We still cannot believe that it is 2024! Last year just seemed to fly by. As always, a new year brings new trends to look out for, so here are a few furniture trends we are anticipating for this year.
Dark Wood Finishes:
This isn’t necessarily something new per se, but for a while, the trend went very light and very gray in the wood tones of choice for furniture. The popularity of Scandinavian and minimalistic design was having a moment. But lately we are seeing the younger generation embrace more transitional & traditional styles- straying away from more modern spaces. They want their homes to feel cozy and lived in. This doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of your light-finished floors or furniture pieces. Mixing in some darker wood tones like walnut will add dimension to your space.
Traditional Elements:
There is always a place for sleek and minimal spaces in design, but we are circling back to more traditional design trends for 2024. We’re talking about mixing prints, beautiful wallcoverings, classic silhouettes, and a dabble of antique furniture and accents. Traditional design is becoming more popular for the younger generations as they are inheriting family heirlooms and collections (hence the styles grand-millennial and modern traditional).
Expect to see more bullion trims, floral patterns, and scalloped details everywhere! Scallops are not necessarily traditional, but it’s something that we are seeing in the trendy traditional design of late. The organic shape plays nicely with other traditional elements and will be seen everywhere from bed lines to case goods.
Emphasis on Comfort:
The pandemic was a major influence on the comfort issue, but in our opinion, we were always heading in this direction. Due to people hunkering down at home during the pandemic, comfort became the top priority – especially in home offices. Expect to see this trend spread into all areas of the house – so expect to see ultra-comfy furniture pieces, soft fabrics, and an overall cozy atmosphere. We are going to lump in the use of performance fabrics and finishes into this category as well. We consider this a comfort because you can worry less about your kids spilling on your new sofa and simply enjoy your space together.
Sustainable Purchases:
We are continuing to see growth in consumer awareness when it comes to sustainability. People want to invest in high-quality pieces that last, especially in large ticket items like sofas, sectionals, beds, and dining room furniture. Remember that furniture is a long-term investment. Other ways to stay sustainable are to purchase items locally and mix in some antique furniture pieces and accents. When using antiques, you are giving an item a new purpose and lengthening its life span. There is nothing more sustainable than that!
Organic Shapes:
The use of organic shapes is something that we mentioned last year in our Market trends post, but it’s a trend that we expect to stay. The idea of Everything Organic of ties in with both of the previous trends we listed above. Curved forms are seen as more comfortable, and although the soft shapes do not mean that the pieces themselves are sustainable, they correlate with the organic shapes we find in nature (hence bringing the outside in with shape).
Mixing and Matching Styles:
Generally, the public has more access to design inspiration than in the past (Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, HGTV). Perhaps this is why we are seeing more mixing of styles than in past years. We love that this is the case because mixing styles (in our opinion) creates a beautiful, layered look that is more timeless. Instead of sticking to a style, we are choosing furniture items piece by piece. There is an art to mixing styles, and so you still need to create an overall cohesive look. Too many distinctly different style can start to look messy. Choose 2-3 styles that you love – find the commonalities between them and go from there.
Did we miss any trends that you are expecting this year? We’d love to hear what you are looking forward to seeing.
Stay Inspired!
The Margery Wedderburn Interiors Team