Interiors Trends For 2024
Does anyone even care?
When I worked at House & Garden, the constant questions from PRs would be - ‘What do you think the trends are for the forthcoming year?’, It used to cause a huge amount of annoyance in the office. Yes, there will always be trends, but by god, do everything you can to ignore them. A house built on trends is built on shaky, expensive and polluting ground. That is my problem with trends and interiors. It isn’t like fashion, which obviously comes with all of its own issues, but trends in interiors can’t be neatly tucked away in your wardrobe. They can’t hide under your bed waiting for the next burst of Vinted energy. These ‘trends’ sit loudly in the middle of your room, biding their time until you become disenchanted with them and however much you try to outrun it, the pace of the algorithm will catch up with you and your granny-core/barbie-core/cottage-core/ stripes/wavy/minimalist home will lose the race.
This all being said, we are a capitalist society, so the need to push trends is a part of the ecosystem that we have all seemingly bought into.
So here are my trends for 2024, ‘trends’ that will hopefully lead you away from spending too much or, in fact, anything at all.
Go slow - Slow and steady has always won the race. I have been doing my house for two years and still have a lot more to do. Great interiors take time. Homely interiors take heart. Two things that are impossible to rush.
Frame it - I bought a book last year called Bauhaus. On opening it, all the pages promptly fell out. They have now been sorted through and framed. This has taken me a year to do, but boy, does it look spiffy. I felt like a real human.
If you don’t know, Paint it White - No, I am not advocating a return to shabby chic or minimalism. Hear me out. When we moved into our home, I was overwhelmed by decisions, and I painted everything white. Yes, for some time, it did look as if we were living in a Victorian mental asylum, but those walls have now become such a marvellous canvas to my very own Tat. This makes for a moveable feast. If I get bored of a picture or some other strange thing I have attached to the wall, I can move it and give the room a new lease of life.
Move things around- This leads on from above. At this time of year, you can become surly with your homeware. You can look at your room and think, why are you always like this? Well, let’s stay on the right side of stroppy and just do a bit of moving around. Perhaps a re-jig of a rug or a move of a picture - whatever it is, putting a little elbow grease into a room can do wonders.
Technology - In one recent article regarding 2024 trends, it read ‘High-Tech Lighting Will Be Our Decorating Bestie’. Every bit of that I disagree with. Obviously, a good amount of well-thought-out lighting is necessary, but please refrain from ever building a house around technology. Nothing ages a house more than the ‘latest tech’. Give it a few years, and that tech will be antiquated.
Small Things - Big Difference - In Balineum’s recent newsletters, they shone the spotlight on splashbacks, one of my favourite interiors features. Just with a few tiles, one can add such a charming feature to your home. To a modern bathroom, you can add some vintage tiles and boy, oh boy, it really makes a difference.
Trends in General - If you have been snared by a trend, this can happen unknowingly. We think we are just going along in our lives, not paying attention to things, and then suddenly, we have an obsession with brown, and BAM! Brown is everywhere. Fear not. The zeitgeist is an insidious fellow and will capture all of us in its snare. My best advice is to ride the trend out, knowing that in a year or two you will look unfashionable, but inevitably, if you stick to your guns, you’ll have the last laugh while everyone else is shelling out for the next new thing.
Make it Make Sense - If you are about to shell out for something, consider the investment. Obviously, a label can be exciting, and an instant purchase can get the endorphins going, but let’s take a beat. If you are purchasing something where the real value lies in the label (or trend) rather than the material or craftsmanship, the purchase is hollow. If you are buying something from a company with ethical value or from an artisan, the item’s value is clear. Purchasing items from companies with ethical practices or from artisans not only assures you of the quality and craftsmanship but also supports broader positive impacts. These purchases contribute to a healthier economy and equitable wealth distribution and directly impact small businesses and artisans. Each order to such a business isn't just a transaction; it's a meaningful support to their livelihood and values. This approach to shopping encourages a more sustainable and ethical consumption pattern.
Inspiration - I've decided to take a step back from the relentless stream of Instagram visuals. The repetitive nature of interiors, often mimicked and replicated across our feeds, has left me feeling somewhat disheartened. The emergence of AI-generated images only adds to my sense of disillusionment. In search of inspiration and a fresh perspective, I'm now delving into the world of vintage interior design books. Alongside my regular magazine subscriptions, I'm exploring the timeless and authentic insights they offer. I'm also drawn to contemporary works, especially those by Miguel Flores Vianna, whose approach brings a refreshing and genuine touch to the world of interior design.
Antiquing - I have to end up banging my drum for antiques. Obviously, we all know I have a vested interest in this, but even if you forgo looking at Tat and make sole use of other dealers out there, I would be happy. As Lucy Willams said in her recent Substack for things like taps, perhaps new is the way to go. But for the majority of things, I would state the case for antiques. My home has been furnished almost solely by ebay, markets and other dealers. My secretaire cost £350 on Ebay, a fine bit of Victorian furniture, and my kitchen table and chairs cost £400 altogether. Yes, it took me time to find them, but fortune smiles on the patient and discerning buyer.
“ A house built on trends is built on shaky, expensive and polluting ground” too true ❤️
So much good advice here