The Ins and Outs in Interior Home Design for 2024

OUT: Polished

IN: Texturized

Inspiration: While interior design gets brighter and bolder, the finishes are being toned down. Shiny surfaces dominated home design, like the polished white-cabinet fronts, glossy granite or quartz, reflective stainless steel appliances and range hoods, and glass tile backsplashes. Now, what about adding more-organic, natural materials and wooden elements, and textures? Countertops, for example, once favored in glossy quartz or granite, are more popular in leathered, honed, or matte finishes with softer sheens that are less reflective and have a slightly textured finish. Also, details like on-trend fluted wooden slats added to kitchen islands, living room furniture, or dining room tables add an attention-getting, texturized detail that makes everyday furniture feel less ordinary. These textures are adding a new dimension to home design, drawing in more layers to bring depth to a space.

OUT: Thinking small

IN: Going big

Inspiration: Consider supersizing elements. For example, mini backsplashes — just a few inches above the countertop — have fallen by the wayside in bathrooms and kitchens and are now stretching to new heights. Houzz’s 2024 home design report notes that backsplashes have become more of a focal point in kitchen design: A slab of stone or quartz behind the range or countertop stretches all the way up to the ceiling. The slab backsplash usually matches the kitchen countertop for one seamless look. Also, go big with flooring: Larger format tile sizes — anything beyond the once-standard 12-foot-by-12-foot size — can make a space feel larger with fewer grout lines breaking up the area. (It’s also known for being easier to keep clean!). And, pay attention to the lights: Lighting is getting sculptural, artistic treatments, with oversized statement chandeliers that demand to be the center of attention.

OUT: Matching

IN: Mismatching

Inspiration: The all-white kitchen and all-white bathroom are looking sooo pre-2020. The all-in-one color schemes, as well as matching furniture sets, look tired compared to today’s souped-up styles. Consider an accent wall for some contrast — painted or wallpapered — to banish the monotone look. Try a colorful or patterned chair to break up matchy furniture sets. And it’s still on-trend to mix metal finishes on cabinet pulls, faucets and lighting fixtures: Combine warm metals, like brass, with cooler ones, like chrome or matted black. While mixing styles, stay cohesive. Here’s one formula designers favor to make it work: The 60-30-10 way in adding color.

OUT: Cookie-cutter

IN: One-of-a-kind

Inspiration: Fast furniture and highly replicated artwork and home accessories have ushered in a one-size-fits-all look to home interiors. Differentiate by adding sentimental accessories and unique, customized pieces. You don’t have to buy new. Instead, reimagine the old in new ways (it’s also more sustainable to preserve and recycle antiques). Modern homes are incorporating old elements like brick, handmade clay tiles, rustic wood elements and arches, Houzz notes in its 2024 design report. More homeowners also are adding in handmade features, like chunky, crocheted blankets. “Maximalism and personalization get extreme as it becomes more important to break the cookie-cutter layouts and venture into expressive design,” Bell says. Make it one-of-a-kind by adding color and unusual shapes (for example, curved furnishings or wavy mirrors), and unique artwork. Take a spin on tradition, such as even changing up a herringbone pattern’s’ horizontal zigs and zags in a new direction – diagonally or vertically, Houzz notes.