Credit: Tom Morris | House & Garden
According to British Vogue, it’s the year of ‘quiet luxury’ - out with neons, over-stylised furniture and ostentatious fur, and in with timeless dark woods, comfortable curvy seating and luxurious classic textures and finishes.
The vibe is panelled walls, vintage lighting, lacquer and seductive upholstery, all of which sounds like a cosy 1930s bar - right up my street!
Rich brown hues are spilling over from the fashion world, where “latte dressing” is apparently quite the thing. Renowned interior designer Martin Lawrence Bullard predicts that we will see it in interiors - “from lacquered walls to velvet drapery to heavy textured linen sofas.”
Los Angeles designer Oliver Furth agrees:
“Browns are definitely happening—like really warm browns that might be a play on a 1970s palette, and those caramel colors, along with coral and persimmon.” (Elle Décor)
“Brown is a great color—it’s very warm and rich, and it’s actually a great neutral to layer with other colors …think sepia and caramel.” - Alyssa Kapito
“Beige and brown are on an upswing along with very muddy colors that have an 18th-century calmness to them—think earthy colors with less vibrancy and more richness.” - Neal Beckstedt
Tone-on-tone décor will be big altogether, so you don’t have to limit your colour scheme to the transition from cream to dark chocolate. And mix those textures, both fabrics and natural materials, on the walls, floor and furnishings.
Tonal project by Jeremiah Brent / Photo: Britanny Ambridge (British Vogue)
“There’s something so elevated and fun about layering a single hue within a space. There, texture, silhouette, and material can be emphasised.” - Jeremiah Brent
Check out this article on a Toronto home that was recently interior designed by Kelly Wearstler. The style is a great representation of what we’re talking about, although I'd be tempted to add a little more colour to some of the rooms - it's a bit too neutral for my taste.
In something of a jarring contrast, Harper’s Bazaar puts ‘Kitschens’ at the top of it’s best trends for ’24. Kitsch kitchens, that is. Tatjana Freund’s article tells us to think thrift/vintage appliances and accessories, bright pops of colour and eye-catching patterned wallpaper.
Personally, I think that sounds awful. Thank goodness for one of the key rules about trends that applies to any fashion or art: you don’t have to like it and you certainly don’t have to follow it!
What else will be ‘in’?
This year, you can also go mad with:
Bold patterns and stripes - whether that’s wallpaper, fabric or tiled flooring
Wallpaper in general – especially in unexpected places, like cupboards and closets
Terracotta and other 'statement' tiles
Big pieces of wall art
Red - deep and warm hues
PANTONE Color of the Year 2024: Peach Fuzz
Dulux Colour of the Year 2024: Sweet Embrace
Blue - from sky blue on the walls to cobolt furnishings and accessories
Mustard yellow
Soft, muted greens - sage, olive and moss - plus luxurious jade
Silver and chrome
Marble accessories
Cost-effective tweaks you can make in your own home
Knowing about design trends is one thing, but glossy magazines tend to leave you with the impression that you need to rip out your interiors and start again.
Not true. If you don’t happen to have a spare hundred thousand or five knocking around, you can still make tweaks to your home so it gives a nod to 2024.
The big bonus about home style this year is there’s a focus on personalisation, so pick your favourite pieces that you already own and make features of them – particularly those vintage, inherited or second-hand items that fit with any of the themes and schemes mentioned above.
Paint is one of the most cost-effective ways of updating a room, so if you haven’t freshened up your walls in a while, go for it – but I’d stay on the pale side for most rooms. Soft green, warm beige, subtle mustard or light blue are your safest options, then if you want to be bolder, you could paint a feature wall or alcove in a deeper hue, perhaps emerald or rich burgundy.
Cushions and throws are another relatively cheap change you can make in living rooms and bedrooms – but don’t go too mad or it can start to look weird, particularly in smaller spaces! Brown hues and jewel colours in velvet (or similar) will be just the ticket, then add some wide striped earthy tones and patterned fabrics for a bit more interest.
And if you have a bit more money to invest, why not reupholster an armchair or sofa in a hard-wearing velvet or linen?
Above all, remember this is your home and it’s you that’s living in it every day, so don’t be tempted to make any changes you’re not sure about. It’s also important to think about the overall impression and appeal of each room, so check out my tips on maximising light and space, colour schemes and accessorising.
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