Annual Homes & Design Issue
Earthy and warm neutrals are accented with bold colors and textures, wallpaper continues to make a comeback, unique light fixtures bring character, organic and natural elements gain popularity, and more. Here, some of our area’s best interior designers and furnishers discuss interior design trends for 2024.
When selecting color, brown is the new gray. We’re using yellow as a splash of fresh color while emphasizing brushed brass and gold tone accessories like drapery hardware, lighting, and drink tables. As far as textiles, bouclé fabric is still in great demand. It feels natural with a cozy, inviting texture. We also recommend Crypton and other performance fabrics which make upholstery easy to clean. Sumptuous velvets coupled with fresh linen create what is the most important part of good design, comfort! Just remember, individualism is the key to great design. If you love your space, so will your friends, family, and guests.
One of the biggest trends for 2024 is the use of bold color and pattern. We are having a huge resurgence of bright, colorful, and bold textiles. It is not just performance fabrics anymore! We are seeing lots of fun florals and large patterns on more than throw pillows, which is fun to work with for our designers. I think consumers are looking for something extremely personal that will show off their space. In the last few years, performance fabrics have been all the rage, and they still are very popular throughout the industry. From a style perspective, we are still seeing a shift to cleaner lines and more modern design with a nod to all the traditional elements.
Interior designers are leaning into furniture and elements that reflect softer tones with organic shapes. Muted brown wood cabinetry along with greens, warmer grays, and reds have arrived. Taking more cues from these trends, a resurgence of botanical florals and Ralph Lauren-inspired designs are being implemented. Rounding out many of these elements, quiet luxury has become an overarching theme. Creamy neutrals, serene blues, and a full spectrum of greens are being used to bring calming influences. Finally, layers of texture and lighting finish the design.
An interior design trend that I’m seeing more of for 2024 is the maximalism of architectural interior design details, such as ornate crown moldings, more traditional-style baseboards, chair rails, picture frame trim walls, and intricate ceiling details, among others. In addition, warmer, bolder colors are moving people away from all-white interiors. It makes houses feel more upscale while also creating a cozy space. I love to see over-the-top trim paired with antique furniture and lighting, creating a space that feels truly timeless. There are so many options and decorative ways to add trim details to your home, making this such a great way to add personality to your space while making it feel more elegant and high-end. My favorite way would be using these design details mixed with the addition of wallpaper to add more depth and liveliness to your home!
In today’s interior design landscape, bespoke designs stand out as a beacon of individuality and sophistication. This popular trend celebrates uniqueness, offering personalized spaces adorned with one-of-a-kind vintage-modern lighting and furniture, blending the old with the new. Bespoke designs weave narratives of creativity and authenticity into living spaces, creating a look that tells a story. Other trends that we are seeing include textures like bouclé fabrics and slatted surfaces, making a pronounced statement and infusing spaces with depth and visual interest. Reflecting a shift towards sustainability and a connection to nature, organic materials are gaining momentum, bringing warmth and authenticity to interiors. Architectural elements such as arches and curves are experiencing a resurgence, offering a refreshing departure from strict lines and angles. Complementing these design choices, popular color palettes are leaning towards sophisticated tones, with blacks, caramel, and muted hues reigning supreme, creating environments that are both inviting and effortlessly chic.
We are dedicated to finding new products that are both classic and current, and we love all the new custom options for lighting, including lamps and shades. For example, Visual Comfort & Co. is partnering up with long-time favorite textile brand Schumacher to offer patterned shades that are attainable and easy to order alongside your lighting. Rechargeable lamps are a wonderful addition to the market and can be placed anywhere you can dream up: bookshelves, that quirky corner where you have no outlet, or even outdoors. Our waterproof favorites from Zafferano have a minimal look that blends in to the interior or exterior environment, whereas Pooky lights, new to the U.S. market, and Visual Comfort have new rechargeable additions that are all about the finish – from brass to alabaster and everything in between. Pooky also offers great shade options that are both classic and current.
The popular colors for 2024 are warm beiges, browns, blues, and greens. This gives a comfortable and calming presence to the room as well as bringing the outdoors in. Furniture in brown tones is back, in all shades from light blonde, natural, medium, and all the way to a dark coffee bean finish. This helps bring warmth to any room but still keeps it simple with clean lines and sculptural shapes; remember, less is more. Rather than overcrowd the room with small accessories, use fewer and larger accents. This will make your room more pleasing to the eye.
The natural look is all the rage when it comes to lighting. We are seeing more hand-crafted materials than ever before. Stunning woven rattan pendants add an airy feel to any island or breakfast nook. If you love the look of wood fixtures, you’re in luck! The attention to detail and hand-crafted wood elements are sure to be a focal point in any room. We are also seeing a resurgence of artisan glass, instead of just clear or seeded glass. Elegant alabaster glass has taken center stage and is sure to accentuate any tailored, timeless style. When it comes to the overall silhouette of the fixtures themselves, mid-century modern is making a comeback. Mixed finishes are sticking around for the foreseeable future, making it easier than ever to find the perfect piece to blend with any style.
In lighting, it seems we went from an ornate, oil-rubbed bronze and tea-stained glass “Tuscan” look to a cleaner-lined, black and clear glass “farmhouse” look. Now we’re seeing more natural materials and organic shapes. Finishes that look like hand-applied gold or silver leaf paired with botanical styles and real stones like marble and alabaster are becoming more widely available. In general, an English eclectic style is currently popular thanks to designers like Matilda Goad and Beata Heuman. Highlights of this style include pleated fabric lampshades, scallop motifs, and ample pattern mixing. It also has an overall feel of being collected over time. Neutral colors have reigned supreme for so long, but punches of bright colors are making their way into more and more interiors. As always with bold choices, it’s easier to participate in small doses; an accent rug, throw pillow, or wall art might be all you need to inject life into a room.
We are seeing a bit more of the Spanish/Californian influence with Saltillo tiles, rounded or arched doorways, and adobe-inspired white stucco or plastered walls. This speaks well to the previous season’s shift to more earthy tones. Surprisingly, we have begun to see yellows in lemon, honey, and canary popping up as the next big thing. We at Michelle Workman Interiors have been using it both indoors and out in delicate doses paired with sage, olive, and corals. The love of wallpaper is in full swing with smaller repeats making a strong comeback – this distinctly British style of small repeating motifs especially lends itself to the layering of pattern and colors and is quite effective in creating a cozy, color-filled yet soothing home. The technology of performance fabrics has improved and is becoming much more commonplace inside the home – soft chenilles, luxurious linens, and even velvets are now the norm for this durable family-friendly type of fabric.
Warm colors and more classic and layered interiors continue to grow in popularity for 2024. Specifically, a casual, cottage style is gaining popularity with designs that include block print fabrics, landscape paintings, and finishes that are timeworn and imperfect. People are embracing brown (unpainted) antiques, fun pattern mixes, and details inspired by English country décor. These details include patterned lampshades, equestrian art, floral wallpapers, and painted floors. This is great news for young families and pet owners as these finishes are very forgiving! Kitchens with colorful cabinets are still very popular, although the colors being used are a little warmer and more muted. Soft gold hardware remains popular with polished nickel becoming more prevalent. Both of these finishes are classic, warm, and timeless.
For 2024, we are seeing interior design flooring trends that are leaning towards sustainable and natural materials, especially engineered wood floors with wider planks that are structurally sound and more affordable. With carpet, natural fibers such as wool and jute are being favored for their sustainability and texture. We are also seeing that bold patterns and vibrant colors are making a comeback, with geometric designs and vintage-inspired motifs being particularly popular. Luxury vinyl tiles that mimic the appearance of stone or wood are also trending due to their durability and affordability. In terms of color, earthy tones and rich, warm hues are predominant, aligning with the broader trend of creating cozy and inviting living spaces.
Beautiful statement range hoods are still alive and well, but the trend of seeing fully incorporated range hoods in kitchen designs is having a real moment. The lovely thing about this trend is it accounts for the need for great scale, unforgettable design elements, and good transitions from cabinetry, trim, and wall relationship to your stove. We see this design in alcove-style hoods where some (even fully plastered) account for hidden nooks for things like spices and cooking utensils. Another way we see these incorporated hoods is by seeing the hoods fully tiled.
Trying to keep up with the design trends of 2024 can make you feel like your head is spinning. The boom of TikTok and social media outlets in the past several years allows for anyone and everyone with an idea or opinion to jump on, post some designer rooms (for which others should be getting the credit), and stir up a bunch of frenzy. The good news is virtually anything goes when it comes to design in 2024, and the emphasis is on personality and individuality. At Frost Designs, Inc., we embrace this trend, as we strive to leave a legacy through livable, unique, and personalized spaces for each of our clients. Bring on the wall coverings, collected light fixtures, mixed-up period pieces, photos, art, and colors that reflect your essence, heritage, and personality. Use items and objects that show who you are, where you have been, and what you’re passionate about in this life.
Being born in the early ‘90s,
I would say that I am witnessing firsthand my first trend cycle in interior design. It is exciting to see warm earth tones and rich color palettes returning to the design scene — beige is the more popular neutral, and shades of red and saturated green hues have resurged. Homeowners are more open to incorporating unexpected, distinctive textures and materials like faux finishes, burl wood, and shiny brass. While rooster motifs in the kitchen are still a part of the past, other down-home touches are returning, like gingham, ruffles, table skirts, and heavily upholstered furnishings. Nostalgia is trending.
Although the revival of traditional design started last year, it is still thriving in 2024 and in some ways has even evolved into a more timeless interpretation. There is a greater emphasis on different textures and styles in comparison to last year’s maximalist approach, achieved through pairing different patterns and colors. Natural elements such as wood, stone, and greenery are paired with rich textiles such as bold velvets, animal hides, and textured fabrics to create a sense of depth. Even though natural light and biophilic design are still (and will always be) key components, sculptural light fixtures have also been a major trend this year. Similar to other current trends, unique light fixtures are as functional as they can be artistic. Cultivating an aesthetically pleasing design does not have to compromise the functionality and comfort of a space.
