Of course, the very nature of trends is that they are ever-changing and developing, but the overall feeling for interior design in 2024 is curating an adaptable, comfortable, and inspiring space that can both stand the test of time as well as be at one with your identity and style.
Our edit of the 2024 interior design trends focuses on both the fresh ideas brought forward by designers as well as the long-lasting styles and influences that consistently remain at the heart of interior design.
We cover everything from styling to color trends and the latest celebrated materials in our round-up of the biggest interior design trends for 2024 and beyond…
1. Beautiful blue color palettes
If we can take anything from 2024’s Colors of The Year, it is that blue is going to dominate room color ideas this year.
From Renew Blue by Valspar to Blue Nova by Benjamin Moore, many of our favorite paint brands have picked beautiful blue shades to be their 2024 Colors of The Year.
From furniture to paint trends, accessories to wallpaper, the beauty of decorating with blue is that this palette can effortlessly integrate into a whole host of varied settings, with many of us drawn to its cool, calming and tranquil qualities.
Whether you embrace impactful, vibrant shades, as shown in this stand-out blue hallway, or more muted, relaxed hues used in bathrooms and bedrooms, interior designer, Dan Mazzarini, principal and creative director of BHDM Design and ARCHIVE says, ‘while we’ll still be seeing the dusty, organic palette in the new year, blues will have their moment for 2024 interior design trends. I love a cornflower blue and can’t wait to play with Benjamin Moore’s color of the year, Blue Nova.
2. Mixed metals
‘Mixed metals will be a hit in bathrooms and beyond in 2024,’ says interior designer, Joshua Smith.
‘There are lots of opportunities to use a mixed metal light fixture to harmoniously combine brass and black or bronze, or even brass and nickel. There are so many accessible options to choose from, making it easier to find the perfect balance of finishes you need by mixing and matching certain parts. We’ll also see powder-coated metals in brighter colors become mainstream.’
Mixing metals is often a key feature of industrial decor, but it can be done more subtly too, as shown by the contrasting mixed metals used across the fixtures and fittings in this elegant, neutral bathroom.
Interior designer, Peak Petersen, also adds, ‘aluminum in lighting and furniture is reemerging from the ’80s for 2024 interior design trends, which I love; used sparingly and elegantly, this metal can make a space feel wonderfully chic and elevated.’
For further expert advice, we explore how to mix metals to perfection in our dedicated feature.
3. Biophilic design
‘Biophilic design will thrive for interior design trends in 2024. This trend centers around bringing the outdoors inside, creating spaces that foster a stronger connection with nature. Expect to see more indoor plants, living green walls, natural materials like stone and wood, and large windows to maximize natural light, reducing the barrier between the interior and exterior,’ says Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs.
It’s fair to say, that one of the biggest inspirations for many when it comes to interior design is the beauty of the natural world. From color palettes rooted in nature to the warmth of wood and the durability of natural stone, establishing an indoor-outdoor feel in the home can be both calming and relaxed and uplifting and energizing simultaneously.
Chris Pask, director at Charlton Brown also adds, ‘clients are increasingly looking for a greater connection to the outdoors in their homes, whether that is a literal connection via roof terraces, balconies and beautifully landscaped gardens, or more subtle nods to greenery and nature throughout the home. This can take the form of colors, materials and shapes that mimic those found in nature and are known to invoke a sense of calm.’
4. Layered lighting
Piero de Marchis, director at Detail Lighting says, ‘homeowners are paying far more attention to the way spaces in the home make us feel, as well as their function. Our homes are having to work harder for us than ever before, with an increase in spaces having multiple functions. From open-plan living areas to kitchen-dining zones, the trend for installing multifunctional lighting that can be adapted to suit the room as it’s being used is set to continue to rise.’
Gone are the days of simply turning on the ‘big light’, 2024 lighting trends prioritize a combination of various light sources in a space. From welcoming pools of light created through cozy table lamps and floor lamps to practical task lighting in a kitchen or study, the right use of layered lighting can transform the mood and atmosphere in a room, and ultimately, help us use our spaces better.
In terms of styles and lighting looks, Ed O’Donnell, co-founder of Angel O’Donnell says, ‘arresting silhouettes and unusual materials will conspire to create increasingly imaginative lighting and statement pieces that’ll create strong focal points in the home.’
5. Plenty of textural elements
Using texture in interior design will be at the forefront of our decorating decisions in 2024.
More and more of us want to create a home filled with cossetting and cocooning exuberance, and quite simply, without texture, a space will fall flat, it is the perfect way to add depth, dimension, and decadence to a room.
This room by Heidi Caillier Design is abundant with texture and feels wonderfully welcoming and warm. From the mix of materials used across the furniture, from fabric to leather, to the wooden paneling, striped rug, and sheer curtains, the design is rich in cozy character and depth.
6. Seek out sustainable options
Mor Krisher, head of design at Caesarstone says, ‘as designers we need to be the ambassadors of sustainability and the design community should be on the front line of this issue. If we don’t design with sustainability in mind, then consumers won’t have the ability to purchase sustainable products.’
Sustainable interior design is now more important than ever, and brands, designers and consumers alike are united in producing and consuming products that are better for the environment. From investment pieces built to last to products created through recyclable and renewable materials, sustainability is no mere trend in the world of interiors, rather, it is the start of an important new era of thoughtful design.
7. Warming ‘new’ neutrals
The extensive use of gray and beige was amongst some of the worst trends last year and one of the interior design trends we are quiet-quitting for 2024.
Interior designer, Peak Petersen says, ‘stark white spaces are being replaced by earthy, layered palettes. Cool gray rooms are also on the way out, as a preference for warmth and dimensionality is becoming more popular.’
Instead, paint trends and color trends are moving towards more warming and earthy colors in the home, with palettes of pale pinks, soft yellows, and cozy browns working wonderfully as refreshing, new neutrals.
Interior designer Natalia Miyar says, ‘delicate pinks, soft neutrals and warm browns are great to use if you want to achieve a natural, modern and uncluttered aesthetic, and they make any room feel cozy and comforting.
These colors can be used as accents in furnishing or the dominant color throughout a scheme. I find that the shades work best when paired together, as their warm undertones create a sense of cohesion between each color.’
8. Statement stoneware
Shea McGee, from interior design powerhouse Studio McGee, takes us through why statement stoneware is one of her top interior design trends to look forward to in 2024.
‘We love good veining and deep contrast in stone, and we’re excited to see more of this trend in 2024. We’ll see this in a variety of ways, from the stone itself – less common ones like soapstone and travertine, as well as contrasting pairings of stone in one space – to the way it’s utilized. It’s all about maximalism, a design trend in and of itself.’
The beauty of natural materials such as travertine and decorating with marble is undeniably timeless. Most commonly used for bathroom ideas and kitchen ideas, 2024 will see statement stoneware used across the home, from sculptural stone side tables in a bedroom to a stand-out marble fireplace in a living room.
Interior designer, Devon Wegman, founder of Devon Grace Interiors also adds, ‘While I never thought I would put granite on a project, we’ve been slowly using it more and more as we see slabs that have incredible movement and veining and look almost like quartzite. In fact, the conference table in our design studio is made up of two bookmatched slabs of granite with bold white veins running through it.’
9. Uniting old and new styles in elegant harmony
Alfred Newall says, ‘interior design trends are ever-changing, but the way we make furniture is centuries old. My hope is that we marry the modern with the traditional.’
As we cast our minds back for the sense of comfort and assurance that familiarity brings, 2024 will see us breathing new life into historic pieces and uniting styles of the past with design trends of the present.
Charlie Bowles, director at Original BTC says, ‘nostalgia has been a huge influence in the way people style their interiors. Social media has led to a resurgence of decade-related trends like brass fittings, unexpected pops of color and creative shapes. Mid-century styles mixed in with modern pieces give spaces a comfortably lived-in look.’
From decorating with antiques and shopping pre-loved furniture to embracing the revival of 70s decor across furniture trends, using an eclectic mix of the old and the new will only make for a home that feels more unique, characterful and authentic.
10. Color confidence
‘The past few years have dramatically changed people’s approach to their interiors and we are seeing consumers really finding their own sense of color confidence in their homes,’ says Ruth Mottershead creative director at Little Greene.
Whether you make a statement with ceiling paint ideas or use the color wheel to curate a space rich with elegant contrast, beautifully shown in the living room above by Salvesen Graham, your home is a canvas upon which to decorate with the colors that bring you joy and happiness.
11. A focus on handmade, artisan designs
With thoughtful, sustainable design a key focus for 2024, as well as a nod to more nostalgic designs, these trends will not only lead to us shopping more responsibly, but it will also see a rise in ‘shopping small’, and celebrating handmade, artisan designs and craftsmanship from all over the world.
The shopping experts at the ethical home retailer, The Citizenry, support this and say, ‘in dissent from the uber-minimalist trend popular in recent years, consumers are shifting to a more eclectic collector’s approach to designing their spaces. Looking forward, this year, we predict consumers moving towards a more decadent, collected home. From Parisian opulence to Mediterranean layering, we expect to see an overlap with maximalism in terms of influence from other cultures this year.’
Through rough forms and rustic, handcrafted objects connected to ceremony, history and travels far and wide, 2024 interior design trends will see many embrace a more slow, mindful and ritualistic life.
Is gray out of style for 2024?
Gray is an incredibly versatile neutral color, and when used correctly, can work wonderfully in homes of all styles and ages, but, as the popular saying goes, too much of a good thing can sometimes become bad, and this is exactly what happened with the decorating with gray phenomenon.
Using too much of one color, such as gray, can create spaces that feel cold and lifeless. When working with certain neutrals, we need accent colors and elements of contrast to make the space feel rich with character and depth. As we have discussed, we are moving towards a new era of neutrals, with gray and beige being replaced with more warming and interesting colors such as pink, yellow and even green.
As Martin Waller, founder of Andrew Martin says, ‘green is the new gray. The austerity of the gray, taupe age is over. It’s the age of all things emerald, lime, forest, pistachio, jade and sage in everything from wall colors, fabrics, cushions, headboards, rugs and curtains.’
Of course, gray room ideas will never be fully out of style, they just need to be done right. We explore in our dedicated feature, is gray still on trend.
Are accent walls out of style for 2024?
Accent wall ideas are very much here to stay in 2024.
From beautiful wallpaper ideas inspired by the latest wallpaper trends, to a striking gallery wall, an accent wall can inject color, vibrancy and visual interest into a space.
One of the most popular ways to create an accent wall is through paint. From a simple block-color design to magnificent wall mural ideas, an accent wall can be a chance to truly get creative with color and artistic design.
Andy Greenall, creative director at Paint & Paper Library supports this and says, ‘both consumers and designers are turning to color combinations that add drama and intrigue to a space, from neutrals in graduating shades which flow between rooms to more dramatic color pairings.’
We explore, are accent walls still on trend in our separate piece.
For further expert insight on 2024 interior design trends, we asked a whole host of designers for their New Year decorating resolutions for 2024 – they will no doubt leave you feeling inspired for the year ahead.