12 Home Design Fads That Need to Retire in 2024
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As we evolve our living spaces to reflect our lifestyles and values better, some design trends that once captivated us are now ready for retirement. Here are 12 home design fads that need to bid farewell in 2024:
Shiplap Overload
Shiplap has been the darling of rustic and farmhouse-inspired interiors for years, but it’s time to set sail for greener pastures.
When every wall in your house is covered in horizontal planks, it feels like you live inside a giant picket fence. Let’s leave shiplap to the barns and beach houses where it belongs.
All-Gray Everything
If your home looks like a grayscale color printer designed, it’s time for a change. The all-gray trend has turned many homes into drab, depressing spaces devoid of personality. 2024 is the year to reintroduce vibrant colors and cheerful hues into our lives.
Open Shelving Everywhere
While open shelving can be visually appealing and functional in moderation, an excess can make a kitchen look cluttered.
Replace some open shelves with stylish cabinets that offer storage and style, giving your space a tidier and more cohesive look.
Industrial Everything
With its exposed pipes and raw finishes, the industrial aesthetic has turned many homes into makeshift factories.
While a touch of industrial can be chic, going full throttle makes it look like you should manufacture widgets in your living room. Dial it back and aim for a more balanced look.
Barn Doors
Barn doors slid into our hearts with rustic charm, but they’ve now gone out of style. They’re bulky, often impractical, and scream, “I wish I lived on a farm,” in homes where a simple hinged door would suffice. It’s time to shut the barn door on this trend for good.
Fast Furniture
Quick-to-assemble, budget-friendly furniture is losing its appeal as people move towards investing in sustainable, high-quality pieces that last longer and have a smaller environmental footprint.
Approximately 95% of all commercial furniture is in landfills within a year. Invest in quality pieces instead; your home (and the planet) will thank you.
Too Much Marble
While marble is undeniably luxurious, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. Cladding every surface in glossy stone makes your home feel like an over-the-top hotel lobby. In 2024, let’s use marble sparingly and thoughtfully, making it a statement rather than a shout.
Edison Bulbs
Ah, Edison bulbs, the dimly lit darlings of the design world. Their warm, vintage glow has been everywhere, from hipster cafes to suburban living rooms.
But their novelty has worn off, and it’s time to switch to lighting solutions that are both modern and energy-efficient.
Chevron Patterns
For a hot minute, Chevron was the “it” pattern, but now it feels more like a visual assault. The zigzags are dizzying and overdone, turning spaces into optical illusions. Let’s retire this pattern and welcome more accessible designs on the eyes.
Faux Taxidermy
Nothing says “I never leave the city” quite like faux taxidermy. These animal heads and antlers made of resin or wood were meant to add a rustic flair, but instead, they add a touch of kitsch. It’s time to let the fake deer and moose heads return to the faux forest from whence they came.
Over-the-Top Accent Walls
Accent walls were meant to add color and interest, but some have taken it too far with extreme patterns and textures.
Rather than enhancing a room, these walls often overpower it. In 2024, aim for subtlety and cohesion instead of visual chaos.
Minimalism to the Extreme
Minimalism is about simplicity and functionality, but some homes have made it look sterile and lifeless. An all-white room with zero personal touches feels more like a hospital ward than a home. Let’s embrace minimalism, which allows warmth and personality this year.
As we say goodbye to these design fads in 2024, it’s important to remember that design is subjective, and what may be outdated to some may still be cherished by others. However, keeping an eye on emerging trends and adapting our homes accordingly can help us create stylish and functional spaces for years.
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