For anyone looking to give their home a makeover in the new year, consider some 2024 design trends.
Much like in fashion, interior designers are able to predict future trends. What starts in New York City then hits the rest of the country, and opportunities to go to showrooms and markets around the world help designers note the trends, according to Mollie Bean, principal designer at MB Within Design Studios in Charleston.
Here are a few that local interior designers have noticed:
Comfort first
Bean said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people live. She noted that people are moving away from open-concept spaces and there is a bigger need for comfort in the home.
“The TV doesn’t take mainstage anymore — we’re really moving toward conversational rooms,” she said. “It used to be the TV took center stage in all the rooms. Our lifestyle since COVID has really changed, I think for the better, and made your home more of a calming, comfortable space for you to be in, instead of this large auditorium.”
Goodbye, islands
Bean said kitchen islands seem to be on their way out, with people leaning more toward loveseats built in with their dining table so they can enjoy eating with their family more than just sitting at the island and having the dining table separate and farther away.
“It’s getting back to basics, which is quite beautiful,” she said.
Durable fabric
Bean said her studio has been using performance fabrics — designed to be more durable, stain-resistant and easier to clean — on everything, whereas in previous years it would only be used if the client had children or a pet.
“Our sofas will outlive us all now,” Bean said.
Unique designs
To Bean’s delight, a new trend she’s noticed is that people are more willing to take risks design-wise.
“When I opened my business here in Charleston, you did not deviate from the coastal style, and everyone wanted the same thing,” she said. “People are willing to take risks and make it their own personalized space — make it eclectic, make it their own.”