These styles are all the rage this year – and they will keep your lounge looking up to date

If you’re looking to make over your lounge anytime soon, or even just give it a little bit of an update, then living room trends can provide the right guidance and help you give your living space a contemporary touch.

When coming up with fresh living room ideas for your space, you might be overwhelmed at first when thinking of where to start. And that’s where living room trends come in with up-to-date key looks of the year that will make sure your lounge doesn’t appear outdated – this includes everything from the best sofas to the latest colours that are popping up everywhere.

And while you, of course, don’t need to follow every single trend that comes up, you can pick and choose those that are in line with your taste and your home’s existing style to provide you with some modern living room ideas before you start changing up your lounge’s decor.

Living room trends for 2024
‘Living rooms are often the hub of the home, where setting the stage for rest and relaxation is at the forefront of interior schemes,’ says Alexandra Ellis, head of design and marketing at Cormar Carpets.

More than ever before, homeowners look to individuality and self-expression through their homes which is reflected in many playful home decor trends, some of which make their way into the lounge, too. ‘The 2024 decor trends are all about making bold statements. With a strong focus on individuality and creative expression, homeowners are embracing the maximalist trend and trying different things out in their homes from pattern clashing to statement designs,’ says Chelsea Clark, head of marketing at Lust Home.

And these are the ones that will shine bright in our living rooms this year.

1. Go bold with colour drenching

Speaking of shining bright, one of the key living room trends for 2024 that was first introduced last year is the bold colour-drenching method of covering all walls and features including the ceiling, trims and even the fireplace in the same colour – or at least shades from the same colour family.

‘Colour drenching is becoming increasingly popular as a way to create harmonious flow throughout a space, as well as add a creative flair,’ explains Bailey Oates, colour expert at Earthborn. ‘To really achieve this look, layer furniture and decor in varying hues of the same colour to add depth and focal points to a colour drenched design.’

Flora Hogg, interior designer and colour consultant at Craig & Rose, continues to explain how this paint trend changes for 2024. ‘Colour drenching is set to continue to be a key trend in 2024, with bolder, brighter colours the way forward. Using vibrant colours can enhance the immersive experience of an environment, contributing to the creation of setting the mood. Using different paint finishes on each surface such as built-in joinery or shelving units will create a vivid yet cohesive colour scheme.’

2. Bring the outside in with earthy tones

If you’re searching for on-trend living room colour schemes, then look no further than shades inspired by mother nature. From sandy beige to clay-like terracottas and even tones of green are among the most popular colours of the year.

Tanya Rechberger, design development manager at King Living, says, ‘Nature-inspired colours are significant in this year’s trend forecast. Sofa designs in rich deep greens are a beautiful way to bring the feeling of the outdoors into your home and pair well with earthy accessories in terracotta and sepia tones.’

Flora at Craig & Rose adds that combining nature-inspired hues with sunny yellow as seen above is the perfect pairing. ‘Warm neutrals and earthy hues coupled with yellow tones create a calm and inviting space that exudes contemporary warmth and comfort. Sun and earth combined. Earthy greens teamed with pops of bolder colour such as yellows imitates the dappled light filtering through the trees, infusing an instant touch of character and rejuvenation.’

3. Embrace curves

Curved shapes from arches to irregular, organic forms have replaced harsh angles in interiors. And this applies to the living room as much as it does to any other room – whether that’s reflected in the sofa design, the silhouette of the cushions or the shape of the mirror hanging above the mantelpiece as seen above.

‘The arch is the shape of the moment, popping up in doorways, windows, mirrors and niches everywhere,’ says Becca Stern, co-founder and creative director at Mustard Made. ‘But that’s not the only place we’ll be seeing curves in 2024. Soft furnishings are set to take on a rounded, softer look, offsetting the bold lines and angles of the retro aesthetic beautifully. Even walls are getting the curve treatment, with feature walls and ceilings carved into more organic shapes to create a warm, cosy and elevated sensation.’

4. The art of display

One of the living room trends set to be big for 2024, is displaying our (curated) wares, rather than tidying them away. Sideboards, mantlepieces and even living room shelving ideas are ideal for showing off keepsakes and collectibles and gives a sense of personality to your living space. Plus they are easy to update throughout the year.

‘It was the Victorian era that celebrated the art of display the best, from cloches and wall plates to floral displays and curiosity cabinets,’ says Andrew Tanner, head of design at Habitat. ‘Today, however, it’s about showcasing personalised collectibles, ones based on memories and souvenirs that evoke emotion.’

‘We’re creating our own ‘shop windows’ where we display what represents us. This is a way we can style our own vignettes around the home, refreshing them when the mood strikes, which is particularly attractive to those who rent their homes and have limited ways they can put their own stamp on them.’

5. Incorporate the colour of the year

Pantone’s colour of the year, ‘Peach Fuzz’, is set to dominate interiors in 2024 and the living room is the perfect place to experiment with the shade. The premise behind the peachy pink tone is situated in reconnecting with loved ones and enjoying a moment of stillness, which is exactly what a lounge is destined for.

‘A revival of peach is long overdue. Peach was once commonly used in interiors but as modernism spread, it lost its place in the contemporary home,’ says Tara Rodrigues, award-winning interior designer and founder of TR Interiors. ‘It’s a soothing warm colour and I love pairing it with rich dark hues of blues and greens to create elegant and bold schemes.’

If you want a pared-back living room aesthetic then consider combining it with white, but if you’re looking for a more luxe or eclectic feel then rich teal will make peach pop.

6. Add texture with bouclé

The trend for this nubby textile took off in 2020, but shows no signs of stopping in 2024. Embrace the fabric and opt for a bouclé statement piece like a sofa or this Otis swivel accent chair, £399, Next . Alternatively, dip your toe in the trend with a textured cushion instead.

A looped yarn predominantly seen in pale hues of white and cream, homeowners with young children or enthusiastic pets, might feel like neutral living room ideas is a trend they’ll have to let pass them by. And that’s ok, because other statement shades are having a moment.

7. Go dramatic with damson

If neutral isn’t quite your taste, then Damson might be more up your street. It’s a statement shade that started to rise in popularity in 2023 and it’s set to continue through to 2024.

‘These berry shades are a step forward from previous pink tones such as millennial pink, Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2023, Viva Magenta, as well as the hot pink ‘Barbie’ inspired choices that have been seen everywhere this summer. Damson is a mature and timeless choice that is not simply a style du jour,’ says Sam Sutherland, Flitch’s interior stylist.

If you want a dramatic effect that looks professionally decorated, we recommend drenching you living room in the shade, ceilings and skirting boards included.

8. Blue hues

One of the colours we’ll be seeing a lot of in living rooms for 2024, is blue, in all its many guises. Navy has been a popular shade for many years now and 2024 is set to see a variation of different blue sofa living room shades.

‘As we enter into the new year, nature-inspired design is set to weave its way into the fabric of interior design, quite literally. This trend takes inspiration from natural landscapes, incorporating earthy tones, botanical motifs, and textured materials to create a harmonious and calming environment,’ says Ashleigh Ellis, director of upholstery and furniture at ScS.

‘The colour palette revolves around mossy greens, warm browns, and soothing blues, evoking the essence of forests, mountains, and oceans.’

9. A dose of dopamine

Brights are back! Full of personality and joie-de-vivre, get ready to inject colour into your home from floor to ceiling with carpet in every colour under the sun! When it comes to living room trends, it’s all about bringing the joy and colour is key to that.

‘Colour is incredibly emotive and we have deeply rooted associations with certain colours and tones of colour,’ notes Jo Littlefair, co-founder and director of interior design firm Goddard Littlefair.

‘Layered onto this is a joyfulness when you see colour and pattern mixed together in a skilful way that makes your heart sing a little. It’s experiencing something refreshing and just a little bit different or unexpected that gives us all mental lift.’