowners get this balance right.
What’s New in Milan Design Week 2025?
Milan just wrapped up another incredible design week, and this spring’s trends are already showing up in Orange County’s best homes. The big story: the 70s are back, but not the way you remember them.
Think classic 70s colors—those rich oranges, burgundies, and chocolate browns—but done with today’s premium materials. We’re talking honed marble tabletops with gentle curves, hand-blown Murano glass chandeliers, and sculptural lighting that makes a statement without screaming for attention.
Texture is everything right now. Bouclé furniture, plush velvets, and bold geometric prints are replacing the stark minimalism we’ve seen for years. Chrome is making a serious comeback too, especially through high-end collaborations like Jil Sander’s reimagined Bauhaus pieces.
For Newport Beach and Laguna Beach homes, this translates to interiors that feel both timeless and fresh. Sunken conversation areas and curved furniture arrangements work beautifully in the grand spaces typical of our luxury market.
The modularity trend is practical too. Luxury buyers appreciate flexibility, and glossy finishes keep maintenance simple while looking expensive.
Staging an open-concept great room is a luxury design challenge.
The Global Shift to Bespoke Luxury Design
Around the world, luxury interior design is going personal. From the Hamptons’ “quiet luxury” to Paris’s emphasis on artisan-made pieces, wealthy homeowners are done with cookie-cutter luxury.
This shows up differently everywhere, but the theme is consistent. Mexican designers are incorporating local black clay and hand-hammered copper. Scandinavian minimalism is getting bolder and more personal. Even Singapore’s ultra-modern market is embracing nostalgic, grounded design.
For luxury homeowners in Orange County, this means opportunities to work with local artisans, showcase meaningful collections, and create spaces that tell your story. Properties in high-demand areas like Corona del Mar and Dana Point especially benefit from this approach. A one-of-a-kind setting deserves equally distinctive interiors.
Here’s the thing about investment value: homes with authentic, custom design elements consistently sell for more. Buyers recognize quality craftsmanship and are willing to pay for it. When we work on luxury OC property listings, incorporating these bespoke elements often makes the difference in final sale price.
Create moments accentuated with lighting and views.
Living vs. Selling: Designing for Two Different Games
Designing for yourself and staging your home for sale require completely different mindsets. When you’re designing for daily life, it’s all about you—your family’s needs, your style preferences, your lifestyle. Bold art collections, statement colors, deeply personal touches. That’s how you make a house feel like home.
Staging for sale, on the other hand, is deeply strategic. Professional stagers create spaces that help potential buyers imagine their own lives there. This usually means toning down personal elements while highlighting what makes your property special—ocean views, architectural details, premium finishes that justify your asking price.
The numbers don’t lie. Well-staged luxury homes in our Orange County communities sell for up to 20% more than non-staged properties and move 88% faster according to NAR research. That’s not just better marketing. It’s better business.
At the Stavros Group, we work closely with stagers who understand luxury buyer psychology. We know how to arrange spaces to feel natural, emphasize those million-dollar views, and create lifestyle moments throughout the home. For properties in sought-after neighborhoods like Newport Coast, great staging ensures buyers see the full potential immediately.
The difference comes down to emotional strategy. Personal design reflects who you are. Staging helps buyers see who they could become.
Luxury design lives outside too.
Work With the Top Orange County Luxury Real Estate Team
Global design trends offer real opportunities to improve both your daily life and your property’s value when it’s time to sell. The smartest luxury homeowners work with professionals who understand trends and local market realities. As experienced Orange County Realtors, we help navigate these decisions to maximize both your enjoyment and your investment.
Ready to see how current design trends can boost your property’s appeal and value? Contact us today to discuss your goals and connect with our network of top designers and staging professionals. We’d love to help.
