11 Modern Interior Designers You Should Know
Are you tired of boring, outdated spaces that lack personality and style?
Many homeowners struggle to create interiors that feel fresh and current. You scroll through social media, see beautiful rooms, but can’t figure out how to achieve that look in your own home.
The good news? Top modern interior designers are reshaping how we think about living spaces in 2025. These creative professionals blend functionality with striking visual appeal.
They use new materials, smart technology, and bold color schemes that make rooms come alive.
This article introduces you to influential modern interior designers who are setting trends right now. You’ll learn about their signature styles, recent projects, and design philosophies. By the end, you’ll have fresh ideas and know exactly which designers to follow for inspiration.
Ready to change your space? Let’s learn about these design masters.
Also read: 21 Inspiring Black Interior Designers to Follow Today
The Evolution of Modern Interior Design
Modern interior design has undergone significant changes since the early 2000s. Back then, many homes featured clean lines and minimal decoration. Today, designers create spaces that feel more personal and practical.
This shift occurred because homeowners sought rooms that reflected their own personal style. Social media also played a significant role. People started sharing their real homes online, which inspired others to try new ideas and colors.
Today’s interior designers focus on making spaces work for how people actually live.
Professionals like Corey Damen Jenkins and Brigette Romanek show that good design doesn’t require following strict rules. They create rooms that match their clients’ daily routines and personal tastes.
This approach reflects what many people want now: homes that feel authentic and comfortable. Modern design has become less about impressing others and more about creating spaces where people enjoy spending time.
11 Modern Interior Designers You Should Know
These creative professionals are setting the trends and shaping how we live in our homes today.
1. Kelly Wearstler
Overview: A Los Angeles-based designer who founded Kelly Wearstler Interior Design in the mid-1990s, growing from a boutique interior design firm to a global lifestyle brand. Born November 21, 1967, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in interior and graphic design from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.
Signature Style: Bold glamour with a maximalist interior design approach, employing big statement pieces as focal points to create a buzzy atmosphere without being overly cluttered. Her work draws inspiration from Modernism and old Hollywood glamour, particularly influenced by Dorothy Draper and William Haines.
Notable Projects: Notable projects include Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Austin Proper Hotel, San Francisco Proper Hotel, Four Seasons Anguilla, BG Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman, and the Viceroy Hotels and Residences. Celebrity clients include Cameron Diaz, Gwen Stefani, Ben Stiller, Jessica Alba, and Wolfgang Puck restaurants.
Recognition: Accolades include Elle Décor’s A-List, Architectural Digest’s AD100, AD France’s AD100, Wallpaper Magazine’s Top 20 Designers, and Time Magazine’s The Design 100. She is the first interior designer to be part of the MasterClass Series and the first outside designer to partner with Farrow & Ball.
2. Joyce Wang
Overview: A London and Hong Kong-based interior designer who studied architecture and materials science at MIT, later enrolled at the Royal College of Art. She credits her design education as the root of her ongoing fascination with materials and how the built environment affects human experience.
Signature Style: Known for creating cinematic interiors with clean, luxurious lines that evoke atmosphere effortlessly, featuring global influences blended with livable luxury. Her style incorporates sophisticated color palettes with curated furnishings and theatrical quality that tells three-dimensional stories through space design.
Notable Projects: Her first major project was Hong Kong restaurant AMMO, followed by designing Mott 32, named “World’s Best Interior of 2014” at the INSIDE World Festival of Interiors. Recent projects include The Penthouse Suites at The Berkeley and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London, and The Equinox hotel at Hudson Yards.
Recognition: One of her earliest projects was The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, credited by the South China Morning Post as putting her “firmly on the list of rising designers”. In 2024, she unveiled several high-profile projects, including Prince and the Peacock at Tai Kwun and Club Bâtard in Hong Kong.
3. Jake Arnold
Overview: A British interior designer based in Los Angeles who began his design career after moving from London in 2012. He was studying economics and felt stuck, until he messaged an LA-based design studio on social media and secured an internship.
Signature Style: Known for harmonizing British charm with laid-back California style, creating timeless sophistication and lived-in comfort with bold, inviting spaces. His designs feature beautiful textures that have richness and depth, using materials that create layered, warm environments while maintaining clean aesthetics.
Notable Projects: He gained early recognition for his work on actress Julianne Hough’s home, featured on the cover of Better Homes & Gardens. His celebrity clientele includes John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Katy Perry, Aaron Paul, Rashida Jones, Whitney Cummings, and Zendaya.
Recognition: Arnold has been named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list of top designers for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. In 2022, he introduced a bedding collection with Parachute Home, and in 2023, partnered with Crate & Barrel for a furniture collection.
4. Kelly Hoppen
Overview: A South African-born British interior designer born July 28, 1959, in Cape Town, who relocated to London when she was two. She began her career at 16 when she quit school and took on her first project designing a family friend’s kitchen.
Signature Style: Known for her signature neutral palette and trademark Perfect Neutrals, often referred to as the ‘Queen of Taupe’ for her sophisticated use of neutral colors. Her philosophy focuses on creating calm, balanced environments based on Eastern cultures, emphasizing order and the creation of harmony.
Notable Projects: Her breakthrough came designing racing driver Damien Hunt’s house, leading to work with other race drivers and actors, including David and Victoria Beckham. Notable projects include designing British Airways’ First Class cabin and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge ship with a luxury boutique experience at sea.
Recognition: She was a “Dragon” on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den from 2013 to 2015, and was appointed MBE in 2009 for services to interior design. She received a CBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the GREAT campaign promoting British creativity and commerce globally.
5. India Mahdavi
Overview: An Iranian-French architect and designer raised in the United States, Germany, and France, whose heritage and cosmopolitan upbringing influenced her work. Her studies took her to École des Beaux Arts in Paris from 1980 to 1986, then to New York for furniture and graphic design.
Signature Style: Regarded as the “queen of color”, she is most known for her playful palettes and unwavering use of color in designs. Her work explores the intersection of craft, design, and psychology while pushing boundaries, with cinematic inspirations creating bold, neo-baroque style spaces.
Notable Projects: Her memorable identities for iconic spaces include the pink Gallery at Sketch London, Ladurée in Los Angeles and Tokyo, and Hotel du Cloitre in Arles. One of her earliest projects was the Townhouse Hotel in Miami, an 80-bedroom stay that solidified her interior design career.
Recognition: After studies, she returned to France to work as artistic director of Christian Liaigre for seven years before starting her practice in 1997. Her collaborations include partnerships with luxury brands like Dior and furniture makers, always maintaining her signature Pop-inspired lens.
6. Sheila Bridges
Overview: A Harlem-based designer who graduated from Brown University and Parsons School of Design, she founded her firm in 1994. She has emerged as one of the most influential American interior designers, breaking barriers and setting new standards for contemporary design.
Signature Style: Bold color use with careful blending of classical pieces and contemporary finishes, creating spaces that honor traditional design elements while incorporating modern sensibilities. Her work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how color, pattern, and texture can create emotionally resonant environments that tell cultural stories.
Notable Projects: Created the iconic Harlem Toile de Jouy pattern in 2006, designed interiors for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris. Her projects span from private residences to public spaces, each reflecting her commitment to design excellence and cultural authenticity.
Recognition: Named “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time magazine in 2001, cementing her status as a design pioneer. Her work is housed in prestigious institutions, including the Smithsonian and the Brooklyn Museum, promoting inclusivity in the design industry.
7. Frida Escobedo
Overview: A Mexican architect born in 1979 who designs and restores urban spaces, including housing, community centers, art venues, and hotels. She studied architecture at Universidad Iberoamericana and received a master’s degree at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, establishing herself as a leading cultural architect.
Signature Style: When creating, Escobedo illustrates her works within a general theme of time in social rather than historical context. Her work incorporates local materials and traditional construction techniques, bridging the gap between modern design and cultural heritage through thoughtful, research-driven approaches.
Notable Projects: In 2018, designed the Serpentine Pavilion for London’s Kensington Gardens, using materials and architectural styles from both Britain and Mexico. In 2022, selected to renovate the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Recognition: Selected with Moreau Kusunoki to renovate the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and is designing the Met’s new Oscar L. Tang Wing. Named one of the top 30 most influential architects in London by ArchDaily, representing the new generation of culturally conscious designers.
8. Alyssa Kapito
Overview: A New York-based interior designer who founded her firm in 2012 after completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Art History at Columbia University. She secured her start by interning with AD100 Hall-of-Famer Bunny Williams, learning both the art and business of interior design.
Signature Style: Known for her “edited, polished, and academic” style that creates serene, minimalist spaces exuding sophistication through neutral tones and refined materials. Her designs prioritize both beauty and functionality, featuring a timelessly refined visual vocabulary with effortlessly layered neutral hues and exquisitely crafted furnishings.
Notable Projects: Her portfolio includes luxury residential projects throughout New York, London, Paris, and Los Angeles, featuring 20th-century French design trophies by Jean Royère and Charlotte Perriand. She recently launched an eponymous gallery, a limited-edition glass collection with Murano maker Laguna~B, and published a Rizzoli book.
Recognition: Five-time recipient of the “Elle Decor A-List” honorific and debuted on Architectural Digest’s AD100 2025 list as an emerging design talent. Over the last year, she launched multiple ventures while finishing New York interiors that embody her signature brand of quiet luxury.
9. Dong-Ping Wong
Overview: A leading urban space innovator and founding director of Food Architects, a New York-based firm featured in AD100 2025. His firm focuses on bringing people together through design, with the simple moniker reflecting their mission to create spaces that unite communities.
Signature Style: Designs residential spaces, retail concepts, and flagship stores with the primary aim to bring people together through thoughtful spatial planning. His approach emphasizes creating environments that foster human connection while maintaining modern aesthetics and functional design principles.
Notable Projects: Recent work includes a Manhattan apartment revamp with fellow AD100 talent Charlap Hyman & Herrero, featured in AD’s February 2024 issue. Notable clients include major fashion brands such as Off-White, Nike, and 3.1 Phillip Lim, along with the Hypebeast flagship store.
Recognition: Featured on Architectural Digest’s AD100 2025 list for innovative urban space design and his ability to create commercially successful retail environments. His work spans multiple industries, demonstrating versatility in creating spaces that serve both aesthetic and functional community-building purposes.
10. Hannes Peer
Overview: A South Tyrolean architect and designer who studied at Milan Polytechnic and Technical University in Berlin, with influential stints at OMA/Rem Koolhaas and Zvi Hecker. He founded Hannes Peer Architecture in Milan in 2009, evolving into a dynamic collective of up to 10 freelance architects and designers.
Signature Style: An eclectic approach to architecture that transcends mere stylistic choice, representing holistic navigation through the intricate interplay of architecture, historical context, and modern technologies. His work combines traditional and contemporary elements, creating sophisticated spaces with rich materials like silk rugs, oxidized metals, and aged timbers.
Notable Projects: His portfolio spans international brand product design to expansive architectural projects in hospitality and residential design, including work for fashion brands N°21 and Iceberg. He collaborates with major design leaders, Minotti and Baxter, along with niche brands like SEM, 6:AM, and Nilufar Gallery in Milan.
Recognition: Consistent recognition on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list and the Elle Decor A-List, with participation in the prestigious AD Interieurs exhibition in Paris in 2019. AD France chose him as one of the 10 new international talents in interior design, solidifying his reputation for excellence and originality.
11. Joseph Dirand
Overview: A French architect and interior designer born March 26, 1974, in Paris, son of photographer Jacques Dirand, who specialized in interiors. He studied architecture at École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville and started his own interior design firm in 1999 at age 25.
Signature Style: Minimalist aesthetic characterized by strong lines, impeccable proportions, and precision, often monochromatic with emphasis on black and white in early work. His style features rich materials, particularly marble, classic elements, sophisticated lighting, and telling details that bring interiors to life with quintessentially French design.
Notable Projects: Notable works include shop interiors for Balmain, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Chloé, and Pucci, along with restaurants Le Flandrin, Monsieur Bleu, and Loulou in Paris. Hotel projects include Hábitat in Monterrey, Distrito Capital in Mexico City, L’Apogée in Courchevel, and Surf Club in Miami Beach.
Recognition: Drew public attention with his redesign of a flat facing Place de la Concorde and creation of the Balmain shop on rue François-Ier, called “the most beautiful fashion store in Paris”. His progression over the past five years has been described as spectacular, establishing him as a design star exporting French finesse globally.
How These Designers Are Shaping the Future of Interior Design?
1. Accessible Luxury Movement: Designers such as Mikel Welch and Rashida Banks are breaking down barriers by showing how to achieve high-end looks with budget-friendly pieces. This approach makes beautiful design available to more people, not just wealthy clients.
2. Sustainable and Functional Living: Contemporary designers focus on creating spaces that work for real family life, like Arianne Bellizaire’s practical luxury approach. They prioritize durability, functionality, and materials that stand the test of time over trendy but impractical choices.
3. Global Influence and Cross-Cultural Design: Designers are incorporating international elements and diverse cultural perspectives into American interiors. This global approach creates more interesting, worldly spaces that reflect our connected society and varied experiences.
Conclusion
Classic Gray offers the perfect balance for homeowners seeking a reliable, timeless neutral. This soft gray with warm beige undertones works in every room while adapting beautifully to different lighting conditions throughout the day.
The color’s main strength lies in its versatility. It pairs well with any decor style, from modern to traditional, and creates a calming backdrop that lets your furniture and artwork shine. Whether you use it in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms, Classic Gray delivers consistent results.
Remember to test large swatches in your space and pair them with bright white trim for the best results. With proper planning and the right finish, Classic Gray will give you a urbane, welcoming home that stands the test of time.
What room will you try Classic Gray in first?
