I’m an interior designer and here are the popular trends for 2024 – it’s all about colour
INTERIOR experts have revealed the popular trends predicted to hit our homes as we head into the tail end of 2024 – and it’s all about colour.
For many years greys and whites or soft calming brown and cream tones were the most common colours throughout our homes.
But now it looks like colour is about to make its return, according to design boffins who believe that now is the time to add bold tones to our spaces.
A survey carried out by Next found that 84 per cent of homeowners want to add more colour while 70 per cent admit to feeling stuck with their current aesthetic.
Luckily interior designer Lucy Tiffney, finalist in The Great Interior Design Challenge, has revealed which shades are trending right now.
She said: “Different colours can evoke different emotions, so choosing a colour that makes you feel calm or happy is a great place to start.
“If you’re looking for trending shades, think bold colours – greens, bright pinks and orange are all really popular hues this year.”
The artist also shared her top tips on how to inject pops of colour into your home without making it feel overwhelming.
Living room
The living room is one of the key spaces inside a home and is the perfect place to try adding colour, according to Lucy.
She explains: “An added benefit of adding colour to this room is that you can start as bold or as subtle as you like, as there are generally more accessories and larger pieces of furniture in this room to break up pops of colour than in any other in the home.
“An example of this could be adding a colourful ornament or vase as a focal piece on top of a black sideboard.
“You can balance this out with other black, metallic or neutral accessories to begin with, then gradually add more colour to the scheme.
“If you’re feeling more daring, consider adding a bigger piece of furniture in a bold colour, such as a mustard or pink footstool to contrast a tan or cream-coloured sofa.
“If you know you want to create a colourful living room but don’t know where to start, it can be as simple as just finding one base colour that you want to tie the room to.
“A great hack for finding complementary colours is to use a paint colour chart.
“Typically, any of the colours in the same vertical line will be monochromatic matches and any horizontal colours will be complementing tones.”
Bedroom
The bedroom is meant to be one of the more relaxing spaces in our home, so Lucy advises going for colours like blue, green or pink to suit the tone.
She says: “Tread carefully when adding colour to the bedroom, as this is a space that needs to remain tranquil and inspire relaxation.
“For this reason, I’d avoid overstimulating, bright colours like red. If you want to make a statement, you could opt for a bed frame in a striking colour like blue, green or pink – then layer the colour with a neutral-coloured bed linen and a matching throw or cushion.
“Adding colour and texture through patterned throws or cushions in the bedroom is also a fun way to add interest and can be easily changed up for different times of the year.
“Choosing prints with a few colours like a floral or stripe can add detail and allows you to pull through the different colours in other areas of the room”.
Kitchen
As the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home so it’s important to get the colours right.
While it might feel safer to stick with neutral colours like beige, grey or white, this can quickly become dated, so you might want to think about how you can add some colour.
Lucy suggests: “If you’re starting from scratch, choosing the colour of your cupboard doors is a really influential decision.
“Consider the amount of natural lighting in the room; especially when deciding between dark and light colours.
“Alternatively, another great way to add pops of colour in your kitchen is through your cookware or dinnerware. We’re seeing more people using casserole dishes, plates or utensils holders as accessories in their kitchens, which is a brilliant way to make the space feel lived in and homely.”
“If you want to keep the bones of the kitchen relatively neutral, then a great way to add colour is through your soft furnishings – bold and bright patterns are really popular at the moment and compliment neutrals well.
“For example, If you have an armchair or sofa in your kitchen, consider opting for brightly patterned floral cushions or throws to add interest to the space and play with using colour.”
“A statement blackout blind, a kettle or coffee machine also works well.”
Bathroom
Green and orange are trending colours in the bathroom, Lucy has revealed.
She said: “Generally people are a bit more adventurous with colour when it comes to decorating a bathroom.
“If you’re lucky enough to have lots of natural light, the bathroom is a great space to experiment with colours, too.
“Green and orange are trending colours for bathrooms but you don’t have to commit to changing your paint colour to incorporate them.”
“Most bathrooms will have textiles on display in some form – whether that’s towels hanging over a radiator to dry, a bright bath mat, or some fun artwork, these offer a non-committal and quick way to change up your room if you’re cautious about adding colour.
“Opting to paint the woodwork only, is another great way to add a touch of personality without overdoing colour in what can typically be a small space.
“Try painting the window frame and sill, and the skirting boards and see the impact it can have.
“Another really easy way to add colour to a bathroom is through the use of plants – this enables you to add greenery to the room in a natural, but also temporary way.”
7 design choices that help avoid stress
WHILE some people decide to decorate their homes in classic and timeless styles, others prefer something a little more eccentric.
But whatever the choices, what many don’t know is that the design of your home can actually have an impact on your mental health. Here are seven design choices to help avoid stress.
- Add some floral flair – not only does it create a more calming environment, but houseplants also act as natural air filters, reducing allergens and improving air quality.
- Indulge in your favourite aromas – the smells in your home can really affect your stress levels, so try scents associated with nature or flowers or linked to happy memories.
- Let the sunlight in – maximising natural light in your home will improve your sleep patterns, motivation, mood and happiness.
- Embrace calming colours – opt for softer colours in the rooms where you want to relax.
- Create a memory corner – filling your home with memories can make you feel happy and cosy and bring a smile to your face.
- Invest in your sleep – investing in things that help you have a good sleep is one way to lower your stress levels like buying blackout curtains or cotton bedding.
- Organise everything – a cluttered home is a stressful home, so organising your space can do wonders for your mental health.