5 interior design trends that will become popular in 2024
Bows - and lots of them
No one has escaped noticing that bows have been the hottest accessory during the last months of 2023, a trend that has started in the fashion world and slowly infiltrated the interior. The candle holders, wall lights, napkins and wine glasses all got a bow, whether it was a discreet feminine one or big voluminous velour bows.
Although the bow got its big breakthrough in late 2023, we are yet to see the bow reach its peak. During 2024, even more bows will appear at commercial fashion brands, making the bow more mainstream than high-fashion.
Despite this, we don't predict that the bow tie will become a micro-trend in the homeware universe. After all, bows have adorned homes for centuries, especially around holidays like Christmas. However, the bow tie will remain a timeless element in the home, modernising itself by being part of everyday decor and table settings.
Chrome, stainless steel, polished aluminium - dear trend has many names
The early 2020s was the year of brass. Anything in brushed, polished or lacquered brass would adorn the home - even gold jewellery was a wardrobe must-have in these years. The golden hues were to be found in all elements of metal. But in 2024, we'll see a shift to cool silver-grey shades. A trend that has also transcended to the fashion world, where 'mixed metals' have become popular when it comes to combining jewellery and accessories.
Chrome plating and brushed steel is one of the hottest trends in both furniture and interiors. We see it in everything from vases, tableware, furniture and lamps, where the shiny chrome finish is especially popular. We see many of the old classics such as Verner Panton's Flowerpot lamps and STOFF Nagel candleholders making a comeback in shiny silver colours. IKEA has even relaunched some of their well-known 80s classics, which back then were also made with chrome and brushed steel as the primary metal.
But even the small essentials, like our kitchen utensils and dinnerware, should preferably be made of steel. The trend has an industrial-chic 80s look, but is also practical and durable in the long run, unlike the previous brass trend, where many brass lacquer finishes quickly faded with use.
Out with 'The Big Light' and in with cosy lighting
Whether this is a micro or macro trend is debatable, but the whole 'No Overhead Lightning' or 'The Big Light' trend recognises something essential when it comes to home interior design. The trend originates, like most other trends, from TikTok, and is simply about not using the overhead lights installed in your home, but rather creating an atmosphere through many small light sources. For many years, interior designers have been preaching about creating a bright and open space through lighting and the importance of having good ambient lighting in the home. However, many times this basic lighting is cold and impersonal, and we're seeing a greater shift towards creating a unique, warm and inviting atmosphere in our spaces.
Through a variety of light sources such as table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights and even coloured fluorescent tubes, you can create unique lighting in your home that is more cosy. That's why we're seeing small designer lamps made from coloured transparent materials and with diffused light become extremely popular, as the lamps now also function as a design element in the interior design more than ever before. The trend taps into the Danish philosophy of cosiness, and one wonders if Americans have finally embraced this philosophy.
Maximalism
Maximalism is a bit of a no-word for many Scandinavians. For years, we've been fed the idea of pure Nordic minimalism and, in conjunction with social media, our homes have been decorated with an clean Insta-worthy aesthetic. But as we saw with the 'No Overhead Lightning' trend, it has become more popular to fill your home with soul and a lively atmosphere. We see it a lot in the authentic Copenhagen-chic apartments, where there's no hiding the fact that someone is actually living in the space.
When we think maximalism is going to take over minimalism, it's not meant in the extravagant art deco style, but more in the 'messy-living' sense (another phrase from TikTok). More and more brands are blossoming with a philosophy of creating aesthetically beautiful everyday items, such as skincare, cleaning products and other practical items, whose packaging is so aesthetically beautiful that they don't even need to be hidden away - they are more a part of the interior design and testify to life and everyday life in your home.
Back to the 80’s
We believe the 80s interior design style will make a significant comeback in interior design in 2024. Previous years have witnessed a resurgence of primary colours in the home, with 2022's cobalt blue and 2023's cherry red as prominent trends. This year, we think a vibrant green colour, especially in metals and textiles, will take the lead, but still in combination with the popular blue and red.
The rebirth of the 80s also brings a lot of retro materials and elements into the home, such as dark wood, chrome details, and walls built from glass bricks. We believe the new 80s style of 2024 will be heavily inspired by Verner Panton's design universe, which is characterised by mixing strong primary colours with experimental shapes and striking statement pieces, both in terms of furniture and interiors. It's a style that embraces the soul and expressiveness of maximalism, as mentioned earlier in the article, and recreates an era when boldness and colour were at the heart of interior design.
