“Real comfort, visual and physical, is vital to every room.” Mark Hampton
I’m always curious about both fashion and home interior trends. It’s a little easier with fashion. A couple of well-thought-out pieces can update your look with little effort. But the home is another canvas that entails a bit more thought. It’s one thing to fold a couple of pieces of clothing for donation and another to update your couch or dining room table and chairs.
Design Pillars
The first pillar in updating your home style is timelessness. You don’t want fast home fashion or fads in your home. Yes, there is fast home fashion – and we all know it when we see it. It’s abundant and inexpensive and looks like it.
Timelessness is the clean line of a couch, a turned leg, or the perfect nail head trim. It’s classic details and well-constructed pieces in neutral fabrics. This should be your design foundation. It leaves you with a world of possibilities in texture, color, and a bit of whimsy if you like.
The second pillar in your update should be re-considering “neutrals.” I know you’re thinking boring, dull, uninspiring. Think of it more like a clean canvas with a slight tint! Neutrals allow your intentions to run wild.
A neutral color palette gives you more control of the final look of your room. Neutrals love to be in a group of like-minded colors. You can build on this with dark to light colors—mixing textures, from smooth velvet to a nubby hand-woven. Neutrals can be vibrant with a bit of risk-taking in the combinations.
Timeless style and neutrals allow you the freedom to grow and change with your space. Over time, you can explore other new looks and trends. And because of your basic foundation, you can add and subtract with updates that do not require a total redesign.
Fall for a New Look
This time of year brings out the fantastic array of fall colors in nature and an abundance of articles about the upcoming trends in the coming new year. In October, the High Point Furniture Markethttps://www.highpointmarket.org/about is the queen of forecasts on all levels, from textiles, color, and surfaces to the color of the year. The array of showrooms spans ten million square feet and 180 separate buildings. It accommodates up to 70,000 designers, buyers, architects, and other design professionals. It’s a week-long indulgence of delicious designs.
Being a 25-year veteran of home décor and the High Point Markets, combined with extensive trend reports, I’ve honed my instincts of “What’s Next,” and I’ve listed a few below.
Round Up of the Top Design Trends for 2024
Color
Color: Several reports call 2024 the year of the “return of pretty.” Which translates into less black and grey. Replacing the classics with another classic, rich Belgian Chocolate. Along with the soothing Scandinavian mixture of milky pastels and soft toneshttps://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/color-palettes/color-by-style/hygge-paint-colors. Pale coastal blue in varying shades is the darling of many paint companies. I also found from Glidden Paints – Limitless.https://www.glidden.com It is an incredibly versatile honey-toned beige color. It has the power of color with the essence of a neutral. These lighter tones will carry through to 2025…because they fall into the neutral color schemes. These softer tones go so well with modern to boho. Here is a link to Martha Stewart’s review of the multiple colors for 2024. Link https://www.marthastewart.com
Sustainability
Sustainability: From the simple change of a light bulb to an LED to water-efficient installations throughout the house. Keeping on track with mother nature, natural stone, marble, and terracotta are tops for surfaces. Raw, textured plaster or limewash is more natural than wallpaper or paint. And it wraps the room in a depth and warmth not found on a flat surface.
Wood
Wood: I’m adding this close to sustainability for those woods that are responsibly sourced and certified for furniture. Reclaimed timber and some engineered woods are gaining popularity by reducing the environmental impact of furniture production. In the hands of skilled woodworking designers, we see furniture integrated with smart technologies to enhance functionality. Modular wooden designs allow for the configuration of pieces to suit the space and the designer. Custom designs will enable you to experiment with finishes and sizes. While exploring the newest trend in curved and organic shapes, moving away from traditional straight lines.
Curves Ahead
Curves Ahead: The Arch has been an architectural element as old as architecture itself. When I was younger, every apartment and tiny house I rented was built between the 1920s and the 1940s and had rounded doorways. There is not a straight line in the place. It’s a whimsical, old-world charm that still captivates. There is something majestic about a wide-arched entry into a room. It separates without isolating. It’s a trend that has withstood time. An arch adds a touch of elegance and character to a space, along with architectural interest and sophistication. The arch is a timeless architectural element that suits multiple aesthetics, from classic to minimalist.
Cork Flooring
Cork Flooring: We are not talking here about that orange corkboard you had in college. We’re talking about style, eco credentials, and ease of sourcing it sustainably that make this trend a star. It is available in a variety of subdued hues. It literally adds warmth to a room, not just in the aesthetic sense but because it has natural thermal properties, which are great for heat insulation. And it’s cozy and kind to your bare feet. Our daughter installed cork flooring in a darker hue throughout her home, and it looks modern and inviting with very little upkeep. Cork Link https://www.amcork.com/collections/cork-flooring
Lighting
Lighting: Unless it’s a chandelier or an art light, I am not a fan of overhead lighting. Accent lighting/table lamps add an element of sophistication to any room. The versatility and wide price range allow you to have multiple lamps in a room without feeling overcrowded with light. Most importantly, they do not have to be a set. You can change the ambiance of a room with creative lighting arrangements. Lighting is such a critical element of any room. It sets the mood. And your selection of a bulb is essential. You do not want a harsh white light. Keep it soft. The glow of perfect lighting will enhance all that is in the room…including you. Link to lighting…https://www.visualcomfort.com/los-angeles/?utm
Accent Pieces
Accent Pieces: Adding accent pieces to a room is like adding jewelry to your outfit. And, like Coco Chanel said, take one piece off before going out. Same in the home; do not over-accessorize. When there is too much, you see nothing. Adding exciting and unexpected accents together will add character to a room. Think red clay pottery, which is more coarse in texture but with finesse to the earthy, warm tones. Both unglazed and glazed pieces are handmade works of art. An unexpected addition to the earthy ceramic is a selection of shimmering gold tones. A decorative small box. An attractive shape of a flower vase. An antique candlestick. Golds add warmth to a room. Look for the softer hues.
Keep it Personal
Keep it personal. It’s okay to say, “That’s not quite right.” The more you acknowledge your instinct, the stronger it becomes. And the more confident you become when you follow them…https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-strengthen-your-intuition And, it’s the right choice. You have to make your home your own – trends be dammed. Create a space that reflects who you are. You’re investing time, energy, and money in everything surrounding you. If you cannot find what you want, seek an artisan to create it. More often than not, a bespoke piece can be similar in price to a piece from a major furniture showroom.
These top trends are attainable without committing to a total reno. Another tip is to walk through your house and see what can be added or removed from one room to another. I recently moved two shams onto the living room couch from a guest room bed. Repurpose what you already own.
2024 is the year of natural, earthy, close-to-nature interiors. When you add natural materials like stone, marble, wood, concrete, and cork to a neutral color pallet, you work within nature and bring in natural elements to add warmth and serenity to your home.
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