March 16, 2024

Interior Design Trends 2024: 27 On-Trend Ideas for Personalizing Your Home Decor This Coming Year

2024 Home Design Trends: Interior Design Trends, Home Decor Trends, Color Trends and More

Wondering about the most important interior design trends for 2024? We’ve rounded up a bunch of must-know-about trends to track for 2024 and beyond. This report includes information about interior design trends, home decorating trends, home remodeling trends, home design trends, and home furnishing trends for every room in the home. Because lifestyle trends influence home and garden trends, we’ll also take a look at some of the key lifestyle trends that are shaping what we’re seeing in the realm of home renovations and home furnishings.

Home Interior Design Trends 2024

1. Home Offices

Small Urban Bedroom With Wall Art and Compact Home Office Area -- Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media
Small Urban Bedroom With Wall Art and Compact Home Office Area — Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media

With the dramatic increase in numbers of remote workers, architects and home remodelers are reporting an increase in demand for home office space, particularly home office space either in or adjacent to the kitchen. Builder Jon David Smith told D Magazine that it isn’t just dads needing home offices any more; his team is now creating inclusive interior office spaces that also accommodate moms and everyone else. Folks over at the American Society of Interior Designers also mentioned that 61% of retirees have come out of retirement and are also in need of home offices because many of them prefer a hybrid work arrangement that is part in-person and part remote.

Home Office for Two With Abstract Wall Art -- Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media
Home Office for Two With Abstract Wall Art — Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media

2. Homeowners Are Enjoying More Closets and More Storage Space at Home

Bespoke Closet in a Luxury Home in the American Midwest -- Photo Courtesy of Bill Wilson, AKA OKCHomeseller on Flickr
Bespoke Closet in a Luxury Home in the American Midwest — Photo Courtesy of Bill Wilson, AKA OKCHomeseller on Flickr

As people spend more of their time at home, they want their spaces to be tidy and organized; well-laid-out closet space has become a higher priority. The folks over at Home Innovation reported that, as of 2020, new home builders have been including more closets in their projects and that homeowners did 60% more DIY closet installation projects than they did in 2019. Data from Statista also corroborates this trend; they reported that, in 2022, the second most common reason homeowners decided to remodel their bathroom was “insufficient storage.” So as we head into 2024, all this recent activity means that a lot of us have more closet space to work with as we go about cleaning, organizing and decluttering our homes.

3. Built-In Shelving and Cabinet Space Throughout the Home

Gray, Black, and Wood Tones Living Room With Stone Fireplace Surround -- Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media
Gray, Black, and Wood Tones Living Room With Stone Fireplace Surround — Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media

Of course, everyone has built-in cabinets in the kitchen. In 2023, there’s been a trend for creating built-in shelving and cabinetry in living rooms, family rooms, laundry rooms, closets and bedrooms, too. This trend is still going strong as we head into 2024, and it is poised to carry over into next year and the years beyond.

Living Room With Lots of Shelves and Storage Space; Built-In Shelving Like This Is One of the Top Interior Design Trends 2024.
Living Room With Lots of Shelves and Storage Space; Built-In Shelving Like This Is One of the Top Interior Design Trends 2024. Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media

4. Wood-Burning Fireplaces and Stoves

Contemporary Living Room With Abstract Expressionist Wall Art and Brick Fireplace -- Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media
Contemporary Living Room With Abstract Expressionist Wall Art and Brick Fireplace — Photo Courtesy of Sidekix Media

There have been multiple factors influencing the popularity of wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. Lately people have been spending substantial amounts of time at home, and a fireplace makes the ambiance at home much cozier and more cheerful. Beyond that, wood is an easily renewable resource, so many people prefer wood-burning stoves and fireplaces over heaters that burn petroleum products, like kerosene heaters. Furthermore, a fireplace is a reliable source of energy even if the power goes out during a blizzard.

In 2021, Home Innovation reported that installations of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces had increased by 18% year-over-year in 2020 as compared against 2019. I haven’t found newer statistics than that available to report at the moment, but I’m pretty sure the fireplace craze didn’t end in 2020. In 2021, the world watched in horror as nearly 10 million Texans and Mexicans were unexpectedly without power due to unusually harsh winter storms in their area. In the aftermath of that disaster, my Texas-dwelling family members who were affected all suddenly got very interested in installing fireplaces.

And even if bizarre weather patterns and climate change worries aren’t foremost in your mind, the wood-burning fireplace / stove trend is still likely to be of interest in 2024 considering that so many of the rooms you’re seeing in popular media right now feature fireplaces as a central focus of the interior design. Fireplaces offer appeal and charm that is hard to resist.

5. Repairs and Features That Improve Disaster Preparedness

A Kitchen Pantry Stocked With Food and Also Used for Appliance Storage to Keep the Kitchen Countertops Clutter Free -- Photo Courtesy of Bill Wilson, OKCHomeseller on Flickr
A Kitchen Pantry Stocked With Food and Also Used for Appliance Storage to Keep the Kitchen Countertops Clutter Free — Photo Courtesy of Bill Wilson, OKCHomeseller on Flickr

The interest in fireplaces might be related to a broader trend amongst homeowners to be prepared for a wide range of adverse weather events beyond just blizzards. Lately, homeowners in various regions of the globe have also had to deal with rebuilding after wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters have devastated their homes. There is a growing number of people who are working on hardening their homes against these disasters in hopes of staying safe and protecting their families and possessions from harm.

In areas prone to wildfires, homeowners are installing fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and improved smoke detectors. In hurricane-prone areas, homeowners are installing storm windows and doors. In many areas, homeowners are installing and stocking walk-in pantries that hold supplies of water and easy-to-prepare emergency rations so that their families don’t have to worry about cooking if the power goes out. Decorating with candles isn’t just for ambiance; people are buying candles both for the romance and for the practicality.

6. Square Footage Has Stopped Increasing

For much of the last decade, home sizes had been trending up. As of mid-2023, this trend had slowed, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In a recent AIA press release, AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA wrote, “The overall square footage of homes is now leveling off, and is even decreasing in entry level homes…Building costs play such a big factor now that trying to design smaller homes with more livability is the goal.”

In the past few decades, infill housing — a situation where new homes are being constructed on underutilized lots in established communities — has been a growing trend. People have been building larger homes on smaller lots. In many areas where vacant lots are simply unavailable, people had been renovating to add additions onto their homes, leaving less space for landscaping but squeezing every last possible livable square foot out of their lot sizes. In the recent past, it has also become common for builders to buy unlivable homes, tear them down, and construct new homes on those lots.

We’re now at a point where it’s challenging to find suitable vacant or underutilized lots to build on in desirable established communities, and it is increasingly expensive to bring utilities to areas that don’t already have them. The latest word from experts at the AIA is that that they are now seeing their clients either canceling or scaling back their remodeling efforts because the associated building expenses are becoming too high. Smaller remodeling projects valued at $5,000 or less are largely happening, but large-scale additions and other such high-value remodeling projects have slowed significantly in the recent past.

Data from Home Innovation’s market research corroborates these findings. The folks over at Home Innovation reported in 2020 that average home size was already declining. However, they also told us that the average number of rooms per single-family home increased. So a logical main takeaway we can infer is that room sizes are also generally getting smaller than they used to be.

Home Accessibility Is a Top-Priority Consideration in American Homes Right Now

The American population is aging. Demographer Joseph Chamie, writing at TheHill.com, explains that in 2024, for the first time in this country’s history, the United States will experience what’s known as “The Historic Reversal,” a phenomenon in which children aged 15 or younger are outnumbered by people over the age of 65 years. Many other countries including Canada, Japan and many European countries have already beat us to this status, so we are not alone. Furthermore, Chamie predicts that additional countries, including Russia, China and Australia will be joining this trend in the years following 2024.

The ageing populations in many of the world’s countries have contributed to a global shortage of healthcare workers. There are not enough hands on deck to take care of our elderly in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospices. Analysts at the World Health Organization (WHO) tell us that

WHO estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and lower-middle income countries. However, countries at all levels of socioeconomic development face, to varying degrees, difficulties in the education, employment, deployment, retention, and performance of their workforce.

This situation has the potential to affect every aspect of life in the United States and the other “Historic Reversal” countries. When it comes to interior design trends, one of the most noticeable outcomes is that, often, families are making arrangements for our elderly to retire and live at home rather than moving to nursing homes. In practical terms, this translates to trends like more one-story homes that seniors can easily navigate through without having to climb stairs; wider hallways and doorways that can accommodate walkers and wheelchairs; taller toilets in the bathrooms; grab bars in the showers; and a broad variety of other modifications to homes and appliances that make it easier for people to stay in their own homes rather than move to nursing homes. See our 2024 kitchen trends report and our 2024 bathroom trends report for more in-depth information about these types of trends.

7. Accessible Entryways:

For some aging homeowners, ramps are replacing stairs in the entryways, and elevators are becoming popular additions. Not everyone wants a ramp, so a popular alternative is on-grade entry — meaning that the occupants don’t have to climb anything or step up to the door of the home; it’s accessible from the ground level.

For those confined to wheelchairs, expansive doorways are easy to navigate. This is true of either main entries or interior doorways and halls.

8. First-Floor Master Bedrooms

Stairs pose risks for aging homeowners. For those who are unable or unwilling to climb stairs, it’s convenient to have the master bedroom located on the first floor of the home.

See also: A HREF=”https://decoratorswisdom.com/decor/bedroom-trends-2024/”>Bedroom trends 2024

9. Outdoor Fire Pits, Outdoor Fireplaces and Other Outdoor Living Spaces

Patio Featuring Outdoor Fireplace and Picnic Table -- Photo Courtesy of Bill Wilson, OKCHomeseller on Flickr
Patio Featuring Outdoor Fireplace and Picnic Table — Photo Courtesy of Bill Wilson, OKCHomeseller on Flickr

This technically isn’t an interior design trend, but I’m mentioning it here because people are starting to think of their patios, decks, and porches as extensions of their interior spaces. Outdoor living and biophilic design are carryover trends from past years. People have been doing a lot more of their entertaining outdoors, and so they want their outdoor landscapes to be just as comfortable and hospitable as their home interiors. In 2023, the trendspotters over at Zillow mentioned seeing an increase in property listings that mentioned patios and pools. This trend is still going strong as we head into 2024.

10. Blended Indoor/Outdoor Spaces

You’ve no doubt noticed that there’s a houseplant trend happening. Beyond that, there are many ways people are bringing natural elements like wood and natural stone indoors. They are also creating outdoor living spaces for themselves that resemble indoor spaces.

11. Accessory Dwelling Units

The bankers over at Fannie Mae give us a concise definition of “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs):

“an additional living area independent of the primary dwelling that may have been added to, created within, or detached from a primary one-unit dwelling. The ADU must provide for living, sleeping, cooking, and bathroom facilities and be on the same parcel as the primary one-unit dwelling.”

Governing.com reports that there are currently 8 states where ADUs are legal: California, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

According to the American Institute of Architects latest Home Design survey, ADUs are, indeed, quite trendy right now. This trend is likely being fueled by the sizable numbers of elderly people who are choosing to live with their families and also the growing numbers of millennials who are living with their parents.

The folks over at the Farnsworth Group have also identified ADUs as an important trend. They reported the results of a Freddie Mac study that concluded ADU construction has been growing at an average rate of 8.6% each year over the course of this past decade. They also noted that property owners are making other efforts to expand their living spaces, including finishing off basements and improving attics.

12. Artistic Tilework

According to the American Institute of Architects most recent Home Design survey, their members frequently mentioned tile installations as being of interest to their clients in the home design space right now. I’ve also seen several other sources mention that tile is in demand because of its capacity to bridge the gaps between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a cohesive look between the kitchen and patio, for example. This is especially true if you use vitrified porcelain tiles, which are just as home outdoors as they are indoors. Vitrified porcelain tile is a global trend right now, and this is one of many options you have to choose from if you’re interested in a home renovation project that requires either indoor or outdoor tile.

13. Wallpaper

You have an overwhelming number of options for adding textures and patterns to your home interior with wallpaper. Maximalist wallpaper patterns are on-trend right now as we head into 2024, along with micro dots, pretty florals and gradually shifting ombre effects.

14. Interesting Millwork, Moulding and Architectural Details

Minimalism and simplicity were top trends throughout the past decade, and those trends are still relevant as 2023 segues into 2024. However, in many homes at the high end of the market, we’re seeing a transition away from stark minimalism as homeowners seek to personalize their spaces. Builder Jon David Smith told D Magazine, “People want curves and elaborate touches and designs, so there’s been a return to intricate moldings, unique finishes, and architecturally significant and traditional detail.”

15. An Increasing Desire for Privacy and a Shift Away from Wide Open Expanses Within the Home

Overall, the open floor plan is still the prevailing trend in single-family home interior spaces in 2023, and this is unlikely to change to any significant degree in 2024. However, folks at some organizations have pointed out that the beginnings of a shift are taking place. Some homeowners are transitioning away from open spaces and instead seeking a way to make spaces within their home more private. In particular, analysts at Zillow noticed this trend in 2023 and noted it as one of the year’s most significant interior design trends on their annual trend report.

Healthy and Sustainable Interior Design Trends:

Health and Sustainability are two of the most compelling interior design trends to understand in 2024. According to the folks over at the American Society of Interior Designers, increasing numbers of consumers are making purchasing decisions that reflect a desire to protect and support the environment. Sustainability is now a value that they are actively using to guide purchasing decisions. They have also noticed an uptick in numbers of people who have expressed a willingness to pay more for sustainable goods and services.

This finding somewhat contradicts data from a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) study. The folks at the NAHB tell us that 78% of the buyers they surveyed reported some level of concern in regards to the impact their home building has on the
environment; however, this translates to a willingness to pay more for sustainable features with only 15% of them. So in most cases, the concern they’re expressing is just empty lip service. However, more home buyers are willing to pay upfront for sustainability features when they can demonstrate that those features will also lead to a decrease in energy costs they have to pay.

Sustainable design is such an extensive topic that it warrants its own trend list. We’ve covered it separately in more detail in a separate sustainability trend report for 2024, but some of the top priority current sustainability-related interior design trends are noted below.

16. Whole-House Air Purifiers and Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems

People are becoming increasingly aware of air pollution and air quality issues. As they become educated about the presence of toxic chemicals that are pervasive in the home environment, they are becoming increasingly interested in installing air purifiers and air exchangers.

17. Water-Efficient and Energy-Efficient Appliances

With the recent increases in water and energy costs, energy-efficient and water-efficient appliances are becoming more appealing to homeowners. The good news is that experts at the Energy Information Administration are predicting a decrease in residential electricity prices for 2024. They tell us that these forecasts are based on a reduction in the wholesale price of electricity, which came about because of lower natural gas prices in 2023. I’m skeptical that this will actually result in measurably lower power bills for all of us in the coming year, but they went on the record to say that their analysts are forecasting exactly that. So we shall see.

The question that remains: Will this alleged upcoming slight reduction in electricity prices result in a corresponding decline in interest in energy-efficient appliances? I’m thinking it will not. Energy expenses are currently high. A slight decrease would be welcome, but it doesn’t seem like a slight price reduction would make enough of a difference to have the effect of reversing the substantial interest in energy savings that is currently underway. So I predict that there will be continued interest in, and demand for, energy-efficient appliances in 2024.

18. High-Efficiency HVAC Systems

The US Energy Information Administration informs us that in 2022, an estimated 10% of Americans’ total electricity use was allocated for air conditioning (and that’s only the average; some of you — I’m looking at you, people in Florida and Texas — have no doubt been spending even more than that). That figure obviously doesn’t take heating costs into consideration, so it’s only part of the picture on how much your HVAC system is costing you. The appeal of increasing your HVAC’s level of energy efficiency is obvious; there isn’t any point in paying higher energy bills than you have to, so it is no real surprise that energy-efficient HVAC systems are in high demand right now. This interest is likely to carry over into 2024 and the years beyond, even if we do see a slight reduction in electricity costs in 2024 as discussed above.

On a different note, sizable numbers of homeowners have also expressed concern about air quality issues with their HVAC systems, and this is a motivating factor in many recent HVAC upgrades.

19. Water Filtration Systems

The world’s waterways are polluted with microplastics, and these harmful substances inevitably end up contaminating peoples’ drinking water. As people become educated about this problem, they also become interested in installing water filtration systems that will keep the plastics out of their drinking water.

Dedicated and Personalized Spaces for How You Spend Your Time at Home:

20. Dedicated Spaces for Video Conferencing and Social Media Content Creation

In their 2023 trend outlook, the folks over at the American Society of Interior Designers mentioned that they’ve observed that sizable numbers of people are undertaking both residential and commercial design projects with a goal of making their spaces more appealing for Instagram, Zoom and other social media platforms. People are now setting up dedicated spaces that look fantastic on video. Some of these dedicated social media spaces include accent walls and decorative accessories.

21. Wine Cellars and Wine Storage

Wine cellars have become fashionable with the trendsetting crowd, particularly with those who own luxury homes in high-end neighborhoods. If this is a trend that would be of interest to you, we invite you to check out our page about wine cellars and wine storage.

22. Mud Rooms

In a past trend report, Laurel Verazza Gecek at The Plan Collection told Pro Remodeler that increasing numbers of property owners who are building from scratch have been choosing home plans designed with mudrooms or drop zones. This is a carryover trend that has been going on since 2016; it looks like this has grown beyond just a passing fad, and is now an accepted and perhaps even expected inclusion in the home in some regions. In locations where snowy winters are the norm, it is especially lovely to have a transitional space between the outdoors and the indoors. That’s exactly what a mudroom is; it’s a comfortable space where people can sit down and remove their wet coats, shoes and boots and have a convenient spot allocated for storing or hanging them up while they dry. Mudrooms are particularly useful home additions in areas where it snows or rains often, as these spaces give occupants an easy way to minimize the messes that result from inclement weather.

23. Craft Rooms: Art Studios, Sewing Rooms and Scrap Rooms

It’s really convenient for crafters and DIY enthusiasts to have personalized spaces where they can spread out their projects, store their craft supplies, and set up any machinery they need for the creative process. There are artists setting up studios, quilters and home sewists setting up sewing rooms, and paper crafters who set up their die cutters and paper trimmers to make them easily accessible for empowering their creative processes. Some knitters and crocheters have designed craft rooms that rival yarn stores filled with colorful, textured yarns.

Craft rooms were already a thing before COVID disrupted our lives, but the trend really picked up steam when crafters realized that the health crisis gave them a really fantastic excuse to stay home and work on their projects. Furthermore, bunches of new converts joined the crafting community at that time, and some of them built craft rooms at home, too.

Healthier Buildings and the Quest for Daylight: Window and Door Design Trends for 2024

The “Healthy Home” is one of 2024’s most important trends, and an item of interest in the healthy-conscious home is better lighting/daylighting exposure. Windows, doors, skylights and a home’s interior lighting plan can all work together to bring daylight indoors.

24. The Marriage of Windows and Doors

Bedroom featuring Andersen White Oak Big Doors -- Photo Courtesy of Andersen Windows
Bedroom featuring Andersen White Oak Big Doors — Photo Courtesy of Andersen Windows

If you’re old enough to remember the 1980s and 1990s, you no doubt remember the rise of the sliding glass door. The concept has evolved further since then. In 2024, you have a range of more sophisticated options for doors that are also windows and also for doors that incorporate windows. One-upping the humble picture window, there are now entire sliding glass walls. In general, doors that incorporate glass are trendy because they help to give the illusion of blended indoor-outdoor spaces, which fits in with the broader nature-inspired biophilic design trend that’s happening right now.

25. Pass-Through Windows

Another interesting phenomenon is the pass-through window, an amenity like you find at the pizza places and eateries along various beaches. The host/ess in the kitchen can serve up snacks or meals to everyone in the backyard without making a special trip outside.

26. Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors

As energy costs increase, homeowners are increasingly becoming aware that they can save money by installing doors and windows that are designed to be energy efficient.

Since front doors are such an integral part of a home’s curb appeal, security and overall design impact, we’ve posted a separate trend report covering the current entry door trends for 2024 and beyond. If you’re considering a front door upgrade in 2024, you’re invited to check out that page for more in-depth information.

Lighting Trends for 2024

27. LED Lighting Continues to Trend Upwards

It’s no surprise that demand remains strong for LED lighting. Thanks in part to its energy efficiency and part to the creative ways it can be used, LEDs are finding their way into a number of spaces in the home: inside kitchen cabinetry, illuminating closets, behind bathroom mirrors and even in bathroom drawers.

Home lighting is such an extensive topic that it warrants its own trend report. Click or tap here if you want to understand 2024 lighting trends in more detail.

2024 Interior Color Trends — Best Interior Paint Colors, Flooring Stain Colors and More

Your favorite color is on-trend for 2024. Personalization is one of the most important overall home design trends this coming year. It’s ideal to decorate your space with colors that delight you and make you feel glad to come home.

The most noteworthy exception is if you’re decorating to sell your home; in that case, it’s best to stick with the color palette that’s universally popular for interior decorating in 2024. Those colors include blue, green, teal, aqua, warm neutrals, light wood tones, dark walnut wood, coral, terra cotta, apricot, peach, amber, golden yellow, metallic gold, brass, and others. See this page on 2024 color trends for a more in-depth breakdown of the current palette. If you’re redoing your floors in 2024, you’ll also want to take a look at this page of 2024 flooring trends.

See Also: Colors

So there you have it; those are our discoveries regarding the top interior design trends for 2024. If you are planning to remodel your home, thinking of buying a new home or preparing to build a new home, we encourage you to take this information into consideration — however, we also encourage you to prioritize longevity considerations over current trends. It makes sense to implement home design features that will give you the greatest satisfaction in the long run, even if they are not necessarily trendy for 2024.

References:

We compiled this list of 2024’s hot home design trends using a combination of personal experience plus data made available by various sources including industry organizations, the US Census Bureau, trend forecasters, architects, home builders, interior designers, remodeling companies, and journalists:

This page was last updated on 10-11-2023.