Interior design trends are a great way to explore new shapes, new colors and new materials – but once something gets into the design zeitgeist, it quickly takes hold. Before you know it, every other new home has followed a certain trend, making it lose its impact.
Our editors spend almost all of their time looking at beautiful homes, so I asked them which trends they’ve seen enough of around the home, and what they’d rather see instead.
Every trend has a time and place, but sometimes there comes a point when it’s so overdone that it doesn’t seem special. It’s not about regretting design choices, but more about moving forward with different interior design trends that reflect the mood of 2023, 2024 and beyond.
1. Marble bathrooms
(Image credit: James Merrill)
Marble has dominated the bathroom scene for many years, and has almost crossed the trend mark. Marble-covered bathrooms have become popular lately, but is it time to think about something else? Our editor-in-chief Pip Rich thinks so.
“While I plan to redesign my own bathroom, I’m moving away from marble. “I still love it, I still see it as a shorthand for luxury — but I’m nervous about how much we’re all embracing this limited and outdated resource,” Pip explains.
But don’t panic, there are plenty of great alternatives you can embrace in the bathroom. “Instead, I look for unusual bathroom materials, like water-resistant wood. I would never use wood in a room where water is splashing, but advances in how it is sealed means it is now a truly permanent option. You can pair it with linen curtains to let the light filter in Through it softly and you get an instant Scandi spa vibe.’
2. Everything is curved
(Image credit: Lou White)
“I love the curved silhouette in a room full of other, more angular pieces, but the sofa is curved And Armchair And “The coffee table isn’t too big for me, and it ends up feeling minimalist,” says Ellen Finch, deputy editor of Livingetc.
The curved sofa revolution has pioneered a new path for design, and we’re grateful for that. The silhouette works well because it contrasts with the rest of your space. “The best designers are paring it down, pairing the curvy sofa with pieces that are more mid-century and linear in style, for example,” Ellen explains, “which feels like a more modern way to use this trend—and makes you less likely to tire of it.”
3. Gallery walls
(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)
Shopping editor Una Turner reveals that her least favorite trend at the moment is the infamous gallery wall. The decor trend that has been spreading on social media has moved on, it’s time to move on.
“I am above the gallery walls and hope to see the back of them as we enter the new year,” Ona says. “While it’s an easy way to add interest to a spare wall, I’d like to see more carefully thought-out wall art. Go big and bold with a piece you absolutely love rather than five or so average prints that you only love moderately. Choose colors from the artwork to inform the rest ‘The layout of the room and remember that the frame is as important as the art itself. If you’re really concerned with the gallery look, perhaps you can lighten it up with two smaller frames, one on top of the other, perfect for a tight space that needs to brighten up.’
4. Mid-century
(Image credit: Future)
This surprised me, but the deputy editor of the magazine Livingetc.com Hugh Metcalfe says mid-century is a design trend and he’s happy to see the back of it. At least in the way we decorate our homes with these pieces.
Mid-century furniture tends to be timeless in its design, but a few years ago there was a lot of “vintage-inspired decor” being incorporated into mid-century decor. “The sofa, armchair and sideboard, all mid-century in style, could look too ‘theme park’ for my taste,” says Hugh.
However, there are ways you can include your favorite pieces of furniture without falling into this trap. ‘To embrace mid-century instead, I would say you can definitely still invest in a classic mid-century piece of furniture – just include it in a design that’s a little less thematic, and takes a more eclectic approach to decorating your home.’
5. Meaningless ornaments
(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)
“My pet peeve is jewelry that has no purpose or deeper meaning,” says Elaine. “A beautiful vase or carved candle holder looks so much more elegant, and I love sculptures if they are original pieces, but there is something really impersonal about ready-made decorative objects that look like they were chosen just to fill the space!” ‘
Maybe it’s time to say goodbye to all that random stuff collecting dust on your shelves and embrace a more minimalist perspective on design. Or, if you still like stale things, approach them with more attention for a minimalist aesthetic.
7. Symmetry
(Image credit: Modern House)
Is asymmetry the way forward when it comes to design? According to our content editor, Aditi Sharma Maheshwari, it is.
“I think in terms of design, we ended up with a very symmetrical way of hanging the art,” she says. ‘It’s no longer fashionable to hang art directly above or in line with the dimensions of the sofa. If you’re hanging two or three pieces of art, you don’t need them all to be equally spaced.’
Placing the art symmetrically seems very deliberate and obvious, but this can easily be corrected. “Hanging art off-center and creating a bit of negative space that can be filled with a tall plant is an eye-catching way to decorate a living room,” advises Aditi.
Wall art with words
“This might be a bit controversial,” Hugh begins, “but including words and quotes on the walls is overdone to death, and I don’t think it quite makes the statement that people think it does.” Although things have changed a bit from “Live, Laugh, Love” living room wall decor, there’s a new generation of wall art with a slightly more saucy slogan that I’ve noticed. In my opinion, it’s just as awkward, but in a slightly more edgy way. I’m always in favor of decor that “shows” you have that rebellious spirit, rather than “tells” you.
We hope you’ve learned that everyone has different styles and tastes, and even our editors don’t agree on everything. But take inspiration from this, take a look at the trends in your home, and think about what is no longer working and how you can change it for the better.
