INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS
INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS WE’RE PREDICTING FOR HOMES IN 2024
Interior design is far beyond the layout of spaces and selection of colours and materials, but rather the narratives behind those choices. Not only does interior design echo our personal desires for comfort, functionality, and self-expression, but also serves as a reflection of the ever-changing world around us. As we evolve, so do our interior spaces. Trends in interior design serve as a mirror for this continuous evolution of human behaviour, desires, interests and what’s happening in the world. While some trends stand the test of time, others are simply a snap shot of where we are - a marker of cultural and societal shifts, growth in innovation and technology, and the evolution of human behaviour and social dynamics. And so as we embark on a new year, we’re taking a look at some of the worthy interior design trends that we think 2024 has in store us.
SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN
While this isn’t something new, we see the emphasis on sustainable and eco-practices continuing to grow in the coming years. More than just a trend, it represents a growing conscious shift towards an awareness of our impact on the world and a desire to become more harmonious with it. This includes embracing materials with minimal environmental impact, such as reclaimed wood, recycled metals, and low VOC paints, and forging ahead with energy-efficient solutions and renewable technologies.
Far beyond just an aesthetic choice or trendy buzz word, sustainable design is a commitment to ethical practices and an understanding that the beauty of our surroundings shouldn’t have to come at the expense of our environment. Ensuring that the spaces we create today contribute to a more sustainable world makes this more than just a trend, but rather a movement that we’re fully embracing!
BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Closely connected to the importance of sustainability and eco-design, biophilic design is the integration of natural elements into interior spaces in order to promote well-being. This can range from bringing more plants into our spaces, using natural materials, flooding rooms with natural light, and opting for nature-inspired colour palettes. There is a growing collective understanding that our health and well-being is deeply intertwined with nature, and so by bringing the outside in, biophilic design approaches can improve cognitive function, reduce stress, and elevate overall happiness! Creating spaces that breathe with life, give us LIFE! This one, in our opinion, is here to stay!
WARM AND EARTHY COLOUR PALETTES
The choice of earthy and warm-toned colour palettes in interior design transcends simply the aesthetics of a space, but also invokes a somatic experience of comfort, balance, and connection to nature. Starting to notice a trend within the trends? Yup, and we’re here for this integration of nature into our spaces. From soft sandy neutrals to the rich warmth of terracottas and deep earthy greens, these hues can promote a sense of calm and create a grounding atmosphere within a space.
NATURAL AND TEXTURED MATERIALS
On brand with our previous trend selections, we’re seeing the use of natural and textured materials for the year ahead - and hopefully beyond. Materials such as stone, raw wood, and woven fabrics not only add depth and a tactile touch to interiors, but also connect to us to the outside! As well, these selections give rise to more sustainable and biophilic options.
FLEXIBLE AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACES
Since 2020, we’ve witnessed the rise of flexible and multifunctional spaces with our homes needing to adapt to the global pandemic. Unlike we have ever seen before in our lifetime, the way we view and utilize our homes has profoundly shifted. Evolving into multifunctional spaces to adapt to remote work, online learning, and for many - sharing our spaces with more people being home! With so much uncertainty in the world around us, we also saw a desire for our homes to become sanctuaries - places that nurture our physical and mental well-being - safe and soft spaces to land.
And while the world has opened back up, the way we use our homes has forever been altered. Traditional boundaries between personal and professional spaces has blurred and the desire to create environments that cater to both productivity and relaxation has emerged. While the trend of remote work and at home learning may live as more of a reflection of this time in our lives, the concept of designing spaces that can adapt to various functions, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!
SMART HOME INTEGRATION
Ok, so this is nothing new, but the continued integration of smart home technology will constantly evolve as the technologies move us forward. A focus on seamlessly blending tech elements into design for both functionality and aesthetics will create the opportunity for smarter and easier lived in spaces. Innovations in tech allows us to push boundaries and dream beyond the limits of what we think we know is possible!
GLOBAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES
We’re seeing a rise in diverse cultural influences and global design elements being incorporated into homes - spaces that reflect a more inclusive and eclectic approach to interior styling. Whether it's the appeal of Scandinavian simplicity or the rich textures of Moroccan textiles, connecting to and incorporating influences from outside our immediate geographic area allows us to open up the possibilities of our interior spaces to the world, and add layers that tell a story.
PERSONALIZED AND ARTISANAL TOUCHES
Closely tied to the previous trend prediction, this move towards unique, handcrafted, and artisanal pieces adds more depth, a personalized touch, and a sense of individuality. Think local pottery, a sculpture from travels abroad, or a deeply personal momento, over a trip to Homesense! And let’s be clear, this approach to styling is not from a place of clutter like your grandmother’s home, but in an edited application that elevates these objects like the art that they are and adds meaning to what you surround yourself with in your home.
VINTAGE AND RETRO REVIVAL
While this one has been making a resurgence in recent years, the interest in vintage and retro aesthetics, with mid-century modern and other nostalgic design elements, has been making its comeback with longevity. Why? Tied to some of our other trends, shopping vintage is a more sustainable approach as we’ve grown in awareness over the impacts of “fast furniture.” While it is definitely a more practical and greener application to design, we’ve also seen it as a deep desire for nostalgia that seemed to arise from the global pandemic. Looking back somehow seems a little more safe and comforting when looking ahead can seem uncertain. So we’ll let this one have its moment.
MAXIMALISM AND BOLD PATTERNS
And for a little fun, we’re seeing a departure from the minimalist movement we’ve been on for quite awhile now, as maximalist trends are emerging. Think bold patterns, vibrant colours, and eclectic decor that makes a statement. Moving away from design that takes itself too seriously, we’re living for spaces open to possibility - playful, daring, curious, artful, and a touch of the impractical! While this one might not be here for the long-haul, we’re loving its emergence in this moment.
So what’s in store for the year ahead? Big moves in innovation; deep connections to nature, nostalgia, and culture; and a little room to breathe life and playfulness into our space.