Jenn and I have been talking about 2024 design trends for a few of months now (with a post in mind), but honestly there weren’t enough that we loved or that felt were groundbreaking enough to cover until we took a lot of time to research and consider whether we actually see them aligning with our own aesthetics—AKA sweet, playful, thoughtful, pretty, bright, whimsical, and elevated too. We (finally) subscribed to Arch Digest, we clicked on every link or hashtag that talked trends, and we sifted through a lot of pretty cringey content that was way too serious than a report on what American consumers with disposable income should or should not be interested in. Right?
We love to follow trends because it’s fun to see what people are collectively into, but we’ll never judge if you’re into something that’s so 2023 (or 2002—actually, you’d be on top of it now), like bows or maximalism, or even tomatoes. We love to talk about all of it.
So in honor of all 2024 design trends we’ve come across, and those willing to look at them with a little bit of wit, here are the ones we love to see popping up in our feeds!
2024 design trends
Metallics
Silver came back in a big way last year, and Arch Digest’s Clever cited chromatic elements as a big 2024 trend—sleek metals, shiny silvers, it’s a contemporary take on metallics. I see how we’re leaning that way, but if you’re us, you love the idea of something shiny—but it doesn’t necessarily need to be chrome. Have you ever owned Crayola’s metallic pencils, or gel pens? Silver with a subtle sparkle, metals with a few flecks of glitter, these are the pieces we’re most attracted to.
Disco ball installation by ROTGANZEN art collective.
AI
I honestly loathe stumbling upon a trend report (or one of those “how to succeed on social media in 2024” guides) that mentions AI. I mean, duh. Technology can only go forward from here. As designers ourselves—and perhaps because I’m a writer and the thought of asking a robot to craft something just as useful as I can absolutely intimidates me—we’ve held off on getting on the AI train until it works out its respective kinks (we creators know that content comes from somewhere.) But are there ways in which we can use it to our advantage, even if we don’t totally agree with the entire concept or how it’s unfolding? We think yes, and we’re experimenting with ways in which we can explore AI in simple, creative, but ethical ways in 2024. If you have ideas about what we should try, let us know!
Artisan Revival
When it comes to design and decor, so many beautiful artisan techniques are making their way into the hearts of the everyday consumer. Think Murano-inspired glassware, hand-painted ceramics, block print, natural dyes, and other time-honored techniques with a modern spin. We don’t love the idea of seeing slow-crafts produced quickly for the masses, but it is nice to see more appreciation of the imperfection that comes from handcrafted goods. And if you can get your hands on the real deal—like a vintage piece or ethically made goods from those who specialize in the craft—you’ll own something truly timeless.
Spring tablescape featuring hand-painted plates by Pomelo Casa in Spain
Sustainable Design
So, I write for a few blogs and sustainability has been a term I’ve had to include in trend reports the last couple years—it’s this unwritten rule that you should include it if you want to be a brand with at least a shred of self-awareness. But, do we actually see this as a trend, or are we just willing it to be? I’m happy to say that there are a few ways sustainable design is making headway (though not quickly enough).
Cork tables by Laurie Wiid van Heerden, available at kanju
Sustainable furniture (shown above) and the exploration of under-utilized material like cork. (I’ve long known cork to be a sustainable material, I’ve never known it be a beautiful material until now.) The fact that artisan-made goods are slowly making the comeback they deserve. Sustainable design can take off with the use of recycled and salvaged materials, and those like cork or even mycelium. Vintage, upcycling, DIYing—it all has its place in the movement.
Then there’s AI—for rendering and even product placement. It might even eliminate the need for influencers to stock up up on physical product in order to sell it to their followers—a brand doesn’t actually have to supply the product if they can bring it to life digitally. That said, authenticity is important, but I can see there being ways it plays a part.
Color Contrast and Dark Neutrals
High-contrast color combinations and color blocking are less of a trend to me than a creative way to breathe new life into familiar hues over and over. Take Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year, for example: soft peach isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but the second I saw it I felt like it needed to be paired with something dark and bold, like emerald green. Now I look at this pastel in a whole different way.
Pink and brown interior at Hotel Pulitzer Paris.
Have you noticed the comeback brown has made in interiors as of late? Brown! Consider the minds of these candy color lovers blown. Our suspicion is that brown (especially deep browns like mahogany or dark walnut) has been done so poorly in the past—especially for those growing up in the 90s—that we never even considered it as an option. It was always so dated and drab and the enemy of natural light. But the best designers have found a way. Dark neutrals can be moody or romantic, but they can also be soft and joyful with a little contrast, and we’re here for it.
Brown interior styling by Banda Property.
