Much like the fashion industry, the realm of interior design is constantly in flux. Last year, we reported on the return of travel, dining, and nightlife prompting us to embrace the comforts of our private lives through biophilic design, indoor-outdoor living, and wellness spaces. As we enter the new year, the top interior design trends of 2024 are more intertwined with those of the fashion world than ever.
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This hasn’t always been the case. While fashion swathes the human body and interior design influences the environment in which it resides, the two have been known to contrast and even contradict each other. A couple of years ago, while dopamine dressing by way of bright colours and dramatically puffy sleeves courtesy of Aje reigned supreme, the homes in which we wore them (not to mention the very stores they hung in) were defined by warm neutral tones of sand, beige and cream. In the mid-2010s, farmhouse style interiors were on the rise, coinciding with the rise (and rise and rise) of street style — think Off-White hoodies and box-fresh Air Jordan 1s against a backdrop of exposed wood, rustic textures, and soothing tones.
However, the quiet luxury boom thanks to Succession and a collective exhaustion over ostentatious luxury has infiltrated the interior design realm, with classic pieces and luxurious textures taking centre stage. Likewise, the colour brown experienced a major fashion moment last year, something that’s seeped through to our interiors, with the rich chocolatey hue acting as something of a new neutral.
Herewith, the 11 key interior design trends of 2024.
1. Quiet luxury
In this context, the words ‘quiet luxury’ are used to connote timeless, classic style. There’s an emphasis on well-curated interiors that (ironically) aren’t driven by trends. While many equate quiet luxury to minimalism or neutral hues, this isn’t necessarily the case. While they may be logoless (i.e. no monogrammed Hermès blankets artfully strewn over chairs), the best quiet luxury interiors are laden with personality, conveying opulence through furniture with superior craftsmanship and construction, pieces that reflect one’s personal style, and thoughtful layering of high-quality textures and materials.
Colour and pattern aren’t eschewed altogether, instead they’re selected based on personal style and preferences rather than ephemeral trends. Think silk tapestries or hangings, dramatic feature walls, or even a colourful velvet sofa.
2. Colour drenching
Also known as monochrome or wraparound paint, colour drenching is set to be a core interior design trend in 2024. Colour drenching refers to all the walls in a room—including the ceiling—exclusively painted in a single shade, resulting in a striking, all-encompassing visual effect.
Colour drenching provides residents and guests with an immersive experience akin to that of a boutique hotel while also promoting visual cohesion. The effect can extend to the furniture and decor, with variations in tone and saturation as well as the incorporation of different textures working to add interest.
3. Bronze accents
Tying into the idea of quiet luxury, materials that develop a patina over time are being prioritised for their ability to age gracefully. Bronze is one such material that looks better with each passing year, with vintage bronze pendant lighting or floor lamps adding instant style to any space.
4. Eclectic ceramics
Pottery has been on the rise with both art collectors and hobbyists, with the latter category comprising people of all demographics. With a low barrier to entry and representing an alternative to the increasing digitisation within our society, pottery classes are being embraced by all. By extension a new breed of ceramicists have emerged, with self-expression valued above perfection and even refinement. Think of the works of Seth Rogen and Dave Zackin.
5. Colourful kitchenware
Transforming from a necessity into an opportunity for decor, colourful kitchenware is making its way into the fray. A colourful Le Creuset pot is basically an essential for for any Architectural Digest celebrity home tour, while Selena Gomez recently collaborated with Our Place on a line of vibrant cookware.
6. Stripes
Checkerboard patterns enjoyed some time in the spotlight last year, however 2024 will see stripes make a comeback. From bold candy stripes to the more wide-set iterations found on Tekla bedding, stripes are a statement-making yet easy to adopt interior design trend.
7. Green kitchens
All-white and neutral toned kitchens are making way for colourful spaces. Green—in every shade—is popular (the cultural impact of Dakota Johnson and Emma Chamberlain’s kitchens haven’t waned), as are deep blues and pastel shades like lilac and baby pink. Expect the heart of the home to feel more living room-esque.
8. Chocolate block
Thanks to its calming and soothing properties, as well as ability to act as a non-boring neutral, brown interiors are here to stay. Warm and versatile, the shade pairs well with forest green, dusty pink, and mustard yellow. Dark brown can be visually arresting while light brown acts as a warm base shade.
9. Closed-plan layouts
Lockdown shone a light on the importance of delineation between spaces in the home, with many falling out of love with open-plan layouts. Over half a century after the rise of open-plan, we’re starting to veer in the opposite direction, with people gravitating towards defined spaces. Last year we talked about the return of the dining room — it’s here to stay, along with separated kitchens and living rooms, as well as dedicated entertainment and gathering spaces.
10. Old world Euro charm
Traditional hallmarks of European design are making their way into our homes. Think intricate decorative mouldings, marble details, evocative tapestries, and even ceiling and wall frescoes, albeit with a contemporary spin.
11. Stay curvy
Carrying on from the past couple of years, curvilinear lines are here to stay. Expect to continue seeing undulating shapes present in furniture and home decor, not to mention curves in the form of archways in interior architecture. That said, it won’t be excursively soft lines and organic shapes; curves will co-exist in harmony alongside straighter lines and and rectilinear forms.
Words by AR Staff
