2025 Residential Design Trends in Victoria: Insights from Gidaya Group

Residential design in Victoria is undergoing a transformation. Whether you're developing a custom home in Brighton, a dual occupancy in Preston, or a knockdown rebuild in Ballarat, clients are now demanding more than just curb appeal—they want lifestyle-optimised, energy-smart, and architecturally cohesive living.

At Gidaya Group, based in Kingsville and servicing Greater Melbourne and regional Victoria, we’ve helped elevate residential developments that respond to changing preferences and future-proof design principles.

Here are the key design trends reshaping residential builds in Victoria for 2025.

1. Minimalist Luxury: Clean, Functional, Elegant

From Toorak to Werribee, we’re seeing a shift toward:

• Simple forms with linear architecture and natural materials

• Matte black window trims, muted render tones, and off-form concrete

• Low-maintenance native landscaping suitable for drought-prone areas

This approach offers timeless elegance that appeals across demographics and regions.

2. Warm Interiors and Earthy Materiality

Homes in places like Geelong, Essendon, and Mount Martha are favouring interiors that feel inviting:

• Warm oak timbers and tactile surfaces

• Brushed brass fixtures, handmade tiles, and clay-washed walls

• Accent lighting to create layered mood zones

This palette bridges the gap between minimalist and homely aesthetics.

3. Flexible Layouts for Real Life

Across regional and urban builds, flexible design is in demand:

• Ground-floor master suites for aging-in-place in areas like Sunbury and Box Hill

• Secondary living areas upstairs in Dandenong and Berwick

• Work-from-home zones, theatre rooms, and breakout courtyards

These configurations adapt to all life stages and multi-generational living.

4. Design That Supports Multi-Generational Living

Particularly in suburbs like Glen Waverley, Tarneit, and Craigieburn:

• Dual master suites or self-contained studios

• Private side entries or rear lane access

• Flexible zoning for tenants, students, or extended families

These home designs reflect demographic shifts and rising land costs.

5. Energy-Efficient Design as Default

Victorians are embracing sustainability across:

• Passive design techniques and cross-flow ventilation

• Solar systems with battery storage in suburbs like Bendigo and Melton

• Double glazing and high-R insulation as standard

Incentives from the Victorian Government make sustainable upgrades more accessible.

6. Smart Home Integration

From smart blinds in Armadale to climate automation in Point Cook, homes in 2025 are wired for convenience:

• Integrated security and monitoring

• App-based climate and lighting control

• EV charger-ready garages

Buyers expect these as standard, particularly in high-end markets.

7. Architectural Integrity Across Suburbs

Melbourne councils and regional shires alike are tightening streetscape controls:

• No mirrored facades in dual occupancies

• Encouragement of asymmetry and facade depth

• Height, setbacks, and material variation to suit character precincts

Suburbs like Camberwell, Kew, and Ballarat Central are seeing these guidelines enforced.

Where Gidaya Group Designs and Builds

Though based in Kingsville, Gidaya Group services the following regions:

• North: Preston, Coburg, Reservoir, Craigieburn

• South: Bentleigh, Brighton, Mornington Peninsula

• East: Box Hill, Doncaster, Glen Waverley, Ringwood

• West: Werribee, Tarneit, Truganina, Caroline Springs

• Regional: Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton

We tailor designs to suit the climate, streetscape, and buyer profiles of each suburb.

Planning to build in 2025? Gidaya Group delivers design-led custom homes and dual occupancies across all of Victoria—from concept to keys.