9 Home Decor Trends That Won’t Last Past 2024, According to Designers
While some trends are temporary, others have a long lifespan. Nickel gap and shiplap paneling, for example, have remained popular long past the first season of Fixer Upper, while millennial pink isn’t quite as ubiquitous as it was back in the 2010s.
As the halfway point of 2024 inches closer, I decided to ask designers which home trends they don’t foresee lasting into next year. The pros weighed in with their hot takes, but if you still want to try out or stick to one of these trends, too, go for it. The best part of decorating your home is that you can and should have the final say in your own space.
Overly Grandmillennial Decor
Designer Jennifer McKissick appreciates the return of traditional decor, but she’s in favor of mixing classic pieces with modern touches to create more visually varied, balanced spaces. “Anything overly ‘grandmillennial’ is likely on its way out — what I mean by this is entire rooms swathed in chintz, ruffles, and pastels,” she says.
“Don’t get me wrong: I love these things, but not all at once,” she adds. If you leaned really hard into this trend, introducing a few pieces with clean lines can easily fix a room. “This will feel more authentic to the time period [today] while still giving a nod to the past,” McKissick says.
Scallops
Scallops, often prevalent in grandmillennial spaces, may also be on their way out. “I love a good scalloped edge, whether it’s on a case good, upholstery, or even a pillow,” says designer Diane Rath, founder of The Rath Project. “Because this has been everywhere recently, I do feel like consumers are going to tire of the look.”
Mob Wife Aesthetic
You’ve probably seen “mob wife aesthetic” popping up on TikTok. It’s characterized by animal print patterns, faux fur, and leather accents, to name a few elements. However, Rath sees this look as a flash in the pan when it comes to interiors. “I love this idea, and I think it’s a great addition to our fashion wardrobes, but I feel as far as interiors go, this is not going to make it past 2024,” she says.
Fast Furniture
McKissick believes people will be making more mindful, eco-friendly furniture purchases in the near future. ”Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, which means we are seeing a downtick in fast furniture that will someday end up in a landfill,” she says. “Instead, people are choosing to invest in quality pieces that will stand the test of time.” As part of this movement, McKissick predicts secondhand and vintage pieces will continue to soar in popularity.
Accent Walls
Whether you love ’em or hate ’em, accent walls have certainly lost at least some of their appeal lately, according to designer Nicole Arruda. “My rule of thumb is all the walls or nothing at all,” says the founder of Nicole Alexandra Design Studio. “Accent walls can often look unfinished and unbalanced. Consider playing up the ceiling rather than just one wall. It will feel more intentional and elevated.”
Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets
Designer Sandra Asdourian sees the space-saving hack of decorating above kitchen cabinets with baskets, trays, and other items as falling out of favor, thanks to the dust that can collect in this area. “A clean and uncluttered kitchen design provides a more relaxing and enjoyable cooking experience,” Asdourian says. “In design, it’s important to allow your eyes to rest and not have too many focal points everywhere you look.”
Gray
According to Asdourian, it’s time to say goodbye to all gray everything. “While gray can look beautiful when complemented with blues, too much gray on walls, floors, and furniture can make your home look cold, bland, and uninteresting,” she says. Still into gray? No worries. Consider greige; Asdourian thinks warm colors are on the rise, so search for something with those kinds of undertones.
Ultra Minimalism
On a related note, overly slick, cool, stark spaces will be on their way out by year’s end, Arruda says. “While there is nothing wrong with a neutral palette, I’d love to see a little more oomph infused in creative ways,” she says. Enter texture: the saving grace for any minimalist room that feels a little too cold. Layer different kinds of woods, woven decorative accessories, and textiles to warm up any minimalist room.
Checkers
According to interior stylist and content creator Alexa Mason, cofounder of Alexa Elizabeth Style, the checkerboard phenomenon may have finally run its course. “Checkered textiles, vases, rugs, and furniture are fads we’ve enjoyed incorporating into our own homes, but we see them fading as we move toward 2025.” This motif is simply too saturated in the market, she says. “We have also seen more organic patterning start to emerge, potentially replacing more geometric patterns,” she adds.