Island Living 2.0: The Top Home Design Trends Defining 2025

If you are driving through the neighborhoods of Victoria, Nanaimo, or the Comox Valley this year, you might notice something: the “West Coast” home is changing.

2025 has been a watershed year for BC residential construction. Driven by sweeping legislative changes (hello, Bill 44) and a renewed focus on climate resilience, the classic island aesthetic is evolving. We are moving away from the stark, glass-box modernism of the 2010s toward homes that are warmer, denser, and significantly higher performing.

Here are the top design trends shaping the new wave of home building on Vancouver Island right now.

1. The Rise of “Gentle Density” (The Multiplex Boom)

The biggest shift in 2025 isn’t just about style—it’s about form. With the provincial rollout of Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation, the single-family lot is working harder than ever.

On Vancouver Island, this doesn’t look like a concrete jungle. It looks like “invisible density.”

• The “House-Plex”: From the street, it looks like a large, classic craftsman or West Coast contemporary home. Inside, it’s cleverly divided into 3 or 4 distinct units.
• Garden Suites: These are no longer afterthoughts. We are seeing high-design, pre-fabricated garden suites (ADUs) dropped into backyards in Oak Bay and Saanich, serving as mortgage helpers or multi-generational housing.
• The Nanaimo Model: Look at Nanaimo’s new R5 zoning. It is becoming a blueprint for the Island, allowing flexible configurations like a house + carriage house + suite, all on one standard lot.

2. West Coast Modern Becomes “Midimalism”

The cold, grey-on-grey palette is out. In late 2025, Island designers are embracing “Midimalism”—a blend of Mid-Century Modern warmth and Scandinavian minimalism.

• Warmth Over Coolness: We are seeing a shift from cool greys to “greige,” terracotta, and warm whites.
• Texture is King: Smooth drywall is being broken up by slat walls, limewash paints, and textured stone.
• The 70s Revival: Don’t panic—shag carpet isn’t back. But conversation pits, sunken living rooms, and rich wood tones (walnut and oak) are making a sophisticated return in custom builds from Tofino to Ten Mile Point.

3. The “Fabric-First” Revolution (Passive House)

On Vancouver Island, “luxury” is being redefined. It’s no longer just about granite countertops; it’s about air quality and silence.

Passive House and Net-Zero Ready standards are becoming the new baseline for premium builds.

• Triple-Pane Everywhere: Once a rarity, triple-glazed windows are now standard for controlling the Island’s damp winters and increasingly hot summers.
• The Airtight Envelope: Builders are using “fabric-first” design—meaning the money is spent on insulation and airtightness before fancy heat pumps.
• Visual Impact: You can spot these homes by their thick walls and deep window sills, which are becoming a coveted architectural feature in themselves.

Builder Note: Local firms like Stillwater Custom Homes and others are proving that high-performance homes don’t have to look like science experiments—they can look like stunning West Coast estates.

4. Exterior Materials: The Cedar Pivot

We all love the look of Western Red Cedar, but the maintenance (and price) has driven a major shift in 2025 materials.

• Wood-Look Aluminum: Products like Cedar Renditions are exploding in popularity. They offer the warmth of wood soffits and siding but are fire-resistant and rot-proof—crucial for our wildfire-conscious regions.
• Shou Sugi Ban: For those using real wood, the Japanese technique of charred timber is trending. It creates a striking, charcoal-black finish that is naturally weather and insect-resistant.
• Mixed Metals: Matte black is still here, but it’s being warmed up with copper and bronze accents on house numbers, mailboxes, and exterior lighting.

5. Interiors: “Colour Drenching” & Spa Bathrooms

Inside the home, the trends are bold and restorative.

• Colour Drenching: This is the practice of painting the walls, trim, and even the ceiling the same colour. In 2025, we are seeing this in moody Island-inspired hues: deep fir greens, ocean navies, and stormy greys. It creates a cozy, cocoon-like effect perfect for rainier months.
• The Wet Room: The primary ensuite is expanding. The trend is to place a freestanding soaker tub inside a large, glass-enclosed shower area (the “wet room”), completely tiled with large-format stone or slate.

Summary: The 2025 Island Home

For more information and to help you with choosing the look of your new home or new renovation project, Book A Consultation with one of our designers.