2024 Trend Forecast
As someone who works in interiors, I consume so much design content. There’s not a single day that goes by that I’m not reading a book or blog, scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest, or just moving through the world looking for inspiration. I generally know about home design and decor trends long before you do, as I should, which positions me to help my clients make decisions in their homes that aren’t going to feel dated in a few years time.
That said, I generally don’t love the idea of trends for home design; Your home should be a reflection of you, not of what’s happening on Instagram or HGTV. Of course, we all fall prey to trends from time-to-time and my recommendation is always to invest in timeless classics for the more expensive items (sofas, rugs, draperies, etc.) and follow the trends with smaller, less expensive pieces that won’t break your heart to swap out in a year or two (pillows, vases, etc.)
When discussing design elements with my clients, I often refer to design elements as being on an upward or downward arc. If we are adopting a trend in the very early days, I tend to feel better about it because we’re on the “upward arc” - this means that it has a longer lifespan than something that is on a “downward arc” or, in other words, towards the end of the trend. Unfortunately, many trends become most affordable and widely available on their downward arc because the industry has had time to adapt and create things at a lower price point.
So, my version of a trend forecast this year will be to tell you what you should be wary of (downward arc trends), what you will be seeing over the next couple of years (upward arc trends), and what you can feel good about every single time (tried and true).
Downward Arc Trends
ALL GREY EVERYTHING | One of my favourite terms to come out of 2023 was “Millenial Greycore”. It refers to the homes that look to be photographed in black-and-white, lack any and all personality, and, if you listen closely right now, you can hear a chorus of people whispering to themselves “… but what about resale value?” (to which I respond, you live in your house right now… so live in it!)
There was an article in the Washington Post last summer called “HGTV is making our homes boring and us sad…” that I encourage all to read. If you don’t have the time, the gist is this: with the overwhelming popularity of HGTV and other decor-centric platforms, we all began to decorate our homes for other people rather than for ourselves. This has resulted in a total lack of personality and a whole lot of sameness from home to home. Thankfully, we’re starting to see the end of it and people are replacing their stark, minimalistic, cold, grey spaces with personality-filled rooms that are full of colour and texture.
SCALLOPED EDGES | Those that left the Greycore trend early shifted into sweet British-inspired design, which I love. These spaces tend to feel collected over time and full of heirloom pieces (again, excellent).
As we predicted in our 2023 Trend Forecast, scalloped edges were huge in 2023… but they’re already starting to feel oversaturated. I think that this design element can still be sprinkled in, especially if found on a vintage piece, but I’d exercise caution if you’re looking to use it with anything that comes with a big price tag.
In the example images, the rattan piece feels super cutesy and like its something you’d tire of (unless your aesthetic is already super cute). The vintage cabinet, however, has more going for it - yes, it has loud scalloped edges, but it doesn’t fall into just one category because of its Mid-Century Modern legs and the inherent personality and soul that comes with any great vintage piece.
REEDED/FLUTED DETAILS | Reeding has been around for ages, especially in glass, and I think that it will stand the test of time. I love the vertical repetition that you can mimic elsewhere with other design elements, like a striped textile for example.
There is such thing as too much of a good thing, however, and I’d advise against purchasing any substantial pieces that have made reeding/fluting their whole personality - keep it subtle and as an accent.
Upward Arc Trends
COLOUR | The pandemic forced everyone into their homes and prompted a lot of renovating - suddenly, we all had a more intimate knowledge of what we loved (and hated) about our homes. Home-buying became a bit of a circus and renovations seemed the easier route for many. I think that we’re starting to see the next phase of this shift, and that’s by letting our personalities shine in our interiors.
Many who entered the real estate market in the past five-or-so years are realizing that their starter home might be more permanent than they’d initially thought. As a result, renovations are starting up again and clients are asking for something different than their previous “resale, resale, resale” mentality.
Expect to see colourful custom millwork, ceilings, trim, and more. Colour can be tricky, though - my advice is to stay away from the “primary colour” area of the paint deck and shift to something a bit muddier. When in doubt, buy a sample pot of paint and paint a swatch on your wall. If you want to take the plunge but are feeling a bit stuck, Common Purpose offers Design Consultations and we love to help with this sort of thing!
DRAPERIES | I sort of hate to include this in a trend forecast because I have always felt that a room feels incomplete without window coverings, but I’m glad nonetheless that this is starting to become more commonplace. Draperies are obviously a great way to filter light or add privacy, but designers use them to layer in patterns and textures, and create visual (and literal) warmth. They’re also a great tool for creating balance on an imbalanced wall or tricking the eye into thinking windows are bigger or the room taller than in reality.
Though we typically specify custom draperies for our projects, I can appreciate that budgets exist and recommend looking for draperies that are (or can be) pleated; Avoid grommets at all costs. Your draperies should land just above your floor, and the rod should sit somewhere between the top of the window trim and the ceiling. If you’re shopping pre-fab sizes and they don’t quite work, opt for the longer length and pay to have them hemmed.
QUALITY | Investing in quality pieces of furniture that feature classic silhouettes is one of the best home decor investments that you can make. One of our more recently completed projects, the Shortest Commute Project, went through a complete transformation with minimal new furniture purchased. We were able to reupholster or refinish existing pieces because the clients had invested in excellent quality some 30-odd years ago, and they’ll be able to enjoy another 30 years with this most recent update.
Though the up-front cost is greater, an investment in beautifully made furniture is more affordable in the long term. Not only that, you can feel good about keeping “fast fashion” furniture out of the landfill and ensuring that highly skilled tradespeople are able to continue to practice and share their craft.
Tried + True
These are the absolute classics that have true staying power. I know this because they’ve been around for hundreds of years and still look great today - they are the materials that you swoon over in Europe, the ones that infuse warmth and personality. If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know what they are, but here they are again:
Unlacquered Brass, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Polished Nickel | Each of these finishes have come in and out of style over the years, though people seem to have the most opinions about brass. I’m not suggesting a super high-gloss brassy finish and love unlacquered brass, along with the other metals I’ve mentioned, because they’ll patina over time and bring a soft, lived-in feeling to your home. Choose these finishes over faux brass or golds, matte black, and chrome. Check out our “How To: Select Metal Finishes” blog post for more of a deep dive.
Natural Stones | I’ve seen a lot of banter online about how Millenials will be remembered for the quartz in their homes… and yeah, I do like quartz. It’s a cost-effective alternative to something much more desirable: natural stone.
The thing that I love about natural stones is that they age and patina over time, as do the metals above. They are luxe products that demand you not be too fussy - some will chip and scratch, some are porous and will stain, but all will feel softer than the manmade alternative and remind you that your home is for living in. I’ll do a “How To” post on this in the coming months and will link it here once it’s up.
I’m excited to see where the industry takes us in 2024 and love that I’ll get to the a part of the journey for some of you. Happy New Year!