Our Top Interior Design Trends for 2024

In 2023, we delved into a year of exploration, opening our minds and creativity to new design possibilities while welcoming back beloved classics. From the uplifting dopamine design to revisiting the warm, velvety hues of the '70s and, of course, embracing the nostalgia of pink with Barbiecore, it's evident that society is now transitioning into an era of defining spaces with colour — and this coming year is no different. 

Join us for a journey back to the '60s and explore life under the sea as we predict our top design trends for 2024.

A tale of two cultures, the equestrian aesthetic draws inspiration from a horse-centric lifestyle. However, this trend is diverted into two dominant avenues: the elegance of English country club chic and the edginess of Western gothic.

In the past year, we've witnessed a gradual ascent of fashion trends like ‘grandpa-core’ and ‘quiet luxury’, embodying a lifestyle rich in old-money elegance. This aesthetic features tailored trousers, loafers, crisp white linens, cabana stripes, and cable knit sweaters reminiscent of enduring style icons such as Princess Diana and Ralph Lauren. The English country club aesthetic takes a similar approach, enhancing the decor with horse and stable-inspired elements like riding boots, horseshoes, horse statues or bookends, and worn-in mahogany leather. This sophisticated aesthetic can seamlessly adapt to various interior styles to adhere to lifestyles worldwide, including Hampton's and farmhouse aesthetics.

On the flip side, the allure of horse aesthetics is evident in the emerging Western gothic trend. Drawing inspiration from Western Americana, this trend combines quintessential elements such as cacti, fringed details, metal lone-star badges, and embellished cowboy boots with a darker, gothic twist.

For a Western gothic style, swap crisp whites and country club plaid for faded charcoal linens, weathered black leather, and black cane furniture amid exposed wooden beams and cowboy paraphernalia.

Whichever side of the horse-inspired aesthetic you favour, both are set to be significant trends in 2024.

Following the surge in dopamine design and the revival of ‘70s aesthetics in 2023, we anticipate a resurgence of the ‘60s for kitchen trends in 2024, particularly retro-inspired schemes bursting with colour. Designed to saturate the senses, kitchens are playful, somewhat jarring, and oh-so-fun.

For this trend, think of coloured appliances, a mosaic of colourful backsplash tiles, and a mix of pre-loved and new items in varied hues to create an eclectic scheme. When sourcing decor items, retro ‘kitschens’ are all about one-off pieces that somehow work together — think colourful egg-holders, hand-painted vintage bowls, or mix-matched coloured glassware on open shelving.

This colour-popping aesthetic also stems from the desire to approach design more sustainably, so emphasising pre-loved items or reusing old materials as much as possible is integral to this trend.

The desire for a slower lifestyle was evident in 2023 with the rise of aesthetics like ‘cottagecore’ and ‘bloomcore’. While the longing for this lifestyle persists, the aesthetic itself is shifting away from slow country living and leaning more towards the leisurely lifestyle of enjoying the ambience of a cafe within the confines of your home. 

Albeit not a new trend, cafécore has been slowly gaining momentum over the years and is poised to finally be in the spotlight in 2024 — perhaps partly due to the remaining desire to enjoy quality coffee amidst the rising cost of living.
To achieve this trend in your space, designate an area for your coffee machine, swap integrated cabinetry for open shelving, display baked goods on the kitchen bench, and include bar-style seating near a window or a metal café-style table and chairs outside. Finally, complete the look with polished nickel or chrome finishes for tapware and sinks to enhance the commercial-style aesthetic.

After dominating as the prevailing trend for many years, the era of beige minimalism appears to be fading — although it may never entirely disappear. In 2024, however, the days of instilling colour in small doses are over, instead transitioning into a dramatic emphasis on everything pastels, particularly aligning closely with Pantone's Colour of the Year 2024, ‘Peach Fuzz’, a soft and velvety pastel peach tone. 

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute, says:

 “In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a colour radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.”

However, despite being labelled a minimalist trend, don't be deceived. This trend can range from subtle to bold, but the key is to stay within a single colour palette within a given space; think various hues of the same tone extending across walls, benchtops, tiles, basins, furniture, and tapware.

Textural aesthetics gained significant momentum in 2023, particularly through fluted detailing and rendered walls. For 2024, we expect this trend to extend to key touchpoints like tapware and hardware. Our Namika Reeded Collection exemplifies this shift, as our popular tapware and accessories now showcase tactile elements with undulating grooves, capturing the rhythmic movement of waves in the Australian landscape, the origin of ABI Interiors.

It's also expected that materials such as velvet, corduroy, and suede will substitute boucle as 2024's textile of choice, as well as an increase in textured wallpaper and rooves.

Another sub-genre within coastal interiors is expected to emerge in 2024, focusing this time on the wonders beneath the ocean's surface. The deep-sea coastal aesthetic leans towards a darker, more ominous world, featuring moody oceanic hues, reflective opal surfaces, and organic shapes reminiscent of water's fluid movements.

Essentially, this trend is dedicated to creating a cozy ambience that captures the depth and richness of the ocean, as opposed to the more frequently emphasised light and airy aspects. We expect to see a rise in dark blue finishes, reclaimed and exposed wood, layered textures, and suspended light fixtures as if emulating bubbles floating to the surface. We also anticipating blues across the spectrum to be a major trending bathroom colour for 2024.

Traditionally, floors have taken a backseat in room design, often concealed by furniture or rugs. However, in 2024, brace yourself for a revival where flooring reclaims the spotlight. Whether chequerboard, herringbone, marble, or mosaic, vibrant and unconventional flooring patterns and a mix of materials throughout will undoubtedly become a dominant trend in the new year.

If you're interested in adding colour to your space but find the aesthetic of retro kitchens or the undertaking of changing flooring intimidating, coloured grout offers a great entry point into vibrant interiors and will undoubtedly be a major kitchen trend for 2024. Simply choose a colour of your liking when grouting your backsplash or tiles, and see how a conventional tiling pattern can be transformed into a unique focal point. 

The resurgence of European-inspired architecture and design blends the opulence of century-old designs with the contemporary essence of 21st-century architecture. We’re anticipating an increase in time-honoured classical features like tapestries, antique vases, Italian marble, polished chrome or nickel tapware, as well as Greecian architecture, such as the return of columns and the continued popularity of textured wall detailing and curvature, recently showcased in Thessy Batsinila’s home, Grèce.

For the last 50 years, open-play layouts have dominated residential design; however, in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift toward creating more defined areas, and we’re predicting that 2024 will be the year of its true resurgence. Dedicated living spaces emphasise layouts that cater to residents' individual needs and preferences while enhancing flow and functionality, which will be highlighted by a return to formal dining spaces, home offices, and mudroom entries.

Interested to see what forecasted trends came into fruition for 2023? Read Top Interior Design Trends for 2023.