Supporting Every Moment™: Senior Living Trends Shaping 2025
Blog – February 3, 2025
Evolving trends in senior care continue to prioritize dignity, foster community, and promote well-being, with design playing a key role in shaping the resident experience. Spaces are being thoughtfully adapted to support holistic wellness, social connection, and a greater sense of comfort—creating environments that truly support every moment.
The future of senior living reflects a deeper understanding of how design impacts daily life. From multi-functional common areas to wellness-focused amenities, the trends shaping senior living go beyond aesthetics—they influence how residents engage, connect, and thrive. Here’s a look at the key trends defining the future of senior living.
Trend #1: Holistic Wellness is Reshaping Senior Living
When designing senior living spaces, consider ways to support holistic wellness by incorporating fitness studios, therapy gardens, and meditation rooms to foster physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Thoughtful planning takes every detail into account—from layout to lighting to material choices—to create environments that feel both restorative and functional.
To foster a sense of calm and connection, design elements such as soft, natural lighting, biophilic accents, and flexible seating arrangements can make a significant impact. Comfortable, supportive furniture—like the Arezzo Lounge—encourages relaxation and engagement, whether in a quiet corner for reflection or a group setting for social interaction. Non-institutional color palettes, acoustic considerations, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions further enhance these spaces, making them more inviting and connected to nature.
By thoughtfully layering elements that promote movement, social engagement, and relaxation, senior living communities can create environments that truly support holistic wellness—helping residents thrive in both body and mind.
Trend #2: Multi-Generational Living Spaces
Senior living communities are embracing multi-generational living by incorporating shared spaces that foster meaningful interactions between residents, families, and younger generations. Creating environments that support these connections encourages social engagement, combats isolation, and helps seniors maintain a strong sense of purpose.
When designing for multi-generational engagement, choices in layout, materials, and furnishings ensure that spaces feel welcoming, adaptable, and functional. Comfortable, flexible seating, like the Ardali dining chair, allows for casual gatherings, while communal dining areas create opportunities for shared meals between residents and visitors. Non-institutional aesthetics, warm color palettes, and inviting common areas further enhance the feeling of connection.
At The Spires at Berry College, an intergenerational senior living community adjacent to Berry College, the design was inspired by its surroundings to create a sense of warmth and familiarity. Natural materials, soft textures, and inviting gathering spaces help make the environment feel welcoming to both students and residents. Common areas are designed to encourage interaction, from comfortable seating arrangements to flexible, high-use furniture solutions that support everything from studying to socializing.
Learn more about how The Spires at Berry College embraced intergenerational living and the role design played in fostering these connections. [Read the full case study here.]
By designing with multi-generational connection in mind, senior living communities can strengthen relationships, foster engagement, and create spaces that truly feel like home—for residents and visitors alike.
Trend #3: Integrating Technology for Connection & Care
Technology is reshaping senior living, offering new ways to enhance connection, convenience, and quality of life. Communities are integrating telehealth suites, virtual reality spaces, and smart home technology to support independence and enrich daily experiences. Whether it’s hands-free controls, voice-activated assistants, or sensor-based lighting, these innovations help create more intuitive, responsive environments for residents.
The intersection of technology and design was recently explored at Cooper Hewitt’s “Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial”, where Hord Coplan Macht’s installation, Aging and the Meaning of Home, reimagined a supportive living environment. The space showcased research-backed innovations designed to enhance comfort and adaptability for seniors, including furnishings that promote ease of use, accessibility, and engagement. This exhibit highlights how design can bridge the gap between technology and well-being, ensuring that new innovations feel natural and intuitive in everyday spaces.
As technology becomes a seamless part of daily life, senior living spaces are adapting with furniture that supports these advancements. Integrated USB power, adaptable work surfaces, and ergonomic seating help residents stay connected while maintaining an environment that feels warm and welcoming.
Explore how the Cooper Hewitt installation is redefining the future of aging and design. [Link to Exhibit]
By embracing tech-forward design, senior living communities can ensure that innovation enhances—not replaces—the human experience.
Trend #4: Luxury & Hospitality-Inspired Amenities
Senior living communities are embracing a hospitality-driven approach, transforming environments to feel more like boutique hotels rather than traditional senior residences. From spa-like wellness centers and resort-style lounges to fine dining bistros and concierge services, these elevated spaces prioritize experience, comfort, and sophistication—enhancing daily life for residents.
This shift isn’t just about amenities; it’s influencing the entire design approach. Communities are integrating high-end finishes, contemporary lighting, and elegantly crafted furnishings to create spaces that feel curated and inviting. Thoughtfully designed lobbies, lounges, and dining areas echo the warmth and refinement of modern hospitality environments, reinforcing a sense of dignity, independence, and enjoyment for residents.
By adopting hospitality-inspired design, senior living communities are creating welcoming, high-end environments that feel both aspirational and comfortable—helping residents feel at home in spaces that prioritize experience, connection, and well-being.
Trend #5: Sustainability & the Shift Toward Long-Lasting Design
Sustainability continues to shape senior living design, with communities exploring ways to reduce waste, lower environmental impact, and make responsible material choices. While much of the conversation centers around eco-friendly materials and energy efficiency, another key factor is longevity—ensuring that what’s built today lasts well into the future.
Frequent furniture replacements contribute to landfill waste, resource consumption, and operational costs, making durability an essential part of sustainable design. Investing in materials that stand up to daily use, rigorous cleaning, and evolving needs helps minimize environmental impact while providing long-term value.
This is where Protea™—Kwalu’s proprietary material—makes a difference. Engineered to withstand 10–20 years of use, it resists scratches, dents, and damage from harsh cleaning protocols, helping communities reduce the cycle of frequent replacements. The longer furniture lasts, the less waste is created—ensuring that sustainability isn’t just about what something is made of, but how long it lasts.
Beyond longevity, material selection also plays a role in responsible design. Kwalu offers a PVC-free version of Protea in select colors, providing communities with an option that aligns with evolving sustainability goals. Combined with its low maintenance and resilience, this approach contributes to a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)—reducing both long-term expenses and environmental impact by minimizing the need for frequent replacements.
While sustainability efforts in senior living continue to evolve, prioritizing design that lasts is one-way communities can make a practical, responsible impact without compromising on aesthetics, performance, or resident experience.
