The days are long and the years are fast, or so the old adage says. But perhaps it’s the trends that are swiftest of all—and 2024 is proof of that fact. Remember bookshelf wealth? Mob wife? Corporate fetish? Fridgescaping? Whimsigoth? Chainmail decor? This past year saw a frenzy of micro-trends and mini movements entering and exiting our collective zeitgeist in such quick succession that it was often hard to keep up. But in looking at them all together, they create something of a flip-book of 2024.
However, there were some styles that had an impact greater than a few weeks of internet discourse. Today, Google released its annual Year in Search, which compiles queries that had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2024 as compared to 2023. Analyzing the interior design list offers a peek into the aesthetics that captivated consumers’ attention this year, but it doesn’t always mirror the looks that actually made their way into people’s homes. “Some resonate with trends I’ve been seeing, but some don’t” says Denise Morrison, founder of AD PRO Directory firm Morrison Interiors.
Most prevalent on the list of the trendiest design styles of 2024 were a collection of terms that suggest a return to traditional decor. “Modern colonial” was the second top trending term, “quiet luxury” was the sixth, “American colonial” was the eighth, and “cottagecore” was the tenth. “Modern colonial is something I’m seeing a lot,” says Leslie Kramer, cofounder of AD PRO Directory firm Lighthouse Home & Design. “Especially in older homes, people seem less inclined to update everything and are instead leaning into highlighting what’s original.”
Often, she’ll work with clients to bring modern touches to traditional home in order to preserve its history without making it feel dated. “Sometimes that means doing something like color drenching, which is a big trend, or adding a Philip Jeffries wallpaper,” Kramer adds.
Morrison says that “quiet luxury” was the term she most expected to find on Google’s list. “We lean into that trend a lot, because it’s something that I think will have longevity,” she says. Though the phrase emerged to describe fashion, it has made its way to interiors as well. “It would be things that aren’t necessarily bold patterns or in-your-face designs, but it’s more about using high-quality, luxurious materials. It can be a little safe—perhaps predictable—but the materials are super pristine.”