But if you do aim to tackle bigger projects at home next year, now is a good time to pin all that down. You can begin by making your own list and checking it twice by noting which rooms or areas need a refresh, what your budget entails, and what style options actually toe the line between on-trend and timeless.
If you need some ideas on how to improve space for 2024 that’s fresh and current, we turned to a few of our favorite renovation experts. Here’s what they told us they’re predicting in the year ahead.
Truly Custom Home Style
We always like to begin any home decor trend roundup with the biggest overall trend we are seeing right now: people are designing their homes based largely on their own tastes and lifestyles. Almost everyone we spoke with mentioned just how personal and affordable home decor is becoming the new hot trend, which is why “personal” is the common denominator among these trends. People are paying more attention to their specific at-home needs, and their decor choices model the shift.
Playful Design
You likely already have an idea of the new directions to home design that embrace trading in cold and sterile for fun and exciting. Of course, the colors themselves can do this trick by bringing in bold hues, but it can also come in other ways, such as creative shapes, visual interest through textures, or overall maximalism.
Homeowners have given up ‘cookie-cutter’ arrangements for kitchen designs and brought their uniqueness with amazing finishes, textures, and materials. The possibilities are endless—from fun wallpaper and kitschy knickknacks to bold throws and bed frames—and a good place to get started is by scouring vintage markets or your favorite home interior stores for fun pieces that excite you.
Sustainability
Homeowners are getting increasingly concerned about their carbon footprint, and home brands and designers are taking notice. The obvious motivation, of course, for a sustainable home is that it’s simply good for the environment.
Still, there’s also a positive financial side: Energy-efficient upgrades to your home can save you money, and additions like solar panels and heat pumps can enable you to take advantage of the Investment Tax Credit.
The biggest changes we have noticed are sinks and toilets that help you save water. Induction cooktops reduce natural gas dependence without sacrificing quality in cooking, and builders use recycled or more sustainable materials.
However, the home industry does two things simultaneously in response to climate change. We have seen general steps towards greater sustainability over the last few years. Still, the more significant trend this year is restoring power to the homeowner in the face of extreme weather events.
Aesthetic Accessibility
Image Source: Decorilla
Not only are aging-in-place and multigenerational households increasingly popular, but brands are designing new appliances, features, and cabinetry to meet the customer and adapt with them over time in their residence in their current home.
What do these innovations look like? Think sensory-friendly faucets for homes whose water can reach scalding temperatures, washing machines with non-English and braille options, hands-free cabinets with adjustable shelf height and drawers for every reach level, and more. Each of these new offerings allows homeowners to be taken care of by the everyday appliances, hardware, and built-ins regardless of limitations.
Biophilia
Image Source: Medium
Another design trend that incorporates a couple of ideas on our list is biophilia, or the appropriation of inspiration from nature. We have seen this done in a few different ways, including colors (greens especially are having a huge moment), materials (natural, often sustainable materials like bamboo and cork are becoming more and more common), and home design (renovations like enormous glass doors that blend the outdoor space with the indoor are all the rage).
Spa-like Bathrooms
Image Source: Luxurybathrooms
Bathrooms used to be more of a pass-through on the way to getting ready for work or bed. Today, they are a space where you want to spend your time and de-stress. Some trends that really make for spa-like functionality are deep plunge tubs, aromatherapy, towel warmers, and bidets. In general, though, there’s a focus on making the bathroom the coziest part of the house with colors, design additions like artwork, and even candlelight and incense.
Multi-Functional Spaces
While open-plan layouts remain a polarizing design trend, Petranick posits that multi-functional spaces are here to stay in 2024. Any homeowner wants areas that serve multiple purposes, such as home offices, gyms, and entertainment areas.
If a playroom slash office makes your skin crawl, you can use this renovation trend anywhere in your home that could serve as something else.
Conclusion
As we view the trends in home improvement for 2024, there is, by all means, a sense of ‘functionality’ intertwined with ‘aesthetics,’ ‘sustainability,’ and ‘adaptation to ever-changing lifestyles.’ Smart technology, eco-friendly designs, health and wellness, innovative multifunctional use of spaces or furniture, and so many such trends put to fore an implied understanding of ‘home.’