Design Trends I Could Live Without
Return to the 70’s
We’re moving away from the Mid Century Modern look and feel in design, but moving toward the 70’s is a mistake. The browns, golds, rusts and weird greens of the 70s have no place in 2024 in my opinion. Leave the shag carpeting behind and embrace the time we’re living in now.
Track Lighting
Another staple of the 70’s and 80’s has never been “in style” and never will be. Opt instead for ceiling light fixtures, floor lamps, table lamps and a few canned lights. Warm light comes from the lighting mentioned above – not from running a strip across your ceiling with lights pointed in every direction imaginable.
I recently bought this rechargeable picture light to highlight a painting in my living room. I have NO overhead lighting in this room and I think it’s one of the warmest and welcoming rooms in my home.
Pantone's Colour Of The Year 2024: Is Peach Fuzz
I’m not sure who chooses the color of the year at Pantone, but I disagree with this choice. I can’t help but remember my peach colored prom dress, or the number of bridesmaids dresses I wore in this color – none of which were flattering. It may not have been the color alone, but when I think of peach, I don’t feel peachy.
The only color combination I like with a color similar to peach but more of a copper color would be teal and raspberry. I once saw a pillow at Gump’s in San Francisco that I wish I had bought. It’s still on my list to infuse color into a bedroom or living room with this combination, but peach by itself . . . doesn’t do anything for me or my decorating mind.
Wide Open Floor Plans
Covid taught us one very important thing. We all need and can appreciate our privacy. When you had multiple people working remotely, it was painfully clear that having walls between us would have been a more convenient and wise delineation of space. I’m not opposed to a semi-open floor plan and I understand the need to watch what children may be doing (assuming you have young children in your life), but being able to close a door and have a moment of a private conversation with a friend or a colleague is a welcome thing.
Many attempted to convince me to take the wall down between my kitchen and dining room to expand the kitchen, but I opted not to do that. The kitchen is generous enough in size and if I’m entertaining I can always leave the dishes and do them after guests leave. It would have been more costly to take a wall down, but the biggest reason I didn’t do that was because I liked the delineation of space.
Farmhouse Style
We all love Joanna and Chip Gaines, but the farmhouse style that was so sought after should take a vacation. I like many elements of Farmhouse style, but please no more oversized clocks, wording to identify what room you’re in or what the purpose of the room is. We all know a kitchen exists to cook and eat in.
Keep the shiplap (a classic, not a trend) and I love a herringbone butcher countertop (just put one in my urban condo’s kitchen), but lose some of the other farmhouse elements or use them sparingly. I have a client who’s a collector of antiques and is moving into a smaller home and I’m advising her to “edit” the number of antiques she can bring to her new space. One in every room would suffice, but not five antiques per room. Her home (as all homes) need to be functional first.
Vivid Colors
I’m not against vivid color patterns (as explained in my ideal color combination above of teal, copper and raspberry), but I think they should be used strategically. I like a colorful kitchen cabinet (but be realistic about what you may or may not be sick of in five years). I chose black lower and white upper for some variation and it’s a color combination I think will remain classic for years to come.
I love infusing color in throw blankets, toss pillows, area rugs, artwork, accessories, etc. But stick to more classic neutrals for walls and main pieces of furniture if you want them to stand the test of time. A sofa or primary headboard are generally not low cost items, so you don’t want to tire of them too quickly. Jazz rooms up with color in other ways that are more cost effective as mentioned above.
What are the trends or changes you’d like to make in your home in 2024? I’d love to hear about them. If you’d like some advice or have a challenge you’d like to bounce an idea off of me – then please reach out to me directly at nmichaels@nancymichaelsinteriors.com to set up a time to meet.
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