Favorite Interior Design Trends of 2024 Wrapped
Sarah Elizabeth
Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography
We see interior design home trends come and go, and just like fashion, they always repeat themselves. Some say trends repeat themselves every 20 years but my professional opinion is closer to 10 to 13 years. When we do use trends in our interior designs, they are very thoughtfully chosen as more often trends are short lived and do not repeat but die, whereas our interiors are designed to last. The past few years we have seen a strong wanting for biophilic designs, meaning natural elements and materials and even trees and plants in design, bringing the outside in, and an overarching theme of wanting to be cozy and even feel held. Here’s our favorites wrapped whereas we would love to hear if you agree:
Incorporating Vintage items into interiors
Many people have heirlooms or items passed down from parents or grandparents, but many dont. When design an interior with all new furniture, its important for us to add interesting vintage or antique items to add depth and warm, and feel approachable. That’s when we source through our trusted antique dealers as well as antique websites and even e-commerce sights like Etsy, or in-person which can be the most fun as we always come out with a few interesting, unexpected pieces we’re able to use. Some favorite antique finds are small mirrors with ornate frames, interesting glass vases and dishes, ceramic vases or containers, and mirror glass trays with silver rims and mismatching brass taper candlestick holders. We recommend hunting for things you love that catch your eye whether a stack of vintage hardcover books with interesting covers, or an original watercolor painting. Like our design philosophy goes across the board, we only use and present items we truly love, that call to us, otherwise they getting weeded out.
Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography
The Color Purple:
Purple has seemingly always had a love/hate relationship - moreso than any other color out there for a variety of reasons. Two clients we’ve worked with in the past few years have stressed they do not want purples in their interior design schemes, but open to all other colors. That said, over the last year purples in softer tones like lavender, amethyst, periwinkle and even mauves that lean purple, have felt so fresh - and will not be going away any time soon. Color evokes emotion, and creates a mood whereas amethyst are known to bring calm, and positive feelings, that feel more calming than red tones. We suggest using it in muted tones for wall paint colors, in the bedroom for tranquility or if that feels like too much, start with accessories or artwork with these colors. Seen below we used an amethyst crystal and brass accent table near the, with deep blush tones in the custom artwork we commissioned for this primary bathroom renovation.
Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography
Earth Tones:
Flesh tones - think powder pink walls and mauve upholstery - have been trending since the start of the pandemic, yet each year the soft pinks and mauves have expanded into deeper hues like clay and terracotta, while incorporating more brown tones - thus you have the now trending earth tones. Where you would once see a small collection of velvets or performance fabrics offered in the expected colors including navy blue, forest green, maybe a trendy teal, and something random like a yellow which was always puzzling, you now have a few earthy tones which says huge things about the once-misunderstood warm tans (think carmel), peaches and flesh tones. These tones are also wonderful as wall colors as they can literally feel like a warm hug, while grounding, and less stark than the bright whites and warmer than greys. They are great for upholstery and hide dirt better than their counterparts lighter tones and add interest reminding us of warmer climates during say the east coast winters or grey days in the UK for examples and a bit unexpected unlike more predictable colors like tans, blues and greens. Seen here is a dusty pink velvet sofa in our Montclair NJ interior design studio, offset but colorful pillows and blue accents and brass details to help ground the area.
Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography
Understated Elegance:
Understated elegance has always been one of our most important design directives, and cornerstone of our interior design company. More recently its been dubbed quiet luxury - meaning spending on well made, quality pieces, that dont necessarily look expensive (meaning flashy). We design a lot of custom furniture as we may want a certain shape and size sofa, headboard or certain design we have sketched that are not on the market, with customizations we can have included when furniture is custom made. This type of thoughtful design is also matched in its quality as higher end materials are used, or could be custom wood and metal pieces made by artisans, not from big box stores, like tables and even art and accessories, that fit just right in an interior. Moreso or to summarize, with understated elegance you get what you pay for and its really felt in the details as the items are made to last, and tailored specifically for a room and their inhabitants. This doesnt have to mean custom and can also span luxurious bedding that may cost more, but made with higher end and even cleaner and more sustainable materials like organic cottons and viscose.
Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design. Photo: Carly Jara Photography
Textured Walls:
We collectively seem to want less bare walls, and craving more texture and movement on them. Textured surfaces provide warm and interest, whereas materials like grasscloth add a natural element which helps ground a space. We’ve used grasscloth wall coverings for this reason probably since the day we knew they existed. We have also always worked closely with a decorative painter who creates multi-layered treatments using plaster or a lime wash, and even mica (all naturally derived materials) to create texturally interesting, and completely unique, layered surfaces. This can be included in quiet luxury as well, as these custom treatments can cost more, but you have something rich in feel unique to your home, taste and style.
In summary, all of the trends we are seeing go back to the earth and biophilic in some way, whether reusing items like special antique and vintage pieces, to plaster hand applied finishes on walls, and the use of earth tones.
Design: Sarah Elizabeth Design