In the 90s, the home of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas set the trend for what is currently the most popular interior style in 2025 - Modern Spanish Style, which has since taken the design world by storm.
Modern Spanish Interior Design: A Timeless Trend in 2025
The Modern Spanish interior design trend continues to captivate homeowners and designers in 2025, blending timeless traditional elements with a contemporary, warm, and sophisticated feel. This style, which has been a popular choice for decades, finds a perfect balance between heritage and modernity, making it an enduringly stylish choice for contemporary living.
One of the key reasons for its ongoing popularity is its timeless aesthetic. As exemplified by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas's 1999 Pacific Palisades home, with its terracotta roofing, sunny balcony, clay-tiled pool, and textured walls, the Modern Spanish style still looks fresh and relevant over two decades later.
The design relies on authentic materials like terracotta, clay tiles, wood, wrought iron, and textured plaster, intertwined with sleek modern elements such as marble or polished concrete. This balance between rustic and contemporary brings tactile richness and visual interest.
The colour palette used in Modern Spanish design is inviting and elegant. It employs earthy terracotta, ochre, and deep browns combined with modern neutrals—soft beige, creamy white, pale gray—which evoke Mediterranean heritage while feeling fresh and modern. Subtle accent colours add depth without overwhelming the style’s warm foundation.
Architectural features such as stucco or limewashed walls, arched doorways, exposed wooden beams (painted or natural), and terracotta flooring provide both traditional charm and adaptability to modern minimalism, blending heritage with sophistication.
The style strikes a balance between comfort and elegance, making interiors feel welcoming and practical for contemporary living while maintaining visual appeal. Moreover, Mediterranean-inspired "sun-soaked" interiors reflect a desirable lifestyle associated with warmth, relaxation, and natural beauty, which aligns well with the broader 2025 design ethos valuing natural textures, sustainability, and personalized, cozy spaces.
Integrating terracotta tiles can help create a Spanish-style space with character and layers. The contrast of white and terracotta against wood is essential in the earthy style of Spanish-style interiors. A pop of blue is a common element in Spanish-style spaces, serving to brighten and uplift them.
Accessories like the Terracotta Urn, made from warm, traditionally colored clay, could serve as a focal point in southern European-inspired living spaces. The pinnacle of Spanish-style homes, as demonstrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas's 1999 Pacific Palisades house, showcases the versatility and adaptability of this timeless trend.
In conclusion, the Modern Spanish interior design trend's enduring appeal in 2025 results from its successful melding of heritage craftsmanship, natural materials, a warm and neutral palette, and a versatile contemporary edge that resonates with both historic roots and modern tastes.
- The enduring Modern Spanish interior design trend, popularized by stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, artfully merges heritage craftsmanship with a contemporary lifestyle, as evidenced by their 1999 Pacific Palisades home.
- Incorporating design elements such as terracotta tiles, textured plaster, and wrought iron, then complementing them with sleek modern pieces like marble or polished concrete, creates a harmonious blend of rustic and contemporary styles that perfectly embodies the home-and-garden aesthetic.
